toddler not talking

[justamum98]

not sure where to put this but...

my son will be 2 in April. he isn't even saying mama or dada, HV told me he is fine, he is just a late talker so it didn't bother me.

I can see that he knows what he wants to say... he understands everything. he knows full alphabet, letters, numbers, colours, shapes etc. he is very clever little boy.

but now, he gets so frustrated because he can't get the words out that he wants. its happening a few times a day when he will come to me and make a "mm" noises instead of actual words, and when I can't understand what he is trying to say he sometimes cries out of frustration.

ive tried looking online for help, but I'm already doing all that im meant to do, and have been since he turned 1.

has anyone else got a late talker? or has anyone taken them to speech therapy and could share their experience?

Does he go to nursery ?

Have you tried the gp? Know right the full alphabet, shapes, numbers and colours at two is Def the advanced end developmentally so combined with zero speech sounds would be a massive flag

Have you had his hearing checked? My son was a late talker and we found out he had severe glue ear and a significant hearing loss

I'd go to the GP, and get a hearing test. They'll probably want this done anyway before any referral to speech and language. If hearing is fine, I'd ask for a referral to SALT.

In our area, waiting times for that are over a year so better to be on the list sooner. But also check what else is available - in our area they've just launched a phone line where you can call and speak to a speech and language therapist, you don't need an appointment or a referral, you just ring. It's open a few hours a week and I got straight through a few weeks ago and someone spoke to me for about 45 mins and was very helpful. They also do online workshops that anyone can sign up for, with therapists, covering some broad information and suggestions of things to do.
Maybe see if there is anything like that near you?

I’ve got a late talker. He is 2 and has around 8 words - mostly one consonant, one vowel sounds. “Dada, mama, uh oh, wee, pa (for postman pat) no, dee (for tea) and doo (for two). He understands everything, knows his alphabet, numbers and colours (though gets confused on ones that look similar b and d, p and 9 etc)

He really struggles with speech sounds. Has never really babbled and can’t mimic speech sounds with any accuracy. Sometimes he will say a word really clearly once but then never manage to repeat it. He is very aware of his speech difficulties and often refuses to try to mimic sounds.

We have been referred for speech therapy but who knows how long the wait will be! Especially as my son doesn’t currently appear to have Autism and that seems to be all anybody cares about!

Differential diagnoses for this type of delay seems to be Autism or Childhood Apraxia of Speech, called Oral/ Verbal Dyspraxia or a Speech Sound Disorder.

Speech work can be hard for little children. Do you do a “What’s in the bag?” type game with different animals/ cars etc and jus try to get him to mimic the sound (baa moo sssss etc?)

The most effective thing for me has been to teach my son British Sign Language/ Sign Supported English. I started when I first thought there was a problem at 16 months and he now has over 250 signs. He can communicate what he wants, ask questions, tell stories about past events or things that have happened in books. It has been so rewarding to see his confidence develop/ frustration decrease, and to be able to communicate. Your son sounds very clever so would probably pick it up very quickly.

No he is not in nursery. We’re out everyday surrounded by children in classes and things though.

Yes. Had the HV over a few months ago and she said he is absolutely fine. His hearing is perfect. He understands what I say to him and he follows commands with no issues.

My ds was like this. He was diagnosed with autism.

One of my twins was later talking, his brother spoke like he was five! HV organised a hearing test, he was fine. They are 17 now, he's quieter and shy now and his brother can still talk the hind legs off a donkey! They're all different. Try not to worry but it might be worth getting his hearing checked.

Mine only had one or two words at nearly two and I was very worried especially as his understanding was okay but certainly nowhere near what your son is. He’s coming up to two and a half and his speech just exploded a month or so after he turned two and although it’s still delayed compared to some of his peers I’m no longer concerned especially as his understanding has also caught up.

Your DS sounds super smart though. Mine can only just count to 4 and thinks every colour is either green or orange. I would look at putting him in nursery though as they tend to really help encourage kids with their speech and can help make any referrals if they think it’s needed.

