17 Months old language.... am I being neurotic?

[heffalumpy]

Hi
I am starting to wind myself up into a full blown obsessive worry... basically I have a 17m old DD. I am starting to worry about her language skills, in that words that she did know she has stopped saying. For example, she used to say cat (pointing exitedly, while the poor long-suffering animals tried to look like scatter cushions), but that has gone. She used to do a reasonable thank-you, but that has stopped too. There are a few words that she still uses, but she hasn't learned any new ones for a while. She mostly communicates by pointing, imploring eyes, and screeching, which is getting trying.

It is just so different from her older sister at that age, who was a real chatter box (still is, seven years on!). Aside from that, she sat, crawled and walked all early and is very good with her hands. Do you think I am making a mountain out of a molehill??

How long has she 'stopped' talking for? I found that my DD went through 'quiet' periods (anything from a few days to two weeks) when she was developing other new skills.

In essence, if she has been talking, there's probably nothing to worry about, but you might want to get her hearing checked again if it's bothering you.

Oh heffalumpy, I could have written your post! My DD 3.4 now said her first clear word at 9 months and never looked back.

My DS is 17 months and although he makes a lot of noise, he really only has Daddy as his one clear word...yet 4 months ago, (even longer?) he said stuff like Turtle, Balloon, Cow, Cat, cheers, light, book etc. He's just stopped - it's absurd!

I'm not worrying, because I think it's a difference in temperament. He's so much more wilful than DD. She would do all the animal noises on demand etc, and was quite happy to "perform" her linguistic skills for all and sundry.

I think DS just can't be bothered to try and impress us! He doesn't need to - he gets so much positive attention from his sheer cheeky wickedness, which we all find irresistable lol!

I think this might be a normal pattern in speech development, but I know there are a handful of trained SALT's who lurk and post on these boards so if you are really concerned maybe post a new thread calling all SALT's in your thread title? I'm sure someone can put your mind at rest.

Thanks - it has been a few months really.

Sycamoretree, I think our children are some kind of cosmic twins - I would say separated a birth, but even with all that gas and air I might have noticed delivering another one

In terms of temperament, she is more of a pickle than her sister, and much more determined, whereas her sister was much more eager to please.... I really hope that you are right and that is all there is to it, but I won't be at peace until she starts chatter again.

My dd's speech only started taking off at 2.5. So I understand the worry. I would say 17 months is too young to fret though I would take loss of speech to be slightly more of a concern as it is a marker for autism.

The Special Needs section is very helpful to post in if you want to tap the ladies' experience. They might ask you other questions.

But I will emphasise do that only out of an abundance of caution. If I have a feeling about something, I prefer to know when to intervene rather than wait-and-see.

From what you describe, the loss of words is entirely normal (and quite minor) - my dd stopped using certain words/sounds too. The frustration also sounds normal toddler behaviour.

heffa, love how you describe your dd as a 'pickle'. Both my dcs are also determined characters - quite a different kettle of fish from more placid children. Screeching and hairtrigger tantrumming are quite normal in my household.

My 18 month old says "ooot" and "ca" and "jaa" She means out, cat and jack. I'm not worried niether is her HV.

She also communicates with screeching accompanied by pointing and grabbing hands which can be confusing wheh she is grabbing at a pile of toys.

me: oh you want a book?
dd2: whhhhaaaa
me: the teddy?
dd2:whhhaaa
me: the crayola?
dd2: whhhaaa
me: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
dd2 WWWWWWWWWWHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!
me: dd1 come and sort out dd2 she is giving me a headache
dd1: she wants the dolly

Why can a five year old dechiper "whhhaa" and I can't

SS - that's so funny!

DS is such an energetic and exciteable character. My mum just kills herself laughing - when he's hungry and you put one his favourite meals in front of him he actually starts shaking with excitement, lol! He puts his mouth an an OOOOO shape and just says "ooo" "ooo" "ooo!" over and over with his hands reaching out until he manages to get the first mouthful in. I was actually quite frightened the first time he did it - it's such an extreme reaction!

I have come to the conclusion that he has LOTS of words, as he makes so much noise, many and varied ones, but at the moment, bless, only he can decipher them.

Last night there was a small breakthrough though - he was reaching up to his bookshelf at bedtime going "Cack" "Cack". By a process of elimination I realised he wanted this book he has which has a long crocodile that pulls out on the last page.....of course he's not interested in me reading it, he just wants to pull the "Cack" in and out

ds seemed to go backwards for a while at this age - familiar words would disappear when new ons arrived, and it all seemed to grind to a halt when he was ill (the usual coughs/colds). but now you can't shut him up, his vocabulary is enormous. i wouldn't worry at this age.