How to help 2yo

[Banana0pancakes]

I've posted before about dd, she's just turned 2 and I could really use some advice.

She has had one paediatric appointment at 18mo and we were told wait and see but yes there are concerns re lack of gesturing.

I'm curious as to how your little ones developed speech. Dd seems to have good understanding, for example yesterday I said, 'go to the buggy and get your wellies' and she did.

She babbles alot, and will touch loads of things every day looking at me to label them, which I do. She's never attempted to copy the words I say. She also points now, wholehandedly mainly and has just started to wave bye bye whenever something like a book or a cartoon ends. If I don't say bye bye for her she puts her face infront of mine until I do.
Just wanted to know if this rings any bells with anyone?

Hey,

Firstly you've mentioned loads of positives! Her understanding appears okay which is very positive. She's beginning to gesture, that's also really positive! She appears to be developing good non verbal communication skills. Does she lead you to things as well as touching things for you to label?

Has she no words at all? Does she babble a lot?

Simplify your language. If she gestures for a cup, say cup and give it her. What motivates her, what does she really want. Give it ago with these items.

If she babbles copy her. See if she realises what you are doing. Make your own noises and see if she can copy you.

Do some research into pecs and makaton. Both can be great for getting communication started and will be suggested by salt (it's their default aac methods). Salt will be able to give you some help with this but from experience it's always good to do you own research as well. Communication aids can really help support language development for some children.

Hope this helps a little.

Thank you for your reply, its really kind of you.

Yes she does take me to things she wants, but mainly points.

No, no words at all. No animal sounds or anything like that. Just a wide range of babbling. She has good innotation though, Cognitively I think she's doing well, she can point to a given number on request but I think she struggles with imitation and that's the crux of the issue. She understands well and is affectionate, finds funny things funny, initiates peekaboo with ds, who is 10mo.

However, she won't copy a silly face, or an action I do. She does know some actions to songs but she's learnt those through me physically moving her arms to do the actions repeatedly not through just looking. It's just a bit odd. Our Hv was on the fence as to whether it could be asd or just delayed and I swing between the two all the time.

I think she's old enough now to start looking at pecs, which might work better for her than makaton. It's just all so confusing!

There's obviously some concerns but i wouldn't be to worried. It seems like she's making good progress.

We had more success with pecs, my son is a very visual learner and likes to have something physical. He never looked at me long enough to pick up makaton and had never pointed or waved (didn't use his hands at all for gestures). Start really simple with single cards and pick some things which are really high motivating. For us it was chocolate buttons and fireman sam. It's helpful to have two adults initially to help aid the exchange if that's possible. Good luck x