Same.

What is his eating and sleeping like?

How did the HV know his hearing was fine?

My 2 year old was like this. She was referred to a tertiary hospital for a hearing check - they diagnosed severe glue ear. This caused a considerable speech delay.

I had seen the HV and GP multiple times and they all said her hearing was fine. It wasn't.

Ask to be referred if he's not making noises. Should babble even if not talking. Exercises can be shown to help. Also needs hearing check.

@sallyran

Eating was limited but he now eats a more varied diet.

Sleeping wasn't an issue when he was a small baby but as a toddler it took forever to get him to sleep. He's nearly 13 and sleeps fine but only because he started on melatonin years ago which really helps.

Hello, my little boy is 2.5 years old and doesn't talk, he doesn't even point or wave..he can clap his hands..shakes his head to say no but that's it...we have HV end of this month for a follow up but he covers his hands over his ears a lot and I recently took him back to the GP for a check and the dr thinks it's more behavioural rather than his ears...he's got SAL in September and audiology should be end of this month so we shall go from there...I was told boys can be more delayed in speech than girls so I'm not worried..he does understand most things...I hope this makes you feel abit better ..I see you posted this back in February how's your little one getting on now...?

Hey! I’m in the exact same situation. He is still not talking but understands everything. Difference is he is very good at math and can count to 200/300 which is unusual for a 2 year old. We’re seeing a speech and language therapist so fingers crossed. Hope your little one comes along nicely soon, boys just do whatever they want don’t they 😂

How is he not talking but he can count to 200?

He uses foam bath numbers and puts all the numbers in order. Or he will bring you for example number 157 and you have to say 157. If you say 140 he will stand there until you say it correctly. His non verbal communication is great.

@justamum98 that's amazing what a clever boy, my boy can't even do that...I've just recently introduced him to Miss Rachel on YouTube , I was recommended by a friend as it helped her son when he was 2 to speak...my little boy loves watching her and it's only been day 2

@Londongirl8922 @justamum98 Hello, some updates?

Hello dadodboy842 still nothing much apart from he now says daddy very clear but that’s all,on a waiting list now for paediatrician but it can be a 3 year wait and also on another 18 month waiting list for speech and language! He goes nursery still and we still try our best with him with counting and talking and watching miss rachel ..I guess I’ve accepted he will talk in his own time but I’m still encouraging it

@Londongirl8922 Thanks for answer, did he start pointing to things he want or interest him? (like plane on the sky)

Nope still doesn’t point, he does a lot of stimming …he takes interest if he see’s Lorrie’s or buses and stares and smiles at them and gets a little excited but he doesn’t point at things still doesn’t wave either

he just turned 3 on Tuesday. He hasn’t been going to nursery since December. His speech has just appeared out of nowhere around Christmas time. Now he won’t stop talking! 😂x we’ve been discharged from the speech and language therapist a few months ago even when he wasn’t talking then. Purely because they didn’t think anything was wrong. He was just taking his time and they were right. We didn’t have to wait at all to see the speech and language therapist. I wonder if it’s location specific. Maybe they say 18months wait so you don’t get your hopes up about an appointment opening up next week. To be honest I found the sessions really pointless, I know they’re there so they can assess the child which is fine but they did not contribute to his speech coming on in any way. They just watched him play for an hour every 4 weeks and visited the nursery to see what he is like in that environment. Good luck though! I wouldn’t worry. Mine literally woke up on a Tuesday and thought. Yes I will talk today. So random, makes no sense but I remember how worried I was because all the other kids were talking. But now. He is talking and counting to thousands. Doing puzzle games for 5yr+ even though he is only 3 whilst some kids his age have been talking since 18 months but don’t have the ability to count past 20. I’m not saying anything bad every child goes at their own pace I’m just pointing out that some kids just do things backwards like mine. But they all catch up in the end ☺️ feel free to message me directly if you want. @Londongirl8922