Help! Any recommended books, toys or activities to encourage a non-verbal 18 mth old to talk??

[Sparkletastic]

Please help oh wise ones... Just started down the road of a possible dyspraxia diagnosis with 18 mth old DD2. Tis likely to be a long and frustrating process I fear. In the meanwhile what can I do to try and get her verbalising (I'll worry about the constant falling over and other stuff once we get some professional help)? She can only say 'mummum' and only says that once or twice a week. Our Health Visitor has suggested taking photos of family members and everyday objects to try and get her to match pairs of photos and I'm getting on with that, but is there owt else anyone has found success with? Particular books, games or even baby group type things? I currently work but am thinking I might jack it in and dedicate self to mothering DD2 more intensively IYKWIM but that's another story... Many thanks!

Really useful website attached with lots of suggestions here.

Thanks pinkteddy - that's a really useful site.

bump

My now 10 yr old DS, was diagnosed as having delayed development which was subsequently diagnosed as mild cerebral palsy. We were advised not to try verballising as he would just get screamingly frustrated, and i don't blame him. What they did at the local development centre was to teach the children basic sign lanuage, (not the letter based one the representitive one) tipping the hand for cup/drink, tapping the elbow for biscuit, hand on heart for love etc. Its easy enough to learn yourself and you can teach it easily enough to your DD2, your 1st child can also join in as its great fun for them. Also ask your 1st what your child means, sometimes they are able to interpret your youner child than you are.
You have to get him communicating, not neccesarily talking first, or else his frustrations will boil over and turn a great future into a contant battle.

I found this charity really helpful. I've linked the page that has recommended activities/books etc. If you email them they will send you a very detailed reply. afasic.org.uk/pub.htm#activity

Sparkletastic we're in a similar boat. Our son is 20 months and really isn't saying any words yet. We got him evaluated by a team of professionals (they came and saw him together) - a speech therapist, an occupational therapist and a social worker. They concluded that his speech development delay was secondary to his sensory hypersensitivity. He is super-sensitive to textures (tactile hypersensitivity). Since little ones explore the world through their mouth - and for him it is a hyper sensitive area - kids like my son might guard it from overstimulation. That includes being reluctant to even use tongue/ lips, etc facial muscules to make out words.

So actually instead of the speech therapist - he now works with an occupational therapist. She does a lot of physical/ body contact games with him to expose his entire body to touch and textures. She also helped us to learn how to speak with him in simple, baby language. So instead of saying "Honey, are you finished with your meal" - we now say "All done?" and he started mimicing those words! We also try and supplement these words with sign language. It's actually fun

Like you - I have been reading this week about dyspraxia... I will ask my OT if she thinks my son might has it. He has some symptoms but not all... I can share with you what I learn. Also, if you're interested to learn in details what my OT does with my son, I'll gladly share but my only caution is that you need to find out the root cause of your DD's speech development delay.

Hiya

My ds3 is very limited in his verbal ability at age 4.3, and only started anything ike talking a few months ago (he has been seen by SALT and Paed and ASD is being considered but we think thats not the right dx)- he ahs other SN as well developmentally.

The things that seem to work with him are songs (he intonates mroe than speaks but hey its verbalisation!) and rhymes, such as round and round the garden... JoJingles was good for a bit (until they changed the times and we couldn't go sadly), but toddler groups / nursery dont seem to work so well for him because of the size of the group and making himself undestood is inevitably ahrder in a group.

If your LO has a favoirute TV or other show see if they do an activity or song DVD- ds3 loves In The Night AGrden and intonates tunefully to that, and adores the dancing parts too.

He also loves to carrya round a small photo album of himself and will try and apss comment on that a lot, or small albums of art works etc he has made.

Hi Sparkletastic

DS1, 17 months only says Mama and Dada. What other concerns do you have if you don't mind me asking?

ok - i dont have much time, dd wanting me to sit down mummy (thats three whole words - not bad for someone who said nothing at 18m and is now 2.3)

Some pointers

Don't ask questions that require yes no answers - always offer choces, so - juice or water, is that a car or a cat - that way you are giving the words.

MAkaton sign language is good - just watch justin on ceebeebies for a starters.

Have a 15 minute child lead play session with lots of repeating, oh look xyz is doing x, has got x - look you have an x etc.

Talk talk talk as much as you can.

Try not to worry and see if you can get on the list for SALT. I was worried about DD, she seems to be doing OK now. FWIW, my salt said they wont diagnose dyspraxia or dyslexia in a child under 7, i think.

JUst out of interest, did she crawl? Mine was a bum shuffler.

Oh wow some great stuff here - sorry have been away from thread for ages but both DDs have had that lushy vomiting virus today...

Castles - great link - thanks for that - DD2 really only has all of DD1's hand-me-down books and toys so was thinking I'd send out early pleas for USEFUL Xmas presents from the family.

Katendmom - your DS has a very interesting variation there then - don't think DD2 shows any signs of that but what a relief that must have been when you could finally get some answers.

