Someone remind me - is saying "what" to everything normal in a 2 year old?

[Paolosgirl]

There's a big age gap between DC2 and DC3 so I can't remember - do they all say "what?" whenever you speak to them? We've got an appointment with the GP next week, but I'm partially deaf and I've already panicked and decided that this is the start of deafness in DC3(2.10). Anyone else have this in their toddler?

my 3 yr old says it all the time, nothing wrong with his hearing if you whisper 'sweets' though

What?

My 3 year old does and then it is quickly followed by no

Not funny Plum - I am seriously worrying about this!!! (OK, it was very funny )

Yes, I'm hoping it may just be selective deafness..

oh yes - DS1 says it all the time too.
the only thing more annoying is when he doesn't manage what, but grunts 'huh?' like some moody teenager. he is 2y 9m.

like vt, i can whisper 'chocolate' from the other end of the house and he will come running...

i think toddlers say 'what' alot, because it takes them longer to process questions, as they are still learning and developing their speech, so saying 'what' when you ask a question becomes thier initial reaction iykwim?

i would say its fairly common paolosgirl, both my dc did/do it, and my nieces/nephew/friends children all have at some point

and fwiw if if your dc is saying 'what' when you speak to them, it proves they can hear you, or they would say nothing at all

When they get to 'why' you'll look back on the 'what' days with nostalgic longing.

Those are good points, Vinegar. It definitely seems to be his first reaction to everything that's said, and probably the elder 2 did say it but I've just forgotten.

I have a genetic hearing problem (almost completely deaf at high frequencies) and am always worried about DD's hearing, so I have been known to test them by whispering 'Want a biscuit' from various palces in teh house to check their hearing as DD1's default answer to anything is 'What?'

Dh recently helpfully pointed out that it is probably because that is how I respond to most things I have consciously been trying not to and she has stopped doing it so much now.