Child's speech

[gee111]

What age did you child start talking? My child is 14 months old and he doesn’t say one word, doesn’t babble, can’t gesture and he doesn’t understand anything I tell him. He can make one syllable sounds and he shouts alot but that’s about it. When I try and teach him he is not interested at all. I have spoke to the healthcare visitor about this and should hopefully be getting some help with this but has this happened to anyone else’s child and did they turn out fine in the end?

PS this random is a speech and language therapist

The lack of words is absolutely no problem at all, but the understanding element with the lack of gestures (I'm assuming waving/pointing?) is a little concerning.

I do know of a little girl who had better understanding when away from her parents (no idea why!), but does he go to nursery or anything? They'd be in a good position to assess how he's doing.

Dont compare him to other children, they all learn at different ages
Ensure you use proper words, dog not doggy, biscuit not bic bic ect ect
my grandchild was late talking, now we can’t keep up with them as they never keep quiet 🤣

I agree about the hearing test given what you've said about understanding.

Neither of mine were talking at 14 months, that would be early. My youngest didn't start talking until 21 months and we were worried (GP referred for hearing test which is in a couple of months), but she's now 23 months and absolutely flying with it so things can change very quickly!

Speaking parentese (exaggerated sing song speech with rhythm and words like doggy, bunny, biccy) helps babies learn. There is no need to say dog instread of doggy.

Why are you recommending this? It's my understanding that it is easier for a child to copy something like 'bic bic' rather than biscuit? It's called reduplication which makes it easier for children to copy.

To the Op, lots of good recommendations can't add anything else. Definitely get a hearing test done to check to glue ear and do a hanen course.

All children are different. My DD is 2 years 9 months atm and has just started speaking a lot of 3-4 words together and repeats what we ask her to say. She barely spoke 7-8 words just 3 months ago. Although she started understanding things we said to her at around 17-18 months. But also we are raising Bilingual child so may be that is why she is little behind her speech but honestly I am not worried. She will get there. I hope you find some help OP but I am sure He will get there soon.

So before 17-18 months she didn't understand things you said to her?

Honestly She would understand commands like its time for a bath or milk or chsging a nappy. because she would mostly respond to it but she never spoke yes or no. If i tell her its time to bath, she would listen and start making her way upstairs for a bath. anything complicated I don't think she understood but I always kept talking to her.

Because when my sister took my nephew to speech therapy they recommended that you teach them to use proper words, because if not they’ve got to learn the words twice!

My daughter was like this and 5 years on has a speech disorder and moderate learning disability. My first piece of advice is that you’re going to get a load of anecdotal stories like ‘my uncle didn’t say a word until he was four and is now a rocket scientist’ but you need to trust your instincts and work with what you can see. I’m pleased I didn’t listen to these kind of comments as if I had my daughter wouldn’t have had all the help and support she’s been given. People are going to try and reassure you and that might lead to inaccurate, ill informed but well meant advice - like the bic bic comment - it’s the ability to see one thing and understand that it has a name and recall the name and use it in context which is the essence of speech not the words we assign to things.

For what it’s worth, I’ve got some neurotypical children and one who probably won’t lead an independent life and if it does end up as the latter for you, you will accept your child and love them completely uniquely for the people they are irrespective of their disability.

Good luck with the path ahead.

The lack of speech on its own isn't necessarily a cause for concern. But if he's not understanding or responding to some vocabulary, I think you're wise to be pushing for some support. I'm glad there's a space at the group for you. Hopefully that will put you on the pathway to assessments such as a repeated hearing test and other developmental checks.

I know that it's a bit scary, but getting to know other patients whose children have been referred to this group will mean that you can learn from their experience was well as from the leader of the group (who hopefully might be a speech and language therapist). I hope it goes well.

I'm hoping after some work he will get better, he can copy a couple of things I do like if I bang something down he can copy and he knows something when he sees it like bottle or food.. he also babbled (baaa baaa baaa) for the first time today

Just to be clear, when people here are saying ‘understanding’ they don’t mean understanding all speech, they mean some words/phrases like ‘milk’ ‘look doggy’, their name and ‘no’ (though understanding the word ‘no’ and responding appropriately to this are different things).