dd 18months old

[klover]

hi my dd is 18 months old and does not seem to be developing at a normal pace. i have started to feel quite worried that maybe there is something wrong.
She has not spoken yet. does not recognise me as mamma or dp as dadda. She does not point or understand simple tasks like put your shoes on...She also does not recognise objects like book or ball... She loves the company of other children and plays happily at things like peekaboo. I have spoken to gp but they told me to wait untill she is 2 for a referal. Can anyone help, does anyone have a child who went through similar things?

Very worried mummy!!

I don't understand why they want you to wait tbh, for one thing by the time referrals happen chances are the 6 months will be well apst anyway! Then add in waiting times for speech therapy / OT assessments etc...

OK. I ahve no idea if your child has issues or not, some things you say sound wonderfully healthy others like pointing / mamma dadda raise flags BUT my youngest is quite severely delayed on these things so tbh I can't remeember what is normal.

What i would say is...... a aprents instinct is always worth following up. For a start, at the very elast you will need reassurance- plaus lots of delays can be heled with support, and the earlier the better. Chat to your HV, a different GP perhaps, maybe if you have a surestart they ahve a HV as well?

Probably nothing to worry about but you could give your HV a ring and ask her to assess your dd. She could most likely do a general developmental assessment or even an 'NFER Schedule of Growing Skills' assessment which is much more detailed and specific. Hope all goes well.

if you are worried about her hearing get her tested, push for it with HV and or GP. The earlier a hearing loss is discovered the earlier you do something to improve your communication with them & VV.
You don't say you are worried about hearing but un dx loss can lead to this sort of confusion over what things and people are named, not reponding to simple questions / commands and late/poor speech.