Childcare worker said son is not talking

[Ckwi]

Just went to pick up my 16 month old son who is about to turn 17 months in a weeks time! She said he doesn’t talk and his only word is more when he wants more food! She said that we should maybe explore speech therapy and now am quite worried! He points, claps and waves at people - he has maybe 2 words at home! I am trying not to cry

Hey OP, that is really quite harsh of her to say. My son didnt talk at 17 months. Hes 30 months now and only says 5 words which he started saying in the last 2 months. They dont send them for speech therapy until 2 1/2-3yrs so I wouldn't worry. Sending hugs.

I'd get onto a referral for SALT as soon as you can, OP, because the waiting times are ridiculous.

Lots of kids need a little bit of extra time/help to speak, please don't get upset about it. Have you had his hearing checked recently? Does he have a dummy in the daytime?

Thank you so much for the response I am trying not to cry! I was really taken aback and I want the best for my son - I am 26 weeks pregnant with number 2 (rough pregnancy been in hospital 4 times with Covid, flu etc)! I guess I will monitor for another month and put him on a waitlist for speech!

I am going to take a look today and see what I can do! If the process is going to take a long time I will put him on a waitlist! No dummy and his hearing his fine he turns to me when I call his name etc

If he only has two words at home then you need to make a GP appointment to request a hearing test and self refer to SALT. Don’t wait around.

Has he not had is 12 month check with the HV?

Did the childcare worker say the setting is going to explore speech and language therapy? As I would assume they are able to refer your son. Did they say any more to you as its a bit jolting that they would just tell you to get help without helping 😢 what is he like at home? Does he say more at home?

This is only personal experience but my ds had/has a significant speech and language delay. No one would listen until he was 2. His current s+l therapist said they can't do anything until they are two unless there is feeding problems or and obvious problem (like a deformed mouth/tongue etc)

I think at 18 months they should have 10 words but they don't have to be clear (like ja for juice)

He may still have hearing loss.

At his 12 month appointment everything was fine he was babbling and was meeting all his milestones!

He just started walking about a month ago as well! He says no and door and sometimes this but it’s hard to count them as words as they are not all the time? If that makes sense

I will definitely check his hearing out as well especially if there is a speech delay and can rule out anything!

Aww I can imagine this has come as a shock with everything else you have going on. I would follow it up on a 'just in case' basis because of the long waiting times. It will do your son no harm to go on the waiting list or attend an appointment if he doesn't really need to be there but just in case he does need some help it's better to get it into the system sooner rather than later. I hope that makes sense! My son has had various appointments for a completely different situation and my approach has been to accept anything we've been offered so I know I've explored the available options even if it turns out later not to be necessary. It's easier to get out of the system later if you don't need it than to get into the system. Look after yourself and it's good you've got a proactive childcare setting who are looking out for this sort of thing.

Thank you I am going to start calling up places tomorrow to put him on a waitlist or see if I can get a referral plan!

Does he communicate in different ways? My DS was 2 in may and barely said any words till recently and basically none that other people will understand. But he does sign quite a bit (some makaton and some that he's made up that have stuck). A lot of the time he chooses to sign and will only say something if you remind him to use his voice. His hearing is fine, he's really social and has no ticks so I'm not worried about him. That being said it has caused anxiety in the past when I've seen other kids talking loads, it just takes some longer to get it than others.

If he's a happy, social boy I wouldn't be too worried. Maybe you could teach him a few pieces of makaton? Our first ones were more, thank you, and help.

Thank you :) he is a happy boy smiles at people, plays peakaboo, claps hands when asked to and at social things! Points at things It’s the words that are worrying me! He shakes his head no when he doesn’t want something! I am going to put him on a waitlist for speech and call places tomorrow so I feel at least I am doing something proactive

Wowzers, I'm surprised that at 17 months it was even mentioned yet. My son could barely say 6 words at 2 & he was so obviously different to his friends that we were worried. Nursery never raised it as a concern as they felt he was developing appropriately. Spoke to a speech & language person who said it sounded absolutely fine, they weren't worried about number of words but more that he showed he could understand, for example if you ask them to point to something can they, will they get a book/shoe/object if asked, able to express what they want & need.

Fast forward a couple of months & he just suddenly went for it & has never looked back, his speech is absolutely on a par with every other child his age so his casual approach to talking has done him no harm!

I totally appreciate & understand the worry, I felt like that too but I honestly think you've got a good 6 months before you need to feel concerned. Like others have said though, probably no harm in telling speech & language that his childcare have raised a concern & I'm sure they'll happily talk to you.

Please don't worry OP! By all means seek a medical opinion but IME she's talking rubbish! When DS was 18 months, I asked his paediatrician at what age he should start talking and she said 2 years old. She said as long as he's babbling and able to follow instructions that's fine. They would only refer if a child is 2 1/2 - 3 years old with no words. My DS was almost 2 before saying any words and then they all came in a rush!

It's my understanding that toddlers generally focus on one skill at a time, so if he has been concentrating on learning to walk, talking will have taken a backseat. Maybe get a medical opinion to put your mind ar rest.

Please don't worry. Speak to the GP - as the PP say the waiting lists are huge..BUT .. my mum told me I didnt say a word until I was 2.5 nearly 3. Not one word. Then one day my mum said I just spoke and didn't shut up from there! Learnt words and meanings very quickly and she said at nursery I was the biggest talker/had the biggest vocabulary

Some do need a little extra help but some just do things a little later than other children.