Speech and pronunciation at 25 mnths - bit worried

[Dilettante]

DS knows loads of individual words, I couldn't count them, he basically knows the words for most things, and says them, but his speech is not very clearly articulated at all and to me his speech seems behind his peers at nursery, he sounds quite babyish iyswim.

So for example I can understand what he says but sometimes DH won't hear what he is saying as he spends less times with him than I do.

In nursery we had the problem that they weren't aware that he knew colours, could count and recognise some numbers and letters etc because he hardly ever talks there. He's now been moved up with the next age group and seems a lot happier, but still isn't talking to anyone.

How do you know what is normal or not? DH had speech problems as a child and I wonder if DS is the same. I talk to him a lot, we read to him and do singing etc.

Just read my post again, and of course I mean he knows the words for most things in his daily routine/experience...the usual stuff.

Also been reading comments on other posts about speech and reassured that they all develop differently. It is mostly the fact that no one else can understand anything he says and also that instead of a sentence he'll just say one word, like "ducks" meaning "we went to feed the ducks". I think I'm being a bit overanxious though I'll get me coat!

are you worried about his behaviour at all?

my ds was delayed with speech had hardly any recognizable words mind you

but he knew colors, alphabet and numbers'' but i felt something wasnt quite right and took him to gp he was dx with HFA

will not talk at nursery and still doesnt his 4 now

if your not worried about his behaviour at all then i would say his still young so leave him but if you feel something isnt right then go to your gp

it would be worth asking nursery how he is with group led activities , around his peers working to own agenda

as at home my ds is completely different to a pre school nursery setting he cannot interact doesnt speak but at home his so different so speaking to his nursery and hearing there concerns backed me up more to take a further look into things just in case

doesnt mean there is anything more to it just go on your gut instincts

at this age its normal to not be understood this is expected up until about 4

its just if you feel his delayed in speech do seek help as the waits for SALT can be awful easier to come off list then on it

early intervention is always best even if you think your being slightly neurotic its better than leaving it 6 mths and finding no change and could have been half way there to help

at 2 they expect 50 words and start of putting 2 words together

Thanks for that. It's hard to know what is considered normal behaviourally too really - he's an only child and the only grandchild on both sides and he tends to intereact and play well with adults (family, friends, neighbours etc) but he is kind of funny with other kids, and will sometimes do this thing where he closes his eyes (for eg he was being pushed to go down the slide and he sort of clammed up and closed his eyes). However I think that might be down to the beginnings of feelings of self consciousness in some situations.

I know he is not very good with sharing and taking turns...but then he never has to do it at home.

I'll speak to the nursery, they will have had experience across the normal spectrum.

What was it your son was dx with? I don't know the accronym, sorry. Thanks

My ds has just turned 2 and his speech sounds quite similar to your ds's. He says a few 2-word sentances (usually "more xxx" - food of some description usually!) and occasionally 3 words together, but 95% of it is single words.

And much is indistinct. Eg if he says "where are you" it comes out "ere-are-oo" as if it's one word. In fact I've noticed the longer the sentance, the more indistinct - the single words are clearer. But even then, sometimes it's just me, DP or others who know him well that understand what he's saying. Another example, I asked him today what colour something was and he said "eh-oh" but he meant "yellow". I was actually more pleased he knew yellow rather than worry about his pronunciation!

I have known plenty of children this age who are indistinct, and they have all become clearer as they get older. I met a little boy (23 months) in the park today who I couldn't understand at all but his mum did. Think it's pretty common.

I'm not worried about my son's speech, and tbh it doesn't sound like you've got much to be worried about either. And I am a serial worrier

x-posts, sorry.

Have you ever met a 2 year old who was good at sharing?

high functioning autism very bright but unable to socialise with his peers will not speak to others without prompting

i wouldn't worry about sharing but you can do games at home to promote that and its not expected until around 2 half to play with rather than alongside my ds always been an observer he prefers adults to children

im not saying at all there is more to it but i do always say to people if they have concerns act on them as i was told all the time my ds was slow being a boy he'd be ok and this obviously was so wrong im glad i followed my gut instinct

again it can be an age thing a confidence thing but always best to seek help as i say its easier to come off a list than on it

sounds perfectly normal to me.
In fact my ds2 has virtually no speech compared to that which you describe and I'm not worried about him at all.

Children are 3 before they interact with others in play, at 2 I'd expect him to play alongside, but not with, other kids.
I've never met a 2yo yet who shares anything.

I wouldn't worry about him too much at this age but here are a few suggestions of things to think about.

Has he got a good range of verbs as well as nouns that he can say?

Knowing some action words helps with linking words ''mummy run'', ''daddy wash'', ''teddy eat''.

''More'' is a very powerful word to learn and is great fro encouraging linking. ''more banana'', ''more tickles'', ''more thomas'', ''more painting''...

When he says a word, perhaps pointing something out to you, repeat it back and add another word e.g. ds ''bus'' you: ''a big bus'' or ''bye bye bus'' or ''bus is gone''.

Don't correct his speech but just repeat the word back correctly so he hears in again.

Develop his listening skills. Play sound lotto type activities where he has to listen to a sound and tell you what it is or get the right picture. Talk about the things you can hear when out for a walk.

Oh, and another good way to encourage word linking is to talk about body parts. ''ds'nose'', ''mummy's nose'', ''nana's mouth''.

I also meant to say that not to worry about how is saying things until he is saying alot more things in sentences.

It's a bit like learning to play the piano, you wouldn't expect to get every piece you play perfect until you had had some practise!

I think (hope!) I'm fairly on the ball with the kinds of encouragement you mention DHT, and have been doing that since he was tiny really. Thinking about it, he does say some sentences "Ding a song daddy" (sing a song daddy) "doos on mama" (shoes on mama) "not daddy" (daddy is not here) "eat dinner mama" "it ere mama" (sit here mama) etc. I think it is just the way he says things - he doesn't pronounce stuff clearly at all and I as I said he pretty much doesn't talk at all at nursery.

I am really reassured by all the responses and realise that I've probably just been comparing him to the slightly older children in his nursery room, one or two of whom brightly shout "Hello x are you coming to play" etc when we go in the room.

From your examples, it sounds as though he is doing fine.

Continue doing what you are doing!