Concerns for 13 months old

[Amiin2017]

My son who is going to turn 14 months soon doesn't babble and when he's happy he makes cooing sound or scream most of time. He doesn't respond to his name either but if I keep shouting his name he will look at me once! Also he doesn't make much eye contact. Sometimes he plays with me and other members of family with great eye contact. I just dnt know what to do? Please advice

Does he understand any words at all? Does he point, or bring you toys to show you? Does he copy any actions you do, for example clapping or waving?

I sing nursery rhymes with him and he interacts really well with me. Not sure if he really understands the word 'no' because I use it often and he smiles at me and still continues doing whatever he does. He just began copying clapping action.

Not sure to worry about him being very clumsy he falls and bang his head alot walk over the toys and falls down.

Have you had the 1 year review with the health visitor yet? If so, what did they say? You can speak to them any other time too, not just with official reviews.

imitating clapping is good - toddlers go through lots of pre-verbal skills, you might find this article useful https://teachmetotalk.com/2018/07/27/344-i-need-a-plan-a-framework-for-working-with-late-talking-toddlers/

not that I'm saying 13 months is late at all! but it describes how toddlers develop the pre-verbal and finally verbal skills over time.

Yeah he had a review 9 to 12 months and they asked me if he babbles which I said he doesnt so they said he might be delayed in language and also the health visitor said about responding to his name which he doesnt do that either so she emailed me the activity I should do to respond to his name.
I have called the health visitor and showed my concerns and they said my son is due for another review end of this month which am still waiting to hear from them.

It's really good that the HV is going to follow up. I would call them today and try to get them to commit to an appointment.

Once you know when it will be, you can fill in the appropriate Ages & Stages (there's a different one for younger than 15 months) and fill in the Social & Emotional Ages & Stages and ask your HV to score them when you see her.

Sorry forgot to add that whilst you're waiting to see the HV have a look at this simple progress checker. It will tell you if they need some support with speech & language. You can book a call with one of their SLTs and it's free although you can make a donation if you'd like to.

They also gave some resources in their website.

@CadyEastman Thank you so much!

Probably not worth worrying about yet. One of my kids didn’t babble, didn’t recognise his name until 18 months, didn’t point etc. but he developed incredibly fast once he did start talking and turned out to be quite precocious.

@Likemyjealouseel Aww thank you for the reassurance 😊

How did he do on the progress checker @Amiin2017?

@CadyEastman I did progress checker and it came as my son needs more support with understanding, talking, social communication.
I tried to book an appointment with speech language therapist but non available till end of june am so gutted 😔
I try not to over think but as a mother I always do and thats wats making me extremely worried for my son as he doesnt respond to his name even when I scream at him and not just that he doesnt loom at me when I try to talk to him interesting thing is he will look at me if I start singing his favourite nursery rhymes. I just dnt know what to do?? feels well helpless 🥲

I think you need to stop testing him as nobody likes being screamed at and he is probably so used to your voice now that it doesn’t stand out to him. Try to relax, here is a great resource for some play ideas, just give them a go and keep it natural and fun:

https://www.hanen.org/SiteAssets/Helpful-Info/Articles/creating-opportunities-to-interact-handouts.aspx

I just dnt know what to do?? feels well helpless

It can feel overwhelming can't it? If you want a plan of action I would call the HV and get them to commit to an appointment.

Ask the HV to send you the appropriate Ages & Stages and Social & Emotional Ages & Stages to fill in.

Ask yr HV to score both.

If he scores grey in a couple of areas that's fine. If he's scoring grey in the communication section I'd ask for a referral for a hearing test and some SLT.

Your HV might also be able to tell you if there are any groups in your area for DC with speech delay.

Let us know how you get on

@GoodnightAdeline Thank you for the link will try it with my son.
@CadyEastman I will call the HV again on mon and see if they can come out to see my son ASAP. Will let u guys updated 😊

Thank you once again

@Amiin2017 has your son made progress:) x

@Alice4417 Thank you for asking about my son progress he started babbling. HV been last week and she referred him to audiologist for his hearing as he still doesn't respond to his name. But the thing is he can hear TV sound from another room and he runs to the TV so it's strange that he can't hear me or other people calling his name and he never respond. HV also told me to do an activity using flash cards but my son doesn't sit he keeps wondering around so it's bit hard for me to engage him in any activity I do with him. Basically my son is delayed in speech and language as my eldest was same he started talking at the age of 2 and half to 3.

@Amiin2017 I am just wondering how your son is doing now. We have similar worries about our daughter.

If you feel helpless - look at the free videos on the teach me to talk website. Also look the pre-verbal skills and see where your son is on the list (there's about 20 pre-verbal skills before speech) and practice those skills. I'm not saying its easy, its flipping difficult and a great speech therapist will help massively.