I'm getting my knickers ina bit of a twist about DDs lack of language & would like someone to calm me down a bit please if possible.

[flirtygerty]

DD -22m. Very active. points. Screeches when excited. Babbles occasionally.Loves looking at books & listening to music.seesm to understand what I say & can follow instructions when it suits her.BUT she has no words at all bar one which is used for everything. I talk to her lots all the time.

I've got a referral for speech therapy in teh post ( apparently) but am worried that ther is somehting wrong. (the fact that big brother was talking in santences by this stage doesn't help!) he doesn't talk for her though.

If she's pointing and understanding what you say, you probably don't have too much cause for concern. Some children do just talk late. I wouldn't worry about it for the time being, but just see what they think if you are still concerned when your speech therapy appointment comes.

I have a friend whose first child didnt speak till he was about 3 and whose second is coming up to 2 and doesnt say much either.The first child speaks fine now and i didnt know till recently that that had been the case.

thanks - I appreciate you taking the time to reply.

The understanding instructions and pointing are very good signs.

It's great that you've been able to get a referral though. Hopefully they'll be able to either reassure you or give your dd some practical help.

Agree with Coppertop. In the meantime, you may find the following books useful:-

You Make the Difference by Ayola Manolson (lots of practical advice about encouraging speech and communication)

Baby Talk by Sally Ward

The Parent's Guide to Speech and Language problems by Debbie Feit.

She showing some good signs of being ready to speak. Having the referral certainly won't do any harm, though, even if by the time they see her she's talking your ears off.

My cousin's DS didn't talk until he was 5 and then he started in full sentences-he hasn't shut up since! If she follows instructions and loves books I don't think you need to get too worried.

My DD is very similar flirtygerty, 20m and has one thing that she says ALL day long! We are waiting for a hearing test which is also meant to be in the post to see if she has glue ear because the doctor fund some bubbles that could be an indication of it. Like your DD mine can follow instructions sometimes so I am almost certain that her hearing is not always bad but I suppose its possible that she has reduced hearing after a cold r every now and then. My DD also points and acts out what she needs me to undrstand so is communicating in her own way but I am slightly worried, not least because DD has lots going on "medically" so it seems like another problem for her iyswim. Its interesting that your DD is being referred for speech therapy, we are meant to be going back to the doctor if DD's speech hasn't improved within a month, I thought this was quite young as the HV had said they don't usually do anything till children turn two but its good that theya are acting quickly. My DD is also very active so maybe it is just a case of mastering those skills first then speech comes next.

Sorry for my terrible typos! Should also add that the hearing test is also partly because my DD used to have a few words that she has stopped saying, as in hasn't said for six months.