Nearly 2y/o - speech, counting, colours, letters and drawing - behind?

[TwittleBee]

DS is fast approaching 2 and still cannot speak beyond "mama" and "dada".

I am very aware when we meet up with other children his age how far behind he is in his speech but now also in counting, colour recognition, drawing/writing and sorting/matching.

When we meet up, often other children his age will be happy to sit there reading books, colouring in and will want to play counting games etc. Their speech amazes me too.

Meanwhile, DS is crazily climbing and breaking into things and appears to be unable to communicate or play alongside his peers.

I find myself constantly worrying about meeting up in these groups now as DS seems like a total wild child in comparison to the other children and it really has me wondering what I have done wrong!

Any advice on how I can encourage him with his learning? I know every child is different but it really feels like actually he is the only one now that doesnt know his colours, numbers, letters etc.

Have you spoken to your GP or health visitor? You'll probably have a 2 year development check coming up but if not you should go and talk to them. I think a referral to SALT is likely and would be useful for you. How is his hearing? It may be that he has glue ear and this is causing some of the issues.

Does he go to nursery? If so, what do they think?

My ds loved physical activity as a toddler. He certainly wouldn’t sit and look at books. Even in reception he found this hard but by year 2 was fine.

Settlersofcatan we had an 18 month review and he was hitting all targets at the maximum apart from his speech in which he was behind (and clearly still is as it hasnt improved). The HV said that they don't now worry about speech development until they are 3!?

He does attend nursery for 1 day a week. I actually havent had the chance to speak to them about my concerns yet. They have obviously recognised he is behind in speech, which was why they were surprised we had potty trained him successfully, but they havent mentioned anything else. I am very aware though that he is still in the baby room - he is the oldest in there by 6 months. I'll drop them an email to see if I can pop in for a chat with his key worker.

flissfloss65 that is reassuring to know about your DS. Maybe I should focus on his active side? We have just signed him up to rugby.

Have you had his hearing checked? Does he often have a runny nose? Is he a noisy sleeper?

With a child of this age I think the best place to start is ruling out any hearing difficulties - I he can't hear language he won't learn language.

If you're certain his hearing is fine, then there are lots of things you can do to help him. Most are common sense but if you're interested I can give some pointers (trained slt).

I'm surprised they said that about speech. My son was diagnosed with expressive language delay at 18 months! (He ended making super rapid progress after 2 - which I gather is not totally uncommon - in case that reassures you.)

Of the things you mention, the only thing that sounds concerning to me is the speech. Everything else sounds like it could well just be his personality/how he is right now.

Could you see a SALT privately for an opinion?

What are they waiting for him to do before he can move out of the baby room? It would concern me that he is still in there. Both of my two had developmental leaps when they moved into a new room and were suddenly with older children who were doing different things. This applied to both motor skills and communication skills.
I do think you should get him checked out by the GP or HV though. They may wish to check for hearing problems as well as speech issues. Given how long referrals can take, you want to be referred at the earliest date possible and get in the system.

Imalldonethanks 100% interested in some pointers please! Pretty sure his hearing is fine because he appears to understand what I ask of him. For example, if I tell him to go get a bowl out when I am preparing lunch he will get one. And he answers to me calling for him from another room etc. I think I am pretty good at being interactive with him and I do try to point out colours to him and attempt sorting games and count the stairs as we go up etc. But clearly need more ideas please!

Not sure if we would have the money to pay private Settlersofcatan unless it isnt too much, I shall look into it! I didnt think to go private with the HV not being that worried. Also interestingly she told me that maybe encouraging him to watch more TV might help his speech... honestly thought that would be the opposite but tbf all the mums I am friends with do mention how they have certain TV shows on loop for their children so maybe that is the trick?

peanutbutterismydownfall He was moved up but they moved him back down because his behavior got worse. He started fighting for dominance and became really protective of his key worker and certain objects.

Has your son been to the two year health review? They will ask lots of questions there and if they think it is nessesery they can refer him to a speech therapist. There might be a long waiting list for this and your son might start speaking before an appointment comes through. Like it happened with ds2. He is a late talker, starting to combine words from 2yr and half. He is 2yr and 9 months now. He still don't like talking but is learning if he wants things it is quicker to ask for it. I found it worrying after having ds1 who used to speak two word sentences at the age of one. I been reassured it is just a personality thing. Ds1 is a clear extrovert, talking lots and is still very sociable. Wheras, ds2 is an introvert who don't like new and large amount of people. He understood what shapes and numbers were as when I asked him where a certain shape was he would point to it or hand me the toy shape. He loves climbing and running.

Countinue teaching him and talk to him very often. Narrate your life out loud when he can hear you. Sing songs to him.

Well it sounds like he is hearing ok.

Firstly I would suggest a you look for your local children's centre as they often have drop-in SLT sessions... it's a first step and they can refer you if they feel it is necessary.

You can also self refer - which if your child has less than 50 words (or is well on their way to having) by age 2 I would consider doing.

In terms of what you can do at home - it sounds like you're already doing lots of good stuff.

