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Toddler ignoring me

5 replies

sundayschild1 · 15/09/2019 07:19

DS is 21 months old. We have had some concerns as he has very few words/word approximation, and he has been referred for hearing test. However, sometimes I know he hears me but chooses to ignore me. I call his name, see him pause for a moment and then carry on. Sometimes I call him and he'll look round or come to me - but I'd say it's 50:50. He will follow very simple instructions if you get down to his level to ask him AND it's something he wants to do eg he will get his favourite toy, but if I ask him to get his coat he'll just ignore me. I'm not sure whether he knows what his coat/shoes/bag are, but as he is knows the names of his toys like Iggle Piggle, I'm assuming he does understand. Should I be concerned? I see others his age who follow instructions a lot more, he'll only follow mine if it's of interest to him!

For background, he has hit all his other milestones around the right time. Points, claps, waves goodbye, has great eye contact, plays hide and seek, lots of imaginative play (pretending to drink and eat food, offering me his pretend drinks/food/phone), plays with toys appropriately.

Interestingly he will come and tap me though to get my attention rather than say mumma/mum. He would never ask for drink, but would point when he wants it. However he will shout cars when he sees them. He babbles and chatters constantly and it seems to follow conversations patterns.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
HennyPennyHorror · 15/09/2019 08:42

Have you had his hearing checked since birth?

sundayschild1 · 15/09/2019 08:55

His first hearing check (at 6weeks I think) was fine. It hasn't been checked since, but we have been referred and are waiting for an appointment at the moment

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AladdinMum · 16/09/2019 10:18

Everything seems to be on track, nothing really sounds concerning - responding to their name 50% of the time would be considered 'good name response'. Try not to over test their name response, i.e. if you call them for no reason (i.e. just to see if they turn around) they will very quickly learn to ignore you.

Notodontidae · 16/09/2019 15:59

When we see someone reading a book it is obvious to us they are preoccupied, this is no so noticible in a small child who is taking in the whole world. That said try not to make too many commands, only say it once before getting to his height to repeat the question. Try and make more of them to his advantage until he learns to listen. He is still very young, but dont stop re-enforcing the message to respond to you immediately. Switch of TVs and clear distractants while you train your child to listen.

sundayschild1 · 24/10/2019 19:12

A brief update...

Hearing test showed some possible hearing loss in one ear. However, they said due to the way the test is carrier out they need to rule out that he'd lost interest in testing the second ear - so we'll have a retest in a few weeks

Nursery contacted me this week, as they have concerns re listening, concentration and speech. He's going to be assessed by their SENCo this week

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