Is this unusual in a 20 month old?

[Ophuchi]

My friend's son is 20 months old and recently she has had concerns about his speech development as he only has 4 words - mum, dad, dog and bab (meaning his sister.) He does understand what is said to him and can point out things when asked.

She had him assessed and as it turns out, he has the cognitive ability of a 3 year old. He is very quick with puzzles.

Is this unusual in a 20 month old? Could he be gifted in maths?

Who assessed him?

I very much doubt he is gifted in maths

they usually even out

all my girls were 'ahead' of their ages from about 12 months

Sorry, the health visitor. The assessment was done as she has concerns about his speech.

No, I don't think it matters at this age. My friend asked me (she thought my child the same age was gifted and that I might know.) I said I don't know about my own DD, I'll have to wait and see but that I would ask here about her DS, since he's been assessed. She doesn't have internet access at the moment or I'd have just pointed her here herself.

I don't think a health visitor is qualified to make that kind of assessment, she probably said something along the lines of "oh you don't usually see children doing XYZ until they are 3"

Like trinity said they usually all level out in the end. I always thought my very early talker was going to be an academic genius turns out the constant talking has rather stunted his academic abilities

Lots of boys are good with puzzles and slow with speech, what on earth was the assessment?

Sounds like maybe she is worried about his speech so wants to focus on other sides of his development for reassurance. tell her that he sounds like he's coming along just fine but if she continues to worry about his speech then to ask for a referal to a speech therpaist.

Health visitors are qualified to make such assesments.

my own dd had one called 'schedule of growing skills' as part of her 3yr check,it tests lots of areas including cognitive and physical development.

Thanks for replies everyone. I just feel bad because my DD never shuts up, knows all her letters, numbers, shapes, colours etc and she likes puzzles too. I don't rub it in but when they play together it's obvious what she knows and can do. It'd be nice if my friend's little boy could be first at something for a change.

Cheers - It's nice to know there are more like her out there too!

My youngest dc has severe speech delay and it is always more noticeable when we are around other people's children. It just is what it is. You sound like a nice friend.

I've known so many slow slow toddlers blossom into bright sparks - equally the other way too - odd

Thanks, I do try to be!

NotnOtter - yes I'm sure he will blossom. You can see him thinking about things, he's a clever little boy.

I've assessed my 3 year-old.

She's bloody brilliant! But I'm probably biased

dd hardly spoke at 20 months, but by goodness did she pick it up rapidly and stormed through the 50 words at 24 months barrier well ahead of the 50 words. she is doing well now too, top end of normal i suppose.

ds did not manage his 50 words. however, he was developing rapidly and doing some things ahead of schedule by the time he finished speech therapy. (according to the speech therapist) I have not got a clue how he is doing otherwise. he shows no signs of being able to read for example, where dd was already sight reading a few simple words. (mum/dad/hername)

I didn't (and still don't know) what is expected at each age, DS certainly had no HV checks then. What I do think is at that age (20 months) does it matter .

I would think (I obviously do not work in child development!) it is still too early to tell if a child will be advanced or behind in academic areas at 20 months. Also could anything at that time be done to help anyway (other than maybe a hearing test if behind).

Speech therapy maybe of benefit if the problem is more pronounced LATER on.

Goes of wondering why DS had no checks etc after a few weeks post birth.......