25 month old still babbling

[Sianholby]

Happy New Year. Just need some reassurance really about 25 month old. Still babbles and is very vocal with “dada dada” “gagaga” etc.
Points and gestures at things
Understands what I am saying - for example if I say, would you like some water, will nod or shake head.
Can identify animals, body parts, TV characters when asked.

Just no real words. Can say car very loudly but just babbles away in own language. At nursery during the week while I work and babbles happily there too and approaches key worker when needed.

Should I be concerned about lack of speech?

I would seek a speech referral. The fact his understanding is good and he points and babbles is positive so try not to worry!

My 5 year old was a very late talker but is now very articulate! I referred him at 20 months!

My toddler is exactly the same age and is the same, babbles and chats all day long but only a few actual words. Health visitor said its normal and not to worry until they are 2.5 to 3

I'd get his hearing checked.

My Dd didn't speak at all until she was 3, then became selectively mute until she was 6 but could not stop her after that, is formidably articulate now ( 23) and read Chinese at Cambridge. She teaches Mandarin and French.
But understand your concern. I really would not be worried at this stage, wait a while, it may suddenly tumble out within a few months, also, babble is good! It is a type of language and communication in itself. Lots of other good signs too, alertness, good understanding. A hearing test won't do any harm though.
There are so many expected milestones, but so much variation in our children. Good luck

Try choices eg ask 'would you like a cheese sandwich or a ham sandwich' or ask a question when doing everyday stuff 'is the letterbox red or is it green? ' or 'what colour is that car?', as a means to encourage a reply. But babble is good, and clearly understands what you are saying, won't take long and you'll have lots of words.

He is delayed. I would seek a referral to a speech and language therapist. His understanding and using gestures is a good sign. But his talking is delayed.

My DS has slightly delayed speech too. He is 27 months and only started saying words 2 months ago.

Our health visitor was monitoring as I had raised a concern but she said they wouldn't be able to refer him to a speech therapist until 3 years. She kept asking questions about whether he makes eye contact etc, but also to assess his level of understanding and hearing. My DS understood very well so I knew it wasn't his hearing although would still like another hearing check due to genetic hearing condition in my mums side of the family.

I also mentioned my concerns to the nursery and the SENCO did an assessment. She agreed with me so put a support plan in place. He gets one to one support at least once a week and they do things like blow bubbles to strengthen his muscles. He also moved out of the baby room and into the 2-3 year room which I think made the most difference as he was with other speakers rather than babies. I would recommend having a chat with the key worker at the nursery as they can arrange for such an assessment to be carried out. It was definitely worth it for DS.

Check his hearing first

I agree you need to offer choices - ham or cheese?

If he points ask what do you want? Don’t just hand it over, you could even pick up two things drink or biscuit?

Our health visitor was monitoring as I had raised a concern but she said they wouldn't be able to refer him to a speech therapist until 3 years

Wow! This is a lie. I would get your GP to refer. 3 years old is wayyy to late. I wouldn't let your HV fob you off. Get your GP to do the referral and push for it. Children can be seen by a speech therapist from birth!

Speech and Language Therapist here. It’s a great sign that he’s using gesture and you feel his understanding is good but he may well need a referral for some assessment.a hearing test is also a good suggestion, glue ear for example is easily missed and can have a bog impact on language development.

In the mean time focus on setting up lots of opportunities where he needs to communicate and for you to model key words. Things like offering choices throughout the day (snacks, toys, clothes, books etc) and modelling the words for the choices are a great start. Sometimes you might have to be a little bit mean, for example putting a favourite toy on a high shelf so he has to ask for it, giving a snack that hasn’t been opened so he has to ask for help or putting out a favourite toy without a key part (eg car ramp without a car) and showing him how to ask for help.

Play games where he can use a simple word to ask for more. For example blow bubbles and stop and see what he does to request you keep going, model to him how to ask for more. Ready steady go type games are also great for this, for example pause as you’re about to push a car down the track and say ‘ready, steady...’. See if he says ‘go’.

You can also encourage symbolic sounds which might be a bit easier than words at the moment. Have a go at playing games making animal or car noises for example.

Yes would definitely be concerned at 25 months. Speak to your health visitor about a speech and language referral. He sounds delayed

You've had some great advice on here already Op. just wanted to add that in a lot of areas you can self refer for a hearing test and for SALT too, just in case you don't want to go through your HV.

ICan have a progress checker for 24 months and I think it might also be worth doing the mchat test as well to see what their risk of having ASD may be.

@secular89

Our health visitor was monitoring as I had raised a concern but she said they wouldn't be able to refer him to a speech therapist until 3 years

Wow! This is a lie. I would get your GP to refer. 3 years old is wayyy to late. I wouldn't let your HV fob you off. Get your GP to do the referral and push for it. Children can be seen by a speech therapist from birth!

Why would they lie? I think your knowledge is out of date.

My DS is similar to OP's DC and when I spoke to the HV about it she also said that they don't usually refer until 3 unless there are also concerns about social communication (ASD).

@secular89

Our health visitor was monitoring as I had raised a concern but she said they wouldn't be able to refer him to a speech therapist until 3 years

Wow! This is a lie. I would get your GP to refer. 3 years old is wayyy to late. I wouldn't let your HV fob you off. Get your GP to do the referral and push for it. Children can be seen by a speech therapist from birth!

Apparently this is standard where I live. I also looked into seeing a private speech therapist but again those in this local area don't see children until 3. So I doubt my health visitor was lying!

I would bypass the health visitor and go straight to your GP. Children can be referred to SLT at a very early age. To be seen by an SLT by the age of three is way too late. It's the parents who shout the loudest that usually get what they want.

Bypass the health visitor, go to the GP and ask for another hearing test.

Why would they lie

Not necessarily lie but they are worried about budgets! What they don't tell you is that you can get referred (at an earlier age) but it's up to you (the parent) to push for it.

It's the SLT's decision to determine whether there is a clinical need. They would assess the child and determine if he needs access to SLT or recommend some groups to go to etc. However, you need to get the referral to be seen by them.

Be prepared for the GP to fob you off. But keep going back and be persistent. The SLT and/or GP would request that a hearing test ought to be done first and so forth,

Not sure why HV has said that unless it's some local thing they're doing?

Early intervention is key. I've referred 9 month olds to SALT before now! Push for a referral op. Either go back to HV and specifically request it or go through GP.

My dd was referred to a speech's for language therapist at 18 months, so unless that an area thing hv is talking out of their arse. However that being said, they may not be in a rush to refer due to them having a level of communication. I would go to the go and explain your concerns, and at first they'll want a hearing test.
I wouldn't be overly worried at this point, but definitely best to start trying to put things into place if you need them as early intervention is key (however due covid unfortunately the waiting times are longer for a lot of things... my dd was urgently referred for a hearing test but wasn't seen for 4 months after that due to them not doing appointments at that time)

Hi any updates please