How many words should an 17MO be saying

[JezzaJ9]

My DS who us 17.5 MO has been diagnosed with Glue Ear, it was only picked up as when he was born he was on Antibiotics so after he passed his hearing test it was recommended to be reviewed just in case.

He has been put on a course of Antibiotics to prevent any Ear infections (he has only had one) for 3 months and then he has to have another test.

The ENT Dr said that he should be saying more, he says what I thought was perfectly normal for an 17MO : Dada, Mama, Here, There, Car, Goat, More, ByeBye and many more, but she said he should be able to say more like Dada give me that - Am going Mad.

Just wanted any tips on what to look out for, I don't think his hearing or his speech is currently affected by it but I am not an expert on ENT but I am on my son!

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Thanks
J9

I don't know any children who at 17mo were using language that complex. My 22mo is just starting to join two words together 'red bus', 'blue car', 'police bike' for example and he seems to be about the same as his contempories if that makes sense.

I wouldn't worry - my DD is 18 months, also has glue ear apparently, has had ear infections on and off since december, but nevertheless hears every creak on the stairs- and she has, at a push, maybe 10 discernible words. She's just a latish speaker, just as her sister. As long as you're satisified your son is hearing and is communicating in other ways I wouldn't feel pressured by the ENT on how much he should be saying

My 21m old doesn't say sentences like "dada give me that" to be honest. He's learning more words all the time but his sentences are still fairly primitive to be honest and I'm not too worried. (Amd I worry about everything!)

Think your ENT Dr is a bit optimistic. Ds said nothing at 17 months, never mind sentences, and he didn't have any kind of hearing problem! He is now 3 and his language is completely normal. I would say don't worry.

DS had speec delay due to really bad glue ear glue ear and he seen the SALT who even at just over 2 would only have been expecting him to say things like: More Juice etc. Ie putting 2 words together.ing nothing at all at over 2.
SHe only seen him at that stage because he was say
I think the ENT is being a bit over the top in his expectations of what a child that age can say.

My 18 month old hasn't glue ear as far as I know, and she's got probably 20 words? I don't get sentences yet by any means. Sometimes, really recently (like the last couple of weeks) I'll not understand a word and ask her to 'give me another word' and she will. Like this evening, I was getting 'doh, doh, DOH' and I asked for another word and got 'teddy' and only then did I work out 'doh' is 'dog', i.e., she wants her little soft toy foxie, who she thinks is a dog.

So no sentences, sometimes a second word to explain the first, and she's absolutely on course with her age peers.

I think your ENT is raising expectations massively.

The ENT is deluded. My DD was an early talker and at 18 months could say about 30 words, but no sentences. DS is now almost 17 months and can only say Dada, mummy, bye, hiya and something which approximates to his sisters name! In other words less than your DS. Although laughed that he can say 'goat' as it's not a common early word!

Nah, don't let the ENT stress you out. DD is just 16 mo and can only say banana, mama, tata (daddy in Polish), pa pa (bye bye in P.) and I think that's it. We did think she said 'water' yesterday and today few times...Mind you, she's being raised in a triligual environment, but still she spends most of her time with me so I imagine 3 languages thing isn't affecting her v.much. I can't see her being able to make 2 word sentences in a month's time.

Thank you all, always good to hear from other mums.

BirdyBedtime, yes Goat is a funny one he has a goat in his farm and is quite taken with throwing it down the stairs and saying Oh Dear!!!

I wish my DS had that many words! My son is nearly 20 months and can say dada, attempts to say Grandad and is only just starting to say Mama - he has been seen by a developmental paediatrician and has been assessed as on the late side of normal (although he does have some degree of low muscle tone in his mouth and has had recurrent ear infections).

Perhaps see if your local area has a Speech therapy drop in at a local SureStart centre for a second opinion.