Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

Lack of speech

20 replies

shaz8571 · 27/04/2010 10:28

Hello, I am new to the site so please excuse any errors I may make.
My son is 21mths and says no words at all. He makes no attempt to even try. He has 2 older syblings of 12 and 15 who talk constantly to him as do myself and my husband. He understands what is said to him and can make himself understood but we have no speech. I have spoken to the health visitor who has put him in the waiting list for speech therapist, but there is an 8mth wait for this. His hearing is fine and in every other way he is developing perfectly. If anyone has any advice I would be more than grateful. Thankyou in advance.

OP posts:

LadyintheRadiator · 27/04/2010 10:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Lozario · 27/04/2010 10:54

My little brother was the same - didn't really talk until he was 3, and then he wouldn't shut up! I am 12 years older than him and my brother is 10 years older, so he had 4 slaves waiting on him and no need to talk. He spoke in la-la-las which we translated ("What do you want in your sandwich?" "la-la-la." "Cucumber, ok!"). Mum was terribly worried and got him on the speech therapist list which had a long waiting list like yours. By the time his turn came around we didn't really need it any more.

Anyway, we were told to ask him to confirm what he wanted and to repeat things correctly several times. This seemed to do the trick. He's 18 now and doing science A Levels and has always been top of the class so don't worry about it affecting him long term - if you've had hearing tested and get on the list for speech therapy (which I'm sure will no longer be needed by the time his turn comes around) it will get sorted out. Keep repeating correct pronounciations to him, asking him to clarify what he wants.

mummytime · 27/04/2010 10:55

What kind of a hearing test have you had? If it was just a health visitor one, ask for a referral to a paediatrician, I might ask for this anyway as he could be having repeat ear infections.
Do make sure you talk to him a lot. Does he respond to speech?

My son was speech delayed, thought to be because we responded too well to his non-verbal cues, but he did have some speech at this age.

Original poster

shaz8571 · 28/04/2010 10:24

Thankyou for your reply, he is waiting to have his hearing tested at the clinic. I say his hearing is fine as he knows what you are saying to him as in "go get your shoes", find your juice etc.

OP posts:

Original poster

shaz8571 · 28/04/2010 10:27

Thankyou for your reply, deep down I feel he will be fine as you say but i'm just concerned. I think he may just be lazy if i'm honest.

OP posts:

Original poster

shaz8571 · 28/04/2010 10:30

Thankyou for your reply, I am waiting for a normal health visitor hearing test but If clear I will take your advice and ask for a referal.

OP posts:

mummytime · 28/04/2010 10:55

Okay Shaz, he may be fine. Although I'd still suspect repeat ear infections.

However, when I was little a family I played with had a younger brother "Mark", we always though of Mark as just being quiet. We certainly played with him etc. It was only when he was five that it was discovered he was deaf. He was so good at picking up cues that it was missed.

His mother was devastated and felt guilty, but I've always been amazed that no-one spotted it (and I include myself). He was just quiet Mark.
So I would really get that ear test.

However, most late/poor speakers I have known have had some kind of ear infection history. This needs to be treated early, as it will impact both speech development and later reading and writing (I'm not saying he won't learn, he just might find it harder at first).

My doctors always say if a mother is worried then there is something that needs to be looked at.

pagwatch · 28/04/2010 11:10

Does he/did he babble?

LoveBeingAMummy · 28/04/2010 11:17

Do you have a local sure start centre? They have sessions where SALTs are there to help establish any problems the children attending may have. Give them a call and you can find out when to go.

LadyintheRadiator · 28/04/2010 19:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

cyberseraphim · 28/04/2010 19:57

If you are happy with the understanding - can follow instructions without visual support or context then it should be fine. What will he typically do to get favourite items when you are on the other side of the room ?

Original poster

shaz8571 · 30/04/2010 09:47

Thankyou again for your response. Would the ear infections be picked up in a hearing test or should I see the dr to find out?

OP posts:

Original poster

shaz8571 · 30/04/2010 09:49

Yes he does make sounds like mumumumumu and dadadadada but not in the context of calling myself or his dad. Its just random. He says da (which is ta we think) when he gives us an item, in the same way we say ta when we give him something.

OP posts:

Original poster

shaz8571 · 30/04/2010 09:54

Not that i'm aware of but he has just started a step by step group which may be the same type of thing. It is run by support wworkers, public health nurses etc, specialist professional drop into the sessions throughout the term.

OP posts:

posieparker · 30/04/2010 09:56

What about animal noises? How does he get what he wants?

You may find he suddenly talks whole sentences!! My ds1 was late, all his peers were babbling away and he managed a mama/dada then at 2.5 the words came fast and furious!

Original poster

shaz8571 · 30/04/2010 09:59

He will generally come and take your hand and lead you to what he wants. He will also point and "grunt" or say "oh". You just seem to get to know what he wants. He does seem to get frustrated often and will bang his head against the floor or doors, which I find quite distressing but try to ignore it.

OP posts:

cyberseraphim · 30/04/2010 10:49

I would try to encourage the pointing but don't let him lead you by the hand. It's impossible to tell from what you say whether there is an underlying issue or not but it's possible that you might need a developmental assessment ( it will take time to set one up and if things move on you can cancel) . Do you have 2 year checks in your area ?

hatchypom · 30/04/2010 10:58

I vote for a proper hearing test as well, my 14 month old didnt develop speech and it was only after pushing for testing that we discovered she has a hearing problem. She lip reads and picked up on the subtle clues so it can be overlooked, (ie if you have your coat on chances are you'll need your shoes). Remove visual clues and try sitting behind / to the side and test comprehension using a simple game (take some photos and try asking where things are - the cat, car, mummy etc). May give you some comfort regarding his hearing.

Can he blow bubbles / use a straw ?

You should also pop over to the SN area as there are lots of people with SLT experience over there. Push for the hearing test by your nearest audiology department.

boythengirl · 30/04/2010 11:14

Hi there,

My son (now 4) was exactly like that. We had a hearing test to rule that out and our HV referred him to the speech therapist but as you are experiencing that can take time. My DS was was nearly 2.6 years when he was seen. She gave him a diagnosis after seeing him for 1 min and then said see you in 20 weeks! We were unhappy with this but also we wanted to help him ASAP so we got a second opinion. She advised that it was too early to give him the diagnosis that he had been given and we did a course of parent-child interaction therapy. He is now 4 and fine, 1/2 sounds not where they should be for his age but most people would not notice.

So in summary keep pushing for the speech therapy. Some of the key point we had from the therapy:

When you ask a question offer him options - is the bus red or blue
Do 1:1 play with him (just for 10mins) where he leads the play. You don't initiate any of the conversation...if he says anything/makes any noises just repeat them back.

Just a few tips - don't worry, i know its hard not to when everyone's else's kids are chatting away. He is very young and most SALT won't see children before 2 because they are so young. We still don't really know why DS' speech was so late....

Hope this helps.

Original poster

shaz8571 · 01/05/2010 10:40

He loves listening to us do animal noises but does not copy. He has already had his 2yr check up and was either ok or above on all the other factors except his speech. I guess I will continue to push for his hearing test and follow the tips everyone has posted. Thankyou to everyone who has replyed

OP posts:

Flip