Main things to remember are:
Reduce background noise as much as possible (tv / radio off).
Play at their level so they can see your face.
Always follow their lead - what's he looking at, playing with - you join in with that.
Don't ask too many questions, rather give information. E.g. while reading point and name animals rather than asking what's that?
Offer choices while holding the objects - book or doll? Blue or yellow?
Give your child time to reply - 10 seconds can feel like ages waiting for an answer but it gives your child time to think and prepare. If after a long pause they still don't answer - give them the answer you think they would give if they could.
If your child's at a one word level, you speak at a two word level. Eg - child says 'car' you say 'blue car' or 'fast car' etc. Extend by one word more than they are doing.

Here's a link which has some more tips and examples.

https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/media/262297/npdwtoptipss_ey.pdf

Hope that helps.

As previously said Number3or4 , during his18 month review and he was hitting all targets at the maximum apart from his speech in which he was behind (and clearly still is as it hasnt improved). The HV said that they don't now worry about speech development until they are 3!? We have another month before his 2 year review, maybe 2 months if they still age adjust at that point? I do sing him songs, read him books, constantly talk to him about what I am doing. He does appear to pay attention to what I am saying, for example, when we go out for coffee or for a meal, just the two of us, he is amazing as just listening to me and we really enjoy our food together - he communicates to me through hand signals and facial expressions. I think you are right though that maybe it is personality thing, he really doesn't enjoy groups of people or busy places. He much prefers the wood where he can run around and climb

My eldest didn't have many recognisable words until he turned 3 and it clicked into place. He was a very active, busy boy who was concentrating on what he wanted to do rather than should have been doing.

Thank you Imalldonethanks - already spotted that I probably ask way too many questions thinking about bed time stories. The simple choices never crossed my mind either. Really think that maybe I bombard him with too much speech perhaps and have been asking him over complex questions too. Shall start making a change now and encourage DH to do the same

Sing with him!

The rhythm and the rhymes help language development. Action sings are great. Many of them involve counting too.

Loads of reading too. Get him to point things out in the pictures etc.

Mabelface must be a personality thing? just so hard when in our circle he is the only one like that!

Seeline see previous responses.

I have a boy just over 2 and he cant say anything either. He babbles in his own language. We had his hearing checked and that was all fine. Had the health visitor around last week and she said that they dont tend to do much until they're nearly 3 with regards to speech. Shes seen many babies, mainly boys, who say nothing and then a few months later, they dont stop. But it's good to get it noted about speech concern with the 2 year review so when he does get to the age they intervene, if he isnt already talking, its easier to get help with it quicker, if that makes sense.
Totally get your worry though. Mine sounds exactly like yours. Non stop climbing

YoloTF ah a relief to read your HV also said about the 3 year thing too! Perhaps they are just more physical than verbal? It really is only a worry because I dont know any other children like him! Reassuring to know we arent alone. I just feel like I am failing him when we meet up with our friends and they give me suggestions (uninvited) about how to encourage his speech and learning etc which makes me feel like they think I am not a good parent!

You said you sung to him.

I said sing with him - get him to join in through the actions etc. Join a group at the library so he can see others doing it too.

I think sometimes it is. He had his own language and understood everything I said. I wasn't even called mum! Within a few weeks of deciding to talk, he was really articulate.

My DS was at least 3 before he would sit still for any length of time, he was always leaping around, he never stopped at all!

DD is 2 and will sit quietly, read a book, colour or whatever.. They're all different.

Really think that maybe I bombard him with too much speech perhaps and have been asking him over complex questions too.

^
At that age it really needs to be red or blue? Jam or marmalade? Really simple things.

I talked constantly to mine, sang and did rhyming games which he loved. He just took his time and he's a very bright lad. In contrast, his siblings spoke much earlier with the same input from me and their dad.

My son is 2.5 and they’ve just referred him to SALT. They’ve said the waiting list is 20 weeks so they’ve got him in the system but if he improves before then the health visitor will cancel the referral. She also said boys having a speech delay is very common!

Funnily enough...my son can recite the alphabet, count to 10 and back down again, knows his shapes and colours. The HV told me that basically because they not expected to know these things until they’re pre-school then it doesn’t get taken into account on the tests at this age.

Seeline yeah same thing really; I do attempt to get him to join in with me and we do attend a library group on Mondays which does singing and reading with our children.

Mabelface I wasnt called "mama" for ages! I was known as "ba" which is what he also calls his favourite toy!

managedmis I didnt appreciate that until this post! So certainly going to amend my ways when I pick him up later

notsomumsymum but how did you encourage him to learn all that? That is what all the other children appear to know but DS hasnt a clue about any of it so feel like he is the abnormal one.

I have an 8 year old daughter and something came up on my Facebook which I posted when she just turned 2 about her naming a dinosaur! I think they're all just different. I don't think he feels he needs to speak because he knows i know what he wants. when he hands me his cup for example and no matter how many times i say juice? He really wont even try talking. But yeah, it was a relief that the health visitor wasnt too worried just yet. You read online how they are suppose to be saying around 50 words, so when that's not happening the first thing you think is what am I doing wrong. She just said keep doing what your doing, speak to him like normal all day, when you're walking out and about too. read books (I try this but he grabs it off me and runs off with it) and with a bit of luck he will decide to start talking. But if he doesnt, that's fine too. There will be help :)