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Reluctant talker - tongue tie or something to be concerned about?

4 replies

ishallwearsunflowers · 26/08/2018 22:01

My 16 month old son has an extremely tight tongue tie (was snipped at a few weeks old but reattached when it healed and is now tighter that it started due to scar tissue). He is awaiting surgery to release it soon. He managed to breastfeed (painfully for me) but struggles to drink water free flow and to swallow certain foods which has been put down to his tongue. The consultant also said when he booked him for surgery that "if anyone is going to have trouble with speech, it's someone with a tongue like that".

He didn't babble very early and currently can say "mama/wowo(his brother is called Rowan)/hiya/nana and makes a few animal noises - lion, cat, monkey). My concern is that he doesn't really say any of these unless we prompt him. He doesn't really say any of these "proper words" spontaneously. Part of me thinks maybe it's too much hard work so he's not interested but the other part of me is worried there's something else going on. He understands most things said to him and will follow instructions eg "get the ball and give it to daddy" but doesn't really try and form any new words himself if that makes sense?

Someone tell me whether I should be worried at this point or not please... I'm going round in circles in my head with it all.

OP posts:
JiltedJohnsJulie · 28/08/2018 07:00

At 16 months he’s tiny still. He can follow simple instructions so that’s a really good sign. If he’s still struggling at 2 yiu can self refer to SLT in most areas. Good luck with the operation Thanks

xamyrose · 28/08/2018 15:09

My DD is 15 months and only says “car” so I wouldn’t worry

Wherearewe · 30/08/2018 15:24

My 19 month old only says ‘car’ reliably too!

Confusedbeetle · 30/08/2018 15:30

Keep doing all the usual things, plenty of chat and reading stories, Watch and wait. Be aware that there are long waiting lists for speech and language so between two and three may be useful to get him referred. Also in later years, there are some excellent and experienced private speech therapists if you can afford it

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