2yr old not talking much-is this normal?

[lestyrox]

My DS has just turned 2 and he still isn't talking much at all. He will say simple words like mummy,dadda and he has a few other 'words' that he uses for things but they aren't very pronounced.. for example he says 'uuh' for up, and 'beea' for bubbles, 'tia' for sultanas (we call them tanies) 'nah nah' for no etc. I'm just wondering if anyone else has a bub that is slow to talk? Is this 'normal'? He wasn't slow to say his first word- he said mumma at around 9months and he used to babble alot as a baby so i always assumed he'd be a quick talker.
I know he understands everything i say to him as he follows simple instructions well and i know he can hear me. It seems he is trying to communicate more lately and is trying out new sounds and 'words' but i'm just wondering when he will actually start talking clearly. We are part of a mum's group and most of the other 2year olds are starting to put sentences together whereas my DS seems waaaaay off that yet.
We see the early childhood nurse in a few weeks for his 2 year check and i'm nervous that she is going to tell me that something is wrong I know in my heart he is healthy and happy- he doesn't seem to be behind in any other areas, although he was a little slower to become social with other kids but he's fine now. I just can't help worrying especially when it seems everyone else his age is talking.
He went through a HORRIBLE tantrum stage for a whole year between 1-2 (he's only just stopped screaming at everything and is finally starting 'mellow out' a bit) at the time i though maybe it was due to him being frustrated becuase he wasn't communicating much- maybe he missed out on talking during that time because he was too busy screaming
He doesn't go to any day care and i rarely leave him with anyone else. He plays with the other bubs at mum's group once a week. Do you think maybe he's not talking because he's not around other kids enough? When he is around around other kids he really enjoys himself and has a ball.

What do you think?

[Gigi]

i have a 21 month old who only says Mum and Dad, so i'm just subscribing, to see what responses you get, i'm very interested too.

mine is also comprehending alot.

[Rach75]

Jack is 22 1/2 months and it really is only the last 2 weeks where we are like when did you learn to talk

I have friends in my mums group with kids who turned 2 in may, jul and august and TBH Jack is probably the clearest of the lot, I think a lot depends on the child and what outside intereactions they have

for example my nephew goes to childcare 5 days a week he is 2 1/2 yrs has been going since 6 mths and he talk amazing well...but we think that is because he is in care IYKWIM!!!!

I am sure he is fine ... one day he will start talking and you will be like us

[Curly]

Ah yes. My DS also had mama and dada by the time he was 8 months but I never expected him to be an "early talker" as such because he was never a very vocal baby. But that's just his personality...a still water than runs deep, if you will.

My MCHN was all bent out of shape at DS' 18 month check because he didn't have the minimum 5 words they're supposed to have. She wanted me to take him for a hearing test. I told her that he was fine, he could hear me and what's more he could understand what I said, he just wasn't talking. But I took him anyway - he passed with flying colours.

But I was pregnant and emotional and now paranoid so I took him to a private speech pathologist for an assessment.

The speechie told me that DS' understanding, listening and attention was exactly where it should be but for whatever reason he wasn't making the effort to communicate. She said that speech therapy was warranted but I could try some exercises at home first for a month - which I opted for. This basically involved making sure I spent some time (like half an hour, more if I could stand it) each day dialling back the way I spoke to him to one and two word sentences - she said that although he could understand what I was saying, he didn't have a hope of being able to copy. I should also try to play copying games with him which would help him understand communication.

Well...this did not go down AT ALL well. DS seemed to figure out what I wanted him to do and would either get annoyed or embarrassed - he didn't want to perform. At the same time I had all these people telling me about kids they knew who didn't talk for ages and then suddenly burst out with whole sentences or whatever. So I really wondered if I was worrying over nothing or not. We were moving house too so it all kind of fell by the wayside.

My mum in particular was very disparaging of the whole speech therapy thing and told me that I didn't talk till well over 2 and neither did my brother and sister. It was the first I'd heard of this and I was very interested to hear this...I had been asked by the speechie if there was any family history of "late talking" and I'd said no. So here's the thing...there may be a genetic factor involved. And I was very good academically at school and always top of the class in spelling, reading etc...so that gave me some comfort that DS was not "slow" as such.

So I decided to try not to worry about it until after he was 2. Apparently a child is not labelled a "late talker" until they are 2 or older.

