Ds 20 months and not talking

[ijustcouldntthinkofausername]

DS turned 20 months on 16th Nov. He's not talking. He babbles away happily 'babababa, dadadada, gagagaga' and says 'Daaahh' if he sees or hears a dog. He went through a very short phase of saying what sounded like 'Hiya' but has stopped.
Other than that, he's walking, running and is a happy boy. If I ask him to show me things in a book he will point correctly, if I say 'upstairs, bathtime now' he will drop whatever he's doing and run to the stairs. If I say clap or ask him to show me where is his head, he will.
I know he understands me, he's just not repeating any words back to me.
I read books, sing songs, even tried Ms Rachel the baby speech teacher on YouTube which he enjoys. But he's still not talking.

Any more tips please?

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Have you had his hearing checked @ijustcouldntthinkofausername? Sometimes glue ear can affect speech.

No I hadn't ever done across that but he seems to hear me fine so never considered it 😕

I'd ask your HV to assess him using the ASQ Ages & Stages and to refer him for a hearing test.

I'd also do this Speech & Language progress checker before speaking to her.

Thank you this is helpful @PritiPatelsMaker

Did you do the progress checker? Did it suggest that you access any support?

Hi @PritiPatelsMaker I did the assessment and only answered 1 no out of all of them and that was the imaginative play one as I can't think if he does this. I'm going to pay more attention. I may buy him things like a pretend flip phone etc and see if he imitates me, then I'll try the assessment again at a later date because on the list he does actually do all the others so I'm confused but at the same time relieved.
Thanks for sharing that link 😊

Ok so that progress checker was for slightly younger DC. I'd maybe call their helpline tomorrow and see if they suggest that he needs SLT and a hearing test