18month old not speaking

[CoolBananas21]

Hi - my DD is nearly 18 months old and was 7 weeks premature. She's doing really well, but she doesn't really speak that much. She has said daddy before, waves bye but that's about it. She makes noises, and understands parts of what I say but I wanted to see if anybody else had this - just looking for reassurance really!

Thanks!

What's her adjusted age @CoolBananas21?

It will be just over 16 months

Ok so I'd do this simple SLT progress checker. If she needs support it will let you know. You can book an appointment with one of their SLTs who will he able to advise you

Thank you for this! They don't seem to have any availability for call backs but they've got some good resources, thank you x

Ok so if it says she needs some support, I'd call the HV and ask for a referral for a hearing test. She may also be able to refer you to some groups for DC with speech delay.

My nephew is nearly 30 months old and doesn't say more than 5 words. He understands everything though. But his mum also didn't start talking until she was 3 and needed speech and language intervention. Doesn't shut up now! Don't worry ☺️

Thank you for this!

Hope you manage to get through to the HV today @CoolBananas21

It might be worth asking her to do the 18 month Ages & Stages and the 18 month Social & Emotional Ages & Stages.

You fill them both in and the HV scores them, just like the 12 month assessment

Thanks for this - do I just call up and book a HV appt? Or do I just rock up at a drop in clinic or something? X

I'd call first and tell her that the Speech & Language UK 18 month progress checker says that she needs some support and ask her first an appointment. If she doesn't give you one in the next month I'd just Rick up at the clinic and talk to them there

My son didn’t speak hardly at all at his 2 year check up, was fine with everything else, he walked at 11 months, potty trained by 2, just his speech was delayed. Health Visitor said she would see him in 6 months to access him again. What we then realised was he was pointing to what he wanted instead of trying to speak, I now know he spoiled him in doing everything for him. So we started saying you have to ask, not point. He also made a sippy sound for a drink, which again was our fault, we just got him a drink. We were all onboard with making him talk more, my MIL looked after him 2 days a week and she had to change as well. We made good progress and when HV phoned again to check in, he spoke to her on the phone.