Peachy - great tips - thank you. DD2 only really shows any real interest in 'In The Night Garden' so snap there! Think a music group would be good for her - I got out all our instruments today and she really had a great time and did make some conversational type sounds which is unusual for her.

oneoftwo - other things are that DD2 is clearly right handed but often tries to awkwardly use her left hand. She walks like a puppet IYKWIM hands up and flapping, legs kicking out to sides and falls over every few steps. She won't really join in with group activities at nursery and is only happy if one of the carers devotes themself to her. She also never engages with people that smile at her or shows much interest in anyone except immediate family. She has a very short attention span and will hand me a book then immediately look away or move away when I start reading. If she can't immediately do something she gives up or gets very cross. She was also very late to sit and crawl and walk. All these things could just be a late blossomer, 2nd child syndrome, or other (she has a congenital thyroid condition which might be related) but HV has referred her to a paediatrician, physiotherapist, speech and language therapist, audiology and Early Years Childcare at the council to check everything out. HV basically said if it is dyspraxia then need to get help asap and deffo before she gets into school as NHS only really geared up seriously for pre-schoolers.

LEM - many thanks indeed - really useful hints that wouldn't necessarily have occurred to me. Might look into Makaton classes - bless Justin though, always glad of an excuse to watch the big man do his thang!

Thanks all - whatever this is I really need to DO something, and you lovely people have given me an outline plan to get strated on.

(BTW www.bibic.org.uk can help with Dyspraxia- and they can help with funding too if needed. two of mine go there and I personally hold them liable for all teh progress they've made!)

ooops sorry- you don't need a dx btw

Thanks Peachy - did you get referred to Bibic or did you track them down yourself? Looks very good...

If anyone is still watching this that is in a similar boat, can I ask whether you work or not? Not to kick off the usual nightmare debates you understand , but just to assist in my decision making process as to what I should do if this does turn out to be an issue. I am currently working 2 1/2 days a week in a job I like, and pays the mortgage, but I'd give it up like a shot if I thought that I could really make a difference to DD2 when it counts.

i was thinking about you earlier, sparkle as i have had a few more ideas, well not mine but we did this at speech therapy and it worked really well. Two games we used to play were:

The little puzzles that you can get from early learning centre, the wooden ones where you slot pictures of animals, shapes etc into the board. The shapes were put into a cloth bag and the children had to fish one out and then be asked what they had before they fit it into the puzzle. If they coudlnt answer, most of them couldnt at first, they were given choices, is that a dog or a cat etc. This apparently works on aa few levels . It teaches turn taking, which apparently is very good for speech development, and it is giving lots of words, and it is fun Also, placing the puzzle peices in is good, i have looked into this and have read that dyspraxic children may battle with this sort of thing, but good to practise.

The second game was post box: Little laminated pictures like letters, themed is good, we had food, turned face down, children took turns to pick them up - then its "oh, what have you got- is it a banana or an apple (signs made too), ooh look lucy has an apple, post the apple, bye bye apple"

Regarding your working i am a SAHM, my dd still has speech delay (it is improving so much now). I don't think you working 2.5 days a week will be of detriment to dd, in fact i think it is a good thing, what are your childcare arrangements? Does she get to stay with other children, lots of children really benefit from this. I really really dont think you should give up your job - it would add more stress to the situation and your dd would benefit from seeing other people. I am a real SAHM supporter but a part time job i think is often better as it gives everyone a break.

Why do you think your child may have dyspraxia? I was worried about that with DD but i have all but discounted it now.

I am no expert by any means, im just going on my own experience with DD.

sparkle, i have just read re your worries re walking etc - my dd didnt walk til she was 17m, she never crawled, uses both right and left hand. Was pretty clumsy, used to flap like a mad thing - all of that has disappeared now. Of course you must get this investigated as early help is always going to make a huge difference. My DD saw a peadiatrician too, she said she was fine, but yes, cannot base your dd on mine of course. Does she point at things she wants etc?

When are your appointments? i hope you get something soon so you can stop worrying, whatever the dx once you know (it may be just a bit late blossoming) you can do all the right things to help her have a head start.

Thanks LEM for more really great stuff - have got some wooden puzzles so will try that today and DH ordered a laminating machine off the net last night to start a photo flash card production epic! Am really hoping DD2 is just late getting started on things and your posts have given me a lot of comfort that, even if she is unusually late with some stuff, there are other DCs in the same situation that have really caught up.

HV coming back today for a longer session and will hopefully have set up the appts. Did you have to fill in a development diary type thing for your DD? Apparently this is what she is bringing for me to get started on today to help with diagnosis.

DD2 doesn't point at things - just makes strangled noises and reaches towards me. Trouble is I instinctively know what she wants and get it for her. Must really break this habit. Other major prob is she quites likes a dummy when at all tired or distressed so imagine HV is going to give me a major talking to about that

Thanks for your views on the working thing - won't hand in notice just yet. Also good to hear your views on being with other kids - had been thinking nursery is a waste of time for DD2 but she only goes 1 1/2 days a week and would like her to keep with it for the socialisation.

Found a music class that I can take her to on one of my days off so hope to be bashing a tambourine like a mad thing later this week

a micraphone/cassette player
a toy mobile phone
animal picture books (dick bruna - animal book)

my dd didn't talk till she was two - and these really helped.

