No words at nearly two but good understanding and social play

[Bumblingg]

Just wondering if anyone has had a child with a similar profile at nearly 2?

My little boy has no words yet. He points, uses signs, understands lots of what we say, loves pretend play, is really affectionate and has a great sense of humour. He enjoys building things and seems to learn new skills all the time.

He also has some oral-motor issues, dribbles a lot, has an open-mouth posture and a high palate.

One thing that’s been worrying me is that his babbling has been quite inconsistent. He’s had periods where it seemed to reduce or disappear, then come back again. At the moment he’s babbling quite a lot.

We’re currently waiting to see specialists and neurology has been mentioned. There has also been some discussion around whether genetic testing might be needed, which has completely sent my anxiety into overdrive if I’m honest.

Some days I think it’s “just” a speech delay, and other days I end up convincing myself it’s something much more serious.

I’d really love to hear from anyone whose child had no words at 2 but had good understanding, pointed, signed, played imaginatively and was socially engaged.
Did speech eventually come?
Did your child end up having a diagnosis?
Was neurology/genetics ever involved and, if so, what was the outcome?

Just looking for experiences while we wait, as the uncertainty is really hard.

that does sound worrying
did they check his hearing?

Has he had his vision checked? My ds had no words at 2. He had an eye test at 2.5, because DH has eye issues and it turned out ds has really poor eye sight. We never knew as he didn't bump into things or trip etc. Once he could see properly using glasses, he could see people's faces clearly and facial and lip movements which enabled him to begin talking. By 3.5 it was like there was never a delay.

Yes

We’ve not had his eyes tested but that’s a good idea x

My son seems to spot things quickly - planes ✈️ in the sky etc… picture in books etc would this rule this out?

My DD didn't talk until she was about 3.5. She also had no problems with understanding, and actually communicated pretty well non verbally. When she did speak, she was a bit indistinct for a few months, like she was getting used to it, and then fine. She also spoke in full sentences, quite complicated ones, from the off.

Both my DC had a speech delay - DC1 is quieter but still enjoyed playing with friends, had about 3 words at 2 and didn't start talking really until closer to 3. You'd never know she was a delayed talker now - this was in the pandemic and actually if she'd have been at her usual groups & nursery she might have started sooner, she just didn't have many people to talk to. DS is mega social and he didn't talk till after 2 either but I was less concerned about him because I'd seen his sister start late too.

We really could not tell he had such poor eyesight. The hospital optician said that because his world had always been blurry, he knew no different which is one of the reasons he coped do well. We were really shocked when they prescribed glasses gor him.

My now 6 (almost 7) year old was speech delayed and at 2 years old could say ‘car’ and that was about it. He also wasn’t much of a babbler. At the time I didn’t have anything to compare it to so didn’t know what was normal but I now have a 4 month old and she shrieks like a pterodactyl and babbles all night🥴 which he never did.

He did end up going on a waiting list for speech therapy but we were warned it would take a long time and in the end he didn’t even need to because just before he turned three he started speaking in full sentences. It was absolutely astonishing. Like he’d been just soaking everything up and waiting until he was ready.

Like your son, mine also pointed, was very affectionate, lots of pretend play and understood directions very well. I remember my health visitor saying the most important thing was him understanding what was being said to him. ( Like asking him to pick up his shoes etc) Mine also walked very early and seemed to focus far more on his gross motor skills rather than the cognitive side of his development.

Now he will be 7 in a few weeks and you would never know he was delayed in his speech. We have been complimented by strangers on his vocabulary!

Please try not to worry OP, some boys are just a bit lazy! But there are many positive signs and he will likely speak when he is ready :)