DS still not talking

[sunnyjim]

title says it all really, DS will be 2 in a week and he still isn't saying anything. please don't tell me all children develop at different rates - i have heard that ad infinitum! What I want to know is what do i do? Not having any recognisable words at all aged 2 surely is cause for concern?

There are lots of 2 year olds with no speech so don't panic. My youngest DS was older than that (2.5) when I was sufficiently worried that I saw the HV who referred him for assessment with the Speech Therapy unit - it did turn out that he has verbal dyspraxia (the brain sending jumbled signals, in his case to his tongue and mouth) and he has had to be taught to make sounds. He's now 4.5 and mostly intelligible. But again, don't panic - lots of kids say nothing until they're well past 2 and have no significant conditions.

no its not anything to worry about

and DD was exactly the same .. no words at all (not even mummy) till about 2 years and 2 months .. and won't shut up now (almost 3)

does he understand you? does he manage to make his wants understood?

ditto everyone else. my ds is 2 and a bit and at 2 he hardly said anything.
please don't worry. you'll have your 2 yr developmental check soon and they will spot if anything is wrong.
ds has suddenly blossomed in the last 2-3 weeks and is suddenly copying everyhting.

Yes, don't panic as they do develop differently but if I were you I'd ask your GP to refer you to a developmental paed or a SALT. My DS was like yours at 2 and everyone kept telling me he would be fine and because he was my 1st and DH didn't say a word until he was nearly 4 then spoke perfectly (and precociously ) in sentences, I didn't see anyone until he was older. He does have a language disorder (understanding) and he is very behind with his speech as a result. It's highly unlikely your DS is the same but no harm in getting it checked just to be on the safe side. I would say this to everyone now btw, as I have learnt from bitter experience, so I'm not singling you out so to speak.

Is he pointing? Especially at things of interest. Does he follow simple instructions (e.g "get your coat"). More reliable indicators of problems at his age than number of words.

He sort of udnerstand me if I point at things or keep it very simple - he understand about 10 words.

He can't make his needs known easily though and we have awful frustration temper tantrums because of it

Does he point himself? Either to get something or to show you something that interests him (so rather than "look doggy" jab jab jab point in the direction of a dog).

I was in a similar position to you because I had a ds who had very little speech at 2 and I was very anxious and concerned about it. Everyone kept telling me it was normal and not to worry, but I couldn't shake off a feeling that something wasn't quite right. I really really wish I had got a proper assessment done and not just kept hoping everything would turn out OK. As it was, he was eventually assessed at 3 1/2 and pronounced fine and his speech did catch up, but I really regret those 18 months of anxiety.

You're his mum - if you're worried then get it checked out. Either you can be reassured that it's normal or you can start getting some help early rather than waiting until he's older, which can only be a positive thing. He may well be fine but I don't think anyone can judge this accurately over an internet forum and if you are concerned you should see your HV or GP and arrange an assessment.

My DS nearly 2 and only says about 2 dozen words. Understands mostly what is said to him. HV did tell me that I needed to ask him questions about what he wants rather than letting him point . He gets frustrated at times but I'm not overly worried at the moment, am just going to give him a little longer then start worrying.

Your HV is wrong! Really do not trust HVs on speech problems. When he points just give it to him modelling the word "oh you want the CAR, here you are CAR". If you think there are problems with understanding- reduce the language- "CAR, CAR"- cut everything else out. Any SALT will tell you not to force speech or demand it in the way the HV is suggesting.

Being able to point is far more important than being able to speak developmentally at 2 btw!

Although I agree that it isn't nevessarily a cause for concern (my dd didn't start talking, at all, until 2.6), I reckon it is worth while getting into the system now, just in case.

The waiting lists for speech therapy are scarily long in some places, and dd has had an assessment and is on the waiting list, although it unlikely now that she will need it. I would speak to your HV.

Does he make any sounds? Dd had her hearing checked as she only grunted - she didn't make any recognisable consonant sounds until she was older than 2.

I wouldn't panic at all, but I would ask for a SALT referral. Just in case.

DS makes noises and can say some words. HV said he should be putting words together eg 'all gone' but he just says 'gone'. He tries to repeat things when he wants to, I think he is just idle and knows I will give in and get what he is pointing to anyway.

mm I'd love it if he said 24 words! He does point but it quite random, more like his hand flings out and he follows it around vaguly.
He has had his hearing tested and its fine.

Just getting difficult as he doesn't understand any of the following 'juice' 'drink' 'lunch' food' 'nappy' TV, sleepytime, bath. Actually the only words he seems to understand are:
car, ball, shoes, toes, in there (he likes putting things in boxes)

I'd like to hear mama at some point!

My DS didnt hardly talk at 2yrs think he could say mummy daddy and fish, then DD1 was born 2 mths later and he improved a lot. He is now 3.5yrs old and he never shuts up, he sees a SALT but only for pronunciation now. He was referred nearly a year ago by HV to help his expressive language and pronunciation but to be honest the improvement has come from him and also when he started playgroup in sept.