I have a book called 'Babytalk' by Dr Sally Ward which you may find interesting/helpful. Have a look in your local library.

My ds was a late walker and talker too.

Just wanted to second the last post, Babytalk is an excellent read. Full of suggestions to encourage your child to speak in a nice, non-pressured way.

I'd be happy to lend you my copy if you wanted? My ds is only 9months so I'm not really in urgent need of it!

Sparkle- I ws lucky enough to grow up nearby, and actually visited them for work / college a few times, so knew of them very well. The best reference imo!

And when ds3 was about a year i went abck to college, and then on to Uni- so not exactly a SAHM and not exactly working either! he goes to a childminder who happens to have experience of speech disorders as she ahs a child with ASD, but we dind't know that when we bookked her. He was bf until 16 months, all the right stuff- its just ne of those things! Strangely our eldest (the one who has HFA, a form of autism) has a speech age of 16 - 21 at 7, so I really do belive its innate, I worked long hours with ds1 and ds2 from the age of 9 weeks (maternity alws different then and we were financially stuck)

Don't look for reasns to blame yourself.

Thanks Mercy and mindalina - have just ordered Babytalk from Amazon and a Sing and Sign book that I also thought might be good.

casbie - was just looking at those ELC baby karaoke thingies as a possible Xmas pressie request for DD2 (DD1 would just lurve something like that too so might have to wrestle her away from it). DD2 has a baby mobile phone but just holds it up to her ear and listens intently as if she might actually have a call. Sigh...

Peachy - thanks for the 'it's not your fault' pep talk which was much needed. Of course I firmly believe it is (I am woman hear me guilt myself into a gibbering wreck) but am deferring decision about work for at least a month or two in the hope that things may pick up with some professional advice and me putting more focussed effort into DD2 when we are together. Rather than food shopping / vacuuming etc to entertain and stimulate her . Oh lawks - will have to reduce daytime Mumsnetting too - she's asleep now I hasten to add.

We had the Babytalk book and it is very sensible and easy to follow. Sadly for us though we did not make huge moves forwards. Our DD#1 is possibly suffering from a degree of verbal dyspraxia (not had a "label" put to it just yet, just a potential diagnosis that has been mentioned) but what really concerned me with her was no babbling of different sounds. One problem that she definately had though was glue ear - affecting her hearing in this case. We eventually had grommets put in and adenoids out and she has made huge inroads to her understanding and efforts to speak. We are still stuggling with specific sounds but for sure things have become a lot better since they were done. I would therefore suggest you get a hearing test done just to exclude that as a contributing factor with the speech.

In terms of the speech therapy she is getting now (aged 3 yrs) she is focusing on making certain sounds. We are following the Nuffield dyspraxia programme which has a series of cards with pictures on that you associate sounds to. eg motorbike picture = mmmmm sound. crocodile picture with open mouth is ah sound. Put the two pictures together in time and say "ma" etc. Perhaps you might want to look into just trying to make lots of different sounds rather than words at this stage? We have found our local music group fun for trying to encourage noise, and you can make up songs at home too - old Mcdonald had a motorbike ...with a Mmmm Mmmm here etc. (clever old farmer!)
We also did a lot of work on mouth movements before the specific sounds - sensetoys.com have a set of graded whistles to blow that help develop muscles to the mouth, blowing pingpong balls along +/- through a straw (no teeth allowed!), pulling funny faces etc. All fun games you can make up at home.

Best of luck - It is very frustrating at times working through this, but if I look how far we have come already this year the journey ahead seems less worrying.

Thank you beautifulgirls - yes DD is booked in for a hearing test to check that out. She did fail all of them as a baby until we got referred for a hospital 'sensor' type one and they managed to get a clear result. Het thyroid condition also has a connection with possible hearing loss. I do wonder if that might be an issue that comes and goes as sometimes she walks well, other days she constantly falls, and she is one of those kids who constantly has a crackly chest, runny nose etc so could be catarhh (sp?!) or somesuch. Have registered for a music group and HV has referred us to a SN toddler group that is apparently very good as physios and SALT etc all attend to help out and answer questions.

Am trying to forget about the dyspraxia thing and worry about one thing at a time - making noises comes first!

HV did suggest I ask for a parental leave career break if I was thinking about resigning as she agreed max input now would make all the difference to DD and then I'd have a job to go back to (if they agree!!). Might be a plan...

Something BIBIC gets us to do with ds1- sounds silly but seems to be working- activities to improve mouth sensitivity. these include brushing an electric toothbrush around the lips and tongue, and putting a tiny amount of strong tasting (non spicy) food on the handle end of a teaspoon and placing it on his tongue: apparntly that encourages them to push the taste around their mouth to dissipate it, and exercises mouth muscles. We also use a massager (electric) on his whole face for the same reason. Blowing bubbles is also part of it.

There's a girl at DS3's school (ds3 is on delayed entry though until Spring) who has dyspraxia (little speech) as a dx at 4, so some places must be happy to diagnose. She gets 10 hours 1-1, which seems to help.