2 year old son not even babbling let alone talking.

[Seacat41]

Hi there,
Looking for people in a similar situation…
I have a 2 year old son (turned 2 on the 23/12/21) who has a severe speech and language delay. He’s not even babbling yet. He occasionally makes a “ga” sound, he mostly screeches or says “uh” when he gestures towards things he wants you to look at. His hearing has been checked and it’s fine. He’s a bright, very happy, affectionate, playful little man who lights up the room. He has a great sense of humour, it’s so easy to make him laugh. I really don’t think he’s autistic, the occupational therapist, neurologist, health visitor and SLT I’ve seen with him don’t think so either. He also doesn’t nod yes or shake his head no. Although he points and gestures towards things he wants to draw your attention to. He was a late “waver” but now he always waves goodbye and will blow kisses. I do “sing and sign” with him but the only sign he understands and will repeat is “hot”. He won’t mimic any sounds at all, no animal noises, nothing. He also doesn’t blow raspberries or trill his lips - my daughter was always blowing raspberries! He had his 2 year health check with the health visitor today. She agreed that everything seems on track and “normal” apart from the speech issue. She had never seen a similar case before, very surprised and intrigued that he has yet to say a single word, or even attempt to talk. I’m on a waiting list for speech and language therapy but It may well be several months before we get seen. We have a private appointment with a paediatrician booked in for May.
We have a 5 and a half year old daughter whose development has been very typical, although she was actually a very early talker.
i’m very preoccupied with this. My mind is constantly swirling with possibilities and Google is a nightmare. Please, someone come at me with a reassuring story?
Thank you.

Has he had a hearing check? One of my cousins was like this and the culprit was glue ear.

I haven't got a particularly reassuring story but I have a 2 year old (June birthday) who hardly talks but seems fine in all other respects. My son has about 10 words.

Interestingly my 4 year old daughter was an early talker. My son is seeing a language specialist next month (after a long wait) who will hopefully have a few answers/ideas.

You should get him to a Dr asap. It could be as simple as glue ear or as complex as serve Autism, and the sooner treatment is found the better chance he has of progressing, good luck!

I can't remember the fine details, but my DS2 (who is now 28) did not talk until he was 3.

When he started talking, it was straight to full sentences, and he has been very silver-tongued since then.

He had a tongue tie, which we knew about and was seen by an ENT as a baby, but decided not to clip.

He also had an elder brother who would jump in and communicate for him.

We just said he was like Winston Churchill.

Does he understand what you say? For instance, if you say ‘miniseacat, can you bring me the teddy/cup/shoe’ does he comply?

Does he notice the doorbell, or turn towards someone calling his name?

Can you push for the therapist assessment? Maybe say you will take any cancelled appointment?

Has you had a hearing check and tonsil/adenoid check? DD had severely enlarged tonsils/adenoids (consultant advised they we're the largest he'd ever seen on a child of her size) and glue ear and was the same as your DS. She has a private adentonsilectomy and grommets fitted when she was 2.5 and the difference was almost immediate. She is now an absolutely thriving 5 year old but is still behind with her speech although all speech therapists have said that she is doing well and will catch up without further intervention.

OP says he has had a hearing test. How long ago, @Seacat41?

there are some useful resources here: ican.org.uk/i-cans-talking-point/parents/

Its unusual but there are some children who are just late talkers and then catch up. @Marcipex is right to ask about his comprehension, does he seem to understand what you say to him? Kids who have good understanding are much more likely to catch up.

Is his eating, chewing etc normal? Does he lick his lips if he gets sugar on them, for example? Can he lick an ice lolly?

My son is autistic so slightly different but just to reassure you he wasn't speaking at all at 2 years now at 3yrs 6 months he's all "I need some chicken nuggets and juice".
We used the Hanen More Than Words Program and though it's designed for autistic kids I really think the ideas in it would help with any child like yours whose not yet talking.
Best other advice we got from speech therapy was to put loads of language 'in' and not worry too much about the 'out'; that comprehension comes before expression. So literally comment and expand on everything at least 5x before you ask any questions e g. "car" "red car" " the red car is driving" " the red car is driving up the hill" " the red car is fast" "do you want the red car? " Etc.

You have just described all three of my children. Bright, happy, engaged but no early babbling. All very, very late speakers, one not until almost 5, but all three started speaking full sentences with very advanced vocabulary.
They are now adults, all degree educated, in senior positions. Interestingly, my grandchildren all spoke early.

Hope this might give you some hope.

What does your DS like playing with? Is he into blocks, shape sorters and similar toys? Sometimes toddlers who are preoccupied with developing 3d visualisation and manipulation skills can be slower to develop verbally. It seems like there can be a tradeoff between the visual and the verbal.

My DS was a late talker. First words were at 2.5. He started putting words together at 3.5. This was very late and I did worry. However, he was, and is, just a very strong visual thinker. His linguistic abilities are acceptable these days although he's far more interested in the sciences than languages. (He's a teen now.)

Good luck. I know how difficult it can be when your child doesn't follow the expected trajectory.

My DS (4) was the same. No words at all, not mummy, yes, no. At his 2.5 yr check he scored 16/16 on understanding and 0/16 for speech. Ears fine, no other issues. He would make sort of high pitched ‘uh uh’ sounds to get your attention and communicate, and also would try and sign. Lovely and happy very easy baby/toddler. Finally started speaking at 3, coincided with first lockdown not sure if it that was a factor. He’s still slightly delayed as doesn’t say some of his sounds properly, but coming on quickly now he’s at school. He’s on the SALT list but I expect by the time he gets seen he’ll be fine. Try not to worry but I know it’s impossible!

