speech delay in twins

[montysma1]

I have 34 month old, identical girl twins (although they were 2 months prem), very good condition at birth, very short stay in scbu etc and not a days illness since, by which I mean they didnt seem very set back by their early birth.

My worry is that their speech is still very limited. Perhaps 30 words, and not used that often. Its things that are important to them, like "beebies" "pee" "poo", "wet" , "juice". they dont tend to speak just to make conversation if you know what I mean. if they are in the mood they will point at things they know and say the word, or point at things they dont know, and try to repeat the word when I say it. This would be initiated by them.

They "talk" to each other a lot to, but not comprehensibly.

I almost feel as if they can talk but just dont really want to. To get things they want, they point, drag me, or get it themself. Asking for it would be the last resort.

They walked at 11months and are very physically coordinated in terms of hopping and catching etc. They are expert climbers and hardly ever fall over.

They play alone, and together, they cooperate in play and are imaginative and of course have mighty battles over the same toy. In general though they are extremely kind and concerned for each other.

They play alone, but love to initiate play with me as well. They use toys as intended but also innovate all sorts of other things to do with them.

They engage with people, they have sense of humour, they understand facial expressions (if one is naughty, the other often does my reproachful face, which is very funny). If I am annoyed with one, the other will often come and cuddle the one who has been scolded. If I appear upset or myself , they say "aw" and cuddle me.

They are very happy and placid, tantrums very rare, crying stops the moment you have sorted out what ever has bothered them. They slept through from 3 months. so contented children too.

They cooperate very well with each other in terms of criminal behavior! They interact fine with other children if a little cautiously.

They will carry out all sorts of instructions. They also quite often go and look for or do things, where the request was actually directed at my husband and with no attention paid to them. Which seems to suggest that they are always tuned into people around them. understanding seems to be excellent.

In every way I can think of, they are as smart as whips and quick on the uptake.

However, the reason obviously that I am posting here, is that at almost 3 they have very little speech.

HV a few months ago seemed unconcerned and said I should get back to her. I have delayed, because there is NOTHING else that ring alarm bells with me. Just looking fo a bit of advice really.

Sounds to me like they should be assessed by a SALT (Speech & Language Therapist).

Hopefully Moondog or Working9while5 will pop in shortly.....

I agree - real life assessment needed as you can see why you are both worried and puzzled - lack of age appropriate speech yet many positive signs of social interaction and understanding.

When you say they communicate with each other, are they using a made up language together? I've known a couple of pairs of twins (both identical) who did this. One of the pairs got a real language going in fairly full sentences. Very clever!
If they are doing this then I think it is typical that it will inhibit their language skills, one of the pairs of twins they separated for a week and that was long enough for them to start speaking English.

Hello there

[http://members.tripod.com/caroline_bowen/mbc.htm This information] is from a very reputable site. It has some information and starter tips for you.

It absolutely sounds like they need a referral as they are talking in single words at 34 months and have limited spoken language despite seeming to be okay in other ways.

You can self-refer to your local speech and language therapy department (will usually have details on local NHS sites) or ask your Health Visitor or GP to do it for you. If you choose to ask someone else to do it, do not take no for an answer.

There is a progress checker for language here which will indicate you need an assessment: www.talkingpoint.org.uk/en/Parent/Directory/Progress-Checker.aspx

Sorry about rubbish links!

Thank you for the replies. They do babble a lot to each other and this often results in them dashing off together to do a particular thing, so there is obviously some meaning to it.

The words they do know, they tend to say perfectly, its the exact word, so they dont seem to have problems physically generating or distinguishing sounds and syllables. They also sing along with singers on TV.

They produce all sorts of words I have that I had no idea that they even knew, but as I said, its on a "have to basis", if they really want something. They must be "able" to say many more words than I am aware, but they only say them when it suits! And as I have said, they understand really quite complex instructions...... to get a certain item, of a certain colour from a certain room and put it in a specific place in in a different room. Which is quite a few different things to process and remember and they can all of that at high speed.

They are also happy to point at things and say words, UNTIL they realise that you are doing some sort of learning thing, whereupon they are inclined to think "nope, not doing this now". They do chat to me, but not understandably, which is something they didnt even try to do for a long time.

They do seem to be doing all the normal things within speech development, they are just very very late in doing it it seems. They just didnt bother at all for a long time.

Thank you for the links. They are certainly involved with each other and emotionally close. I was hoping we might avoid some of the strange identical twin anomalies, because they have very opposite personalities. One is cautious, the other a dare devil, one can keep a "huff" going, the other forgets in a minute, one is a mummys girl the other is independent, one is eager to please, the other couldnt care less. Its very odd.

However, thank you for your replies, I will get them an assessment and hopefully a way forward.

Hiya

When you go to see the SALT/GP etc, make sure you are clear on the fact that language development in twins actually differs very little to that in singletons. On average, they do talk a little later. But when you control for prematurity, increased birth complications, having a similar-age sibling etc, the link is almost fully explained. And don't get derailed by anyone asking about so-called twin language, yours probably don't have it and in any case it develops because of language problems, ie it's a symptom not a cause.

Oh, and if you can, get two referrals (this may sound obvious) because although working and assessing them together might be very efficient, it could also be that the specialist finds they have different needs.