2 year old not speaking a word

[Lofari]

I am turning to the wisdom of the mumsnet force here as i feel so lost.
My 2 year old ds doesn't say a single word. Not one. At his 1 year check he did as he should, plenty of babbling. Then the ear infections started. No lie he's had 12 now on one side so the Dr referred him for a hearing test. We've waited months for this absolutely convinced he has hearing issues. Anyway he had the test yesterday and apparently all is fine.....i am floored by this. Multiple infections and he doesn't respond to us.... logic said it was his hearing.
We now have the speech therapist involved and she is coming on Friday to meet him but I wondered if any of you lovely lot had a similar experience? I have 2 older children and have never had this problem before so I'm in unchartered waters here.

[Lofari]

No. He doesn't point wave or blow kisses.

[ImperialBlether]

If you come up behind him and make a noise, does he turn?

[misdee]

I have a daughter who was 2 in April who has very little speech. The last month has been a big increase and she now has about 15 words. Previously she had 3. We use makaton, repeating words back to her, offering choices. It's slow going but she is making progress. We are currently attending group SLT sessions with a possible 121 session after. My daughter medical history is complex and she is also waiting for an autism diagnosis alongside her other stuff.

[Lofari]

No. He doesn't respond to noises behind him. This is why I was so convinced it was his hearing.

[Photomummy16]

@lofari from experience again, don't freak out at all the asd suggestions but keep it in the back of your mind. And really really get that book The Late Talker. I'll stop posting random replies now

@misdee that's fantastic that you've got the slt sessions already! I wish my area was as speedy as yours. Best of luck!

[Twistandshout77]

The lack of pointing would worry me more tbh than the lack of words - I think that's meant to be a sign of autism no?

[Sparrowlegs248]

How on earth did they establish his hearing was OK if he screamed throughout? Could you request another test?

Ds1 is just 2 and also doesn't have any words. He does have comprehension, I can ask him to do something, shoe me something etc and he will. He babbles, points and waves and does a kind of 'uh' noise. He used to do mamma a lot, but not any more which is what's worrying me.

I took him to a SALT drop in they said they'd refer him for a hearing test but I've not heard anything back. I don't think it's hearing, he can hear the pantry door open from the other room. He recognizes his favourite pip songs on the radio etc. Just no words. I wasn't worried as many similar aged boys we know we're the same but the last few months they are all coming on in leaps and bounds with words.

[Lofari]

No worries. AsD is always at the back of my mind. I have a few friends with children on the spectrum so I do see the signs in DS.

[misdee]

Photomummy16 I wish I could say it was speedy but she has been under SLT since she was under a year old for her swallowing problems (dd6 has a form leukodystrophy). But they wouldn't see her for speech until she turned 2 even though she has a lot of delays. I have been a total pain in the backside for shouting for what dd6 needs. We have a teenager with autism as well so know what to look for

.

[ImperialBlether]

Does he acknowledge you're in the room? Sorry to ask such an awful question; I wondered if his eyes followed you if you moved across the room, or if he looks at you when you speak, even if he doesn't seem to understand you.

[sidesplittinglol]

I worked in a nursery for over a decade, and I had many children who were 2 that didn't utter a word. But over months they began to talk. What helped was being around other kids who were older and good eye to eye contact when talking with them. Also, when playing describe everything they are doing and naming objects. It will come don't worry. Every child I different and they develop differently at different stages. You'll see he will one day say something.

[SauvignonGrower]

Our son was the same. Ear infections in the past but hearing test ok. FWIW - by 3 and a half his speech had improved enormously. Still didn't sound all letters correctly so pretty hard to understand. But a super keen talker.

[Lofari]

Imperial yes he follows you with his eyes. He watches your face intently when you speak to him.
We have 2 older kids too (11 and 6) and they are his favourite people in the world they always engage and play with him
We do repeatedly tell him the names of anything he plays with/brings to us. So I'm hoping you lovely ladies are right and it will come in time .

[cestlavielife]

"It will come don't worry"
sometimes it wont. i

it is really not helpful to say leave it and don't do anything when clearly some children do need help and input and leaving it on a wait and see basis is not helpful at all.
"One in ten children have speech, language and communication needs SLCN that need long-term support" please see
www.ican.org.uk/What_is_the_issue/About%20SLCN/How%20many%20children%20have%20SLCN.aspx

some children do have speech and language disorder.

the assessment and input from SLT wont do any harm so access that as soon as you can.

if there is a bigger issue then the sooner the better to get help.

if he starts talking tomorrow you simply cancel the sessions...

[123bananas]

Ds didn't speak at all at that age, he is also the youngest of three children. We were referred to an early intervention small speech group pre slt. He then started with one or two words. At 3 he was referred to slt, he is still under them at 3.5 (has only seen them twice still under assessment with processing concerns awaiting ed psych assessment), but now is speaking in 5 word sentences. A big part of that leap has been having the summer holidays around his siblings and other family members.

Start the ball rolling with slt now, but most of the work will be done at home. Have a look at the Talking Point website for some tips. Makaton is brilliant for helping them deal with the frustration of non-communication if you say the words along with the signs it helps them aquire language.

[misdee]

'It'll will come, don't worry '

Probably one of the most dismissive things to say to a concerned parent.

Lofari. I Hope the speech therapist is forthcoming with a plan for your son. You are obviously concerned and being proactive with this. Keep going x

[Lofari]

Speech therapist has been. She was amazing with him. She's acrually the head of complex needs department there.
Anyway she got to observe and play with my son and she really wasn't overly concerned about his slow progress as he is definitely making progress. She thinks his ear infections have definitely slowed him down but she watched him happily play with his sister and dad and seemed happy with his recognition and communication with them.
She's given us some small tips to encourage him but all in all she wants to wait and see how we go until October. If no more progress by then she will get him booked in for speech therapy sessions x

[misdee]

Glad you are reassured by her visit :)

[Sabu1234]

@Lofari hello, I know this is a very old thread but I’d love to know how your dd is doing now, how he has progressed over the last few years as I’m in a very similar position. It’s so worrying not knowing what your child is gona be like.

[Lofari]

Hello! DS is now 6. Diagnosed as autistic and is still non verbal. But he makes his wants known and to be honest I've come to terms with it.

[User00000000]

Could you try and get a different audiologist to see him? The one who did my daughter's hearing test was lovely and he made it fun for her.

[Embracelife]

@Lofari

Hi there. No. He doesn't generally give the impression he's understanding much of what we say at all. If he wants something ie a drink or food he will take one of us by the hand and drag us to the kitchen
Similarly if he wants to go outside he will bring me his shoes but that is as far as we go.

Hs us already communicating
Build on that
Shhoes to say go out is called objects of reference
You could have box of play size items so he can show you cookie for cookie etc
Then move to photos aNd symbols
Makaton signs
Ipad apps like proloquo and grid for ipad
Get slt referral