Twins

[annjackson1]

Can anyone give me some advise I have twin boys whom are 26 months old , and abit worried about their development.

They are not able to speak a word I spoke to the health visitor about it and she said "their twins they don't need to speak , they have each other " . However they don't even communicate with each other . One of my boys use to be able to say mum , dad and peppa at the age of 15 months however does not speak other than to babble .

They do not respond to their names and they have had their hearing tested both fine

They can't follow simple instructions whatsoever .

Do not wave point or gesture.

Any advice please ?

Have you taken them to the GP? Are they in nursery?

They are not able to speak a word I spoke to the health visitor about it and she said "their twins they don't need to speak , they have each other " . However they don't even communicate with each other . One of my boys use to be able to say mum , dad and peppa at the age of 15 months however does not speak other than to babble

It's fucking mental a little irresponsible for your HV to say that about your DTs @annjackson1.

I'm glad though that they've had hearing tests as glue ear can affect Speech & Language.

Did the HV suggest referring them for Speech & Language Therapy?

I'd do this this progress checker for SLT. It will tell you at the end if they need some support with Speech & Language and they also have a helpline.

Once you've done the above progress checker and got your results, I'd contact the HV again and ask her to assess the DTs using the ASQ assessment test.

Sorry my link didn't work. The ASQ list is here.

How are things now @annjackson1?

I cannot agree with your HV. Your twins are about the same at as mine. It is certainly unusual for them not to be talking or gesturing and definitely needs to be looked into, please dont let her brush this off as a twin thing. It's good that their hearing has been checked, but definitely speak to your GP.

I just wanted to suggest you also push for sight tests - if they can't see clearly what your lips are doing when you talk etc, that can hold back speech development. We were referred for both sight and hearing when it looked like our DS was behind (he was 'just' 6m behind and caught up).

That's a really good tip @Laureatus

I'd forgotten that our DD's speech improved no end once she'd got her glasses

Speak to your gp and insist on a referral to a paediatrician.

Your HV doesn’t seem to know what she’s talking about, sadly a lot of outdated opinions amongst HVs. 26 month olds should have a good amount of words whether they’re twins or not. I’d push for a referral to speech and language

It’s very common for twins to experience a speech delay, but at 26 months, plus the other developmental concerns, they need to be referred.

How are you all getting on now @annjackson1?

Thank-you all for your advise sorry I got logged out and couldn't work out how to get back in , the boys are still not speaking or responding to their names or gesturing .I have been assigned a new health visitor who will be a doing a two year check at end of January so hopefully she will be able to help , and have contacted the Gp to get an appointment with them to discuss their development . They are both at nursery and have asked them to do a referral for speech and language as their eyfs for speech and communication is 0-11 months , but they told me it would be hard to get as their only 2 despite having a letter from the hospital which I was given when they had their hearing tested asking both the Hv and nursery to support the boys with the speech and general development .
Just feel like I'm not being listened to or supported to help the twins with their development . I do understand all children Develop differently and at different stages but I just feel their really behind other children their age and just want them to be able to communicate not just with me but other children their age

Sorry to hear you’re being fobbed off. Your health visitor sounds dreadful.

Id hassle the HV for a referal to community paediatrics if I were you. You can also self refer to speech and language in some areas - otherwise ask the HV to do this as well.

Sounds like they definitely need some additional support with their communication and speech and language.

You have to be a very pushy parent with the NHS in the state it’s in unfortunately. As if you don’t already have enough to do with twins.

Good luck x

Of course they should be seen by a paediatrician and speech and language. Nursery should be referring them for portage and they could/should have assessment for EHCPs. No words, and some words then regression at 26 months could indicate all sorts of neurological difficulties and your HV sounds negligent. Were they prem? If so what’s their adjusted age.

It does sound like they should be seen. I can't remember if I said when I originally commented but my son was a little slow with speaking and I got a consultation with a private speech and language therapist locally (it was about £120 for an hour), he came to the house so saw our son in his own environment, and he wrote up a report which I could then show to the health visitor etc to try to get him seen faster. Turned out the therapist I used was also working for the state to help tackle the speech and language backlog, so if we had waited over a year he would have seen him anyway! In our case we got a lot of reassurance that there were no indicators of anything else, and his speech should come with a few therapy sessions, and it did (3 sessions). For me it really helped so the expense was worth it to combat the worry about it.