18 months, poor understanding of language

[Teainbedonasummermorning]

I am a bit concerned as my DS is 18 months in less than two weeks and does seem to be behind in some areas, or I may just be worrying unnecessarily.

So - lots of positives. He walks, runs, climbs brilliantly and has for a long time.

He tries to feed himself (not always very well.)

He does have some words. Mama/mum, daddy, baby, Hiya, cat (ca) tractor (sometimes - dador) have heard him say tata a couple of times.

So that’s all okay. My worry is more that other children seem to have a greater understanding of what words mean even if they can’t say them. But if we’re looking at a book and I say ‘point to the duck’ (for example) he doesn’t. He doesn’t seem to know any animals or the corresponding sounds (woof, quack, cluck etc.) He DOES recognise cats and say ‘ahh’ because I have always said ahh when he strokes our cat.

Again, body parts - I’ve seen other children or a similar age lift their arm when asked ‘where is your arm’ etc or point to their heads when prompted.

He isn’t a big pointer, though. I was at a birthday party when he was twelve months and surrounded by children the same age pointing at everything and he just wasn’t. He does sometimes but not loads.

He does laugh, babble, make eye contact, shake his head and nod his head for yes and no, so he does understand some things, I’m just concerned it’s not a lot.

He came out as low risk on that quiz but that’s partly because it only gave yes/no options. For instance does he point to show me something interesting - yes, but not as much as other children.

No concerns raised at all from nursery. I’m probably being daft. I just wish I knew what was in his mind …

You have a cat, would he point to a cat in a book?

Yes, or put his cheek on the page and say ahh

Does he ask for things he wants, like to go to the park or garden? can he do an instruction like get your shoes if he wanted, he just doesn’t some of the time? If he doesn’t do those things I would try and get a hv appointment and get him seen.

No he doesn’t do those things

@Teainbedonasummermorning please listen to the people who said their child could hear some things but still has a hearing loss. The vast majority of children with hearing loss have some hearing so can hear biscuits, their favourite programme theme tune, their name. This doesn't mean they have normal hearing and can still cause significant issues.

It is so easy to get this ruled out, or to do something about it if it does turn out he has a loss.

Is there a specific reason you say you can't go to the GP? They can easily do a hearing test referral.

As I’ve said he has a private appointment with an ENT consultant on Friday so I’ll raise it then but I am as confident as I can be that this is to do with comprehension not hearing. Otherwise, why would he hear cat and not duck, hear hello but not thank you?

Some consonants and intonations are easier to hear than others. It really, really could be to do with his hearing. I have experience of this as a parent, and I suspect the PP who is a teacher of the deaf really knows her stuff. I'm really glad you're getting it checked.

What @Honaloulou said. It may not be hearing but that is something so easy to rule out and could be at least part of the issue. Hopefully ENT will refer you to audiology for a hearing test.

Just keep modelling to him. Instead of saying 'point to the duck ' you point and say 'duck' and perhaps add a 'quack quack' but don't ask him to repeat. The fact that he can point but doesn't do it as often as his peers indicates that it's a developing skill. At this stage, I would not worry. Just keep modelling to him and make it fun.

This is literally me and my son right now. Except he's 15 months so a bit younger. I feel your stress so much. It's there and you are worried about it but you don't even know if you should be. It's impossible to turn it off though and you can't help but compare. I casually mentioned it to a Speech and language therapist acquaintance and she said first step is always hearing check.

It's his hearing. Could have floored me. and his nursery teachers. I would have bet big £ his hearing was fine. Like your son, will hear a pack of biscuits. A key in the door, the smallest of sounds. But turns out his hearing is fine at certain decibels and pitches but not at others. They are fairly confident it's glue ear and not an underlying hearing issue but it's been persistent (the glue ear) for over 6 months so ENT referral for grommets and if the glue ear hasn't cleared in 3 months then a temp hearing aid until the grommets can go in.

Best of luck

This is poor advice. Kids can't learn language from long rambling sentences. How do they know what the key words are such as the apple is or the knife? Use single words hold up apple say just apple. Whilst putting your shoes on say shoes. It's calling labeling.

By all means get a HV and hearing check but your son is 17 months right? I don't think any of what your describing is worrying. Have you looked at 18 month milestones? It's things like has several single words...not asking to go to the park. Pointing and imitation, points to one body part. Personally I wouldn't be worried right now OP, both mine started having a (single word) vocab explosion at 18-20months and I'd definitely stop worrying about what others kids can do they are more than likely watching your son climb and run and wondering why theirs can't.

@Continentalmama I think the OP is worried about comprehension not speech.

@gihiviboo this is what we were advised to do by a speech therapist when DS wasn’t speaking at a just slightly older age. May have been coincidence, but he started speaking in sentences very shortly after, having barely had any identifiable language before.

This all sounds normal and will come in time. It also might be that he’s not enjoying being asked questions / feels under pressure.

It doesn’t sound like he has any issues but never harms to speak to a professional for reassurance if that would help.

How did you get on at ENT on Friday @Teainbedonasummermorning ?