My child was the same and passed two hearing tests before they were diagnosed as being Deaf. If you can give instructions without signs and he understands and follows them I wouldn't worry, if not I'd get a referral back to audiology. They do make mistakes and I wouldn't want another family to go through what we did likehood is he'll do it in his own time, I'm not trying to worry you.

My DS didn't babble, late to wave too, it was like he was taking it all in. He didn't really say anything until 2.5 and we started to get advice . He is absolutely fine now age 5.5 in year one.

Honestly I went on a course and they said whilst some children need it to be spoke to really simply to encourage speech. Speak to their level of speech. For for your DS it would've single words mainly, as it was with mine. I started "labelling everything" verbally. Then I would repeat, repeat, repeat and take anything they say and make an assumption of what they said and model it back to them. Do lots of gesturing and pretend you are a CBeebies presenter

Some examples

Looking at duck pond. DS- uhhh, me yes Duck ( point at duck)

DS holding soft toy bear. I get down on his eye to eye level, so sit on floor or join him at table. Say - bear, ( hide bear) gone, bear gone, peekaboo, hello bear ( hide bear) bear, bear, gone, bear gone. (Can do things like put on his head, make bear sneeze. ) Keep the words really simple, repeat the main word bear a lot.

DS playing with cars, I join in. Say- Fire truck , nee naw, stop. Ohhh fire fire. Fast ( pushing truck quickly) Stop car. Fire truck, nee naw.

Good things are saying likes ready steady, go, in games running or just walking or doing the slide and playing cars. Then you leave the gap, say ready steady.... and hope they add the go !!
Same with nursery rhymes or books. Leave the space (wait ages) and one day the add the words. Twinkle twinkle little ..... the wheels on the ...... ( count to 10 in your head)

When you are out label everything, especially things you see every day. Tree, dog, traffic light, school, door bell (let them ring it.)

Repetitive books they may seem young now for him, but things like dear Zoo, the hungry caterpillar, bear hunt, where's spot. Read everyday and you can also add others he likes.

What is his interests? Can prob suggest some books. Dig dig digging is good.

If it's still on there find toddler club on iplayer there is one on speech. It's 15 minutes mainly for teaching parenting.

You have just described all three of my children. Bright, happy, engaged but no early babbling. All very, very late speakers, one not until almost 5, but all three started speaking full sentences with very advanced vocabulary.
They are now adults, all degree educated, in senior positions. Interestingly, my grandchildren all spoke early.
Hope this might give you some hope. Living in Switzerland we see this a lot with children who are foreigners and immersed in the German language at preschool. They wait until they can form full sentences.

Purely anecdotal, but my ds didn't say a word until he was 2y4m, he just pointed. Just before our appt with the doc, he said 'key' meaning car key.

By 2y8m he talked non-stop, whole sentences.

It was as if he wasn't prepare to talk until he was sure he was right.

Hi there,
Thank you for reaching out! This is very reassuring…. It’s the lack of babbling which is so baffling. No attempts to make sounds or mimic sounds at all. But he understands everything and can follow simple commands. In many ways I’m not worried but then I have Moments of anxiety.

Thanks so much for your reply. It means a lot. I need to hear lovely stories like this. Your heart must have burst when he said Key.

@MintJulia

Purely anecdotal, but my ds didn't say a word until he was 2y4m, he just pointed. Just before our appt with the doc, he said 'key' meaning car key.

By 2y8m he talked non-stop, whole sentences.

It was as if he wasn't prepare to talk until he was sure he was right.

My dgd was exactly the same, she is now nearly six & her vocabulary is now very extensive, she actually takes me by surprise at times with how articulate she is.

First thing to do is call your GP and request a referral for a hearing test.

If you can afford it, I would then book a private assessment with a speech therapist.

My eldest DS didn’t utter a single word until he was 2.5, just uh and pointing.
He does have some ASD traits but is very high functioning.
Once he started talking he went straight to sentences very quickly and we realised he could actually read too. He’s always been very advanced in literacy and age 15 is still getting top marks.
My daughter interestingly was an early talker and hasn’t stopped talking!!!!

Hi there, Several people suggesting I get his hearing checked and see a Dr etc…. Please read my original post properly. All bases have been covered. Thank you so much for your time! 💐

I wondered if he’s had a recent hearing test. Just in case the baby one was inaccurate.

I know one child who was two before anyone realised she was deaf, and she’d had and passed the usual tests. She was utterly without hearing, as her inner ears had never formed.
She was so clever at picking up visual cues that neither her family or nursery worker ever realised she couldn’t hear.

Of course, it’s much more likely that your son is biding his time. I just thought another test wouldn’t do any harm.

I'm an SLT and I would recommend if at all possible you see a private SLT for assessment and they will be able to at a minimum give you some advice to get started while you wait for NHS services. They will be better placed for this than a paediatrician What is his understanding like? That will be a key part of knowing what's going on and how to help. I can DM you the names of some good SLTs who also work online so it can be more affordable, or have a look at the ASLTIP website.

As lots of people have said, often speech and language difficulties do resolve themselves but what you describe is v unusual at his age, and there can be a knock on effect for literacy etc. Early intervention is really effective so the sooner the better! The fact you are so aware and in tune with him is a brilliant protective factor for him!

I was baffled by my godson he said nothing till about 2.5 other than on ONE occasion just under 2 on a beautiful day at a garden centre sitting in the sun his mum gave him an ice lolly and we heard him say ‘Nice’, just once. Clear as day. Then. Nothing else’s for 6 months lol.