16 month lost his words - should i be worried?

[pollykettlechips]

My DS had about a dozen or so words by 12 months, including a couple of 2 word combinations, all in context but lately we've noticed that he says virtually no words now. Instead he just points and says 'uh' all the time.

DH thinks it's because he is focusing on learning to walk (he's almost there), and that it's one skill at a time sort of thing, but i'm getting worried. I'm sure it's not a good sign to forget words already learned.

He's a very sociable wee boy, loving, and doing well with his milestones. I think i'm worried that this might be an early indicator of autism. He also loves stcking blocks, flaps his arms a lot (rather than saying no).

I'm a constant worrier and I'm sure if it wasn't this, I'd be worried about something else.

I'm sure it's fine, but why don't you check with your Health Visitor just to put your mind at rest.

don't worry. I remember dd being like this, one day she'd know a word, the next she'd seem to have forgotten. ds is now the same(20 months)

They seem to learn things, push them to one side and learn something else, but it's still there and he'll suddenly start saying loads i'd think.

One thing i've learnt sine having dd (now 4.6) is that motherhood is a constant round of worrying about one thing and another, which doesn't help, but it's just something youhave to get used to.I'm a born worrier but have relaxed because i've had too. It seems to be worse with your first child too. I'm much less worried with ds

I have 2 children with autism and one without.

The one who is not autistic (dd) was an early talker but seemed to put her language skills to one side when she was busy concentrating on something else. She would then just carry on where she left off and still talks non-stop.

Ds2 had a few words at 10mths and then lost them all again soon after. He was later diagnosed with autism. The big difference between ds2 and your ds though is that your ds has just switched to communicating in a different way. He is still pointing and making the sounds even if he's not using the words. With my ds2 the autism means that he had to be taught how to point and be taught what pointing is used for. Even now (he's 5yrs old) he will still get it wrong.

The flapping itself doesn't really mean anything tbh. Not all children with autism will flap, and not all children who flap will have autism. My dd flaps sometimes, usually when she's annoyed about something, but has no autistic traits at all.

I would definitely speak to someone (HV or GP) if you still have concerns, but from what you've posted I think your dh might be right.

Thank you both. I've just made an appointment the doctors for both DS and I (his speech, my stress)

Rudolph, glad to hear that I'm not the only one who worries so much and it's good to hear that it may ease off a little. Sometimes i think i can't worry any more than I do then i find someting else. I'll take your advice and try to relax a little.

Thank you Coppertop, what you say makes a lot of sense. DS is communicating, and in all other respects is the same as he was a few months ago. I'll speak to the GP and see what he thinks, but I,m grateful for you post.

X

My DS did this at about 17 months which coincided with onset of winter and lots of colds. Had several words at 12 months and about same number at 22 months. spoke to Speech therapist friend and also speech therapist at drop in. Said his pattern of language development was consistent with conductive hearing loss / glue ear - ie intermittent hearing problems. We had eventually suspected this and we then realised DS did snore loudly by that point and always had a cold. I would ask for an audiology appointment to rule out a hearing problem.

Autism is another possible cause of this (but i wouldn't have thought that is likely as he is still communicating), or it could just be usual development, that he has worked out that saying ugh and pointing is easy enough and gets what he wants, and will speak more when he's ready.

My DS did this. He seemed to lose the momentum and clarity of his speech development overnight. The health visitor and doctor were not too interested as he was still within 'normal' range for speech. Almost 2 years later, he's just been diagnosed with glue ear. I wish I'd pushed it for a referral earlier on. He's now booked to have his adenoids out and grommits fitted.

Good luck.