DS is now 22 months and it is quite literally in the last 3 weeks that he has suddenly come out with new words. We are praising him to the skies at the moment to encourage it - he is now well past the 18 month minimum requirement. I have been trying to speak more simply to him but I haven't been making a huge effort...I do really think it is just "his time". If he can manage some two syllable words and/or perhaps link 2 words together by the time his 2 year check rolls around I don't think we will cause the MCHN any further concern!

However...another little girl in my mother's group had her first words okay and then suddenly regressed...went for a hearing test and it turned out she had a bad ear infection and in the end needed grommets.

I would say that your MCHN will be concerned and want your DS to have a hearing test and then go for an assessment with a speech pathologist. (I went private, it cost me about $200 for the assessment but for me that was worth it for the peace of mind). Waiting lists can be quite long for public speechies so be prepared for this. However, it's worth asking your parents or your DH's parents what their kids were like with talking...if they were late or not, as I have been told more than once that this can be a factor. Also...I believe there is more cause for concern if the child doesn't seem to understand what is being said or cannot follow instructions.

I know how hard it is, there is a little boy in my mother's group who is 2 weeks younger than DS and talking rings around him.

[New Dawn]

I have another none talker here.... Have been planing on taking her to the MCHN but have been a bit slack.... my DS has this also didnt speck until he was 3 but all is ok now... I was told with him they didnt normally see his type of delaide speech unles the child was a sib not normal the 1st... So I recon that is what DD2 has as her sibs are alway talking for her and telling other people what she wants or what she said.... which of course isnt incuraging her to speck for herself....

You can alway ask for a 2 yr assement.... see what happens....

[MantaRay]

Really, they are all different, and boys generally tend to be a bit slower at talking than girls (some would say they never catch up ). My first DS was talking really early and using 8 word sentences by 2. My second DS is turning 2 next month and can say some basics like mummy, daddy, please, ta, open, bye, "me do it", "give me" etc, but not much else. I used to be really worried by this, but I am constantly being reassured by the carers at day care and other parents etc that he is normal and it's just that my first DS was talking unusually early. I think the most important thing by this age is that they are understanding, and able to obey simple instructions. If they can do that, and by 2 1/2 have about 50 words and put 2 words together they are ok.

But if you are worried, it doesn't hurt to get an assessment done. You can get a referral to a speech pathologist from your GP. If it will give you peace of mind it might be worth it. GL.

[Phteven]

I agree with MR, if you're worried get him assessed.

[Antheia]

My DS is 22 months and he only says mum, dad and nard-nard(his fav teddy's name is Bernard). I'm taking him to a speech therapist next week, but only cause DD has some speech problems and i would like him assessed too just in case and if there a problem, to get onto it as early as possible.

[~clover~]

DD2 was a slow talker & I was always worried about her.
I talked to everyone about it & everyone assured me that she would talk in her own time. I was comparing her to DD1 who was really early.
Anyway, after talking to an MCHN I gave up & felt reassured that she was OK. She was about 2 then.
Now she is 3 & still very unclear. We are waiting to see a speech therapist.
Drink is Din
Jesse is Jehee
Nikaly is Ni hi
Best friends is Beh wens
Jazmyne is Dammin
Monster is Monha

I think maybe give it a few months til he wants to talk & see how he goes. Don't worry if he is just quiet. But your MCHN should have a list of sounds they should be saying by a certain age. Ask her about it.
My brother said all the usual 1st words, then stopped speaking altogether.
Mum freaked & he went to numerous doctors & had 4 or 5 hearing tests done in about 8 months.
Then when he was 2 he started speaking in full sentences.
I mean he went from 'Mumma, Dadda' to 'Can I have a drink please?'
Mum near sh*t herself when he first said that to her!!
He just sat back & listened for a while.

[lestyrox]

Thanks for the replies everyone. My Ds has his 2year check next month (we're a bit late, couldn't get in any sooner) and i'll talk to the nurse about my concerns then. I think i've been scared to admit that he's a bit slower to talk because i don't want him to be labelled and in my eyes he's perfect.. is that silly? I remember at his 18month check the nurse asked me if he was saying 5-6 words and i said yes because i didn't want him to be labelled as 'slow' or 'behind'. He was saying 5-6 words but they were quite unclear (as they still are) and i wasn't sure how clear the words had to be or if it was just 5 words in general, clear or unclear. I know now i should have mentioned it to the nurse but i guess being a first time mum i wanted my boy to be perfect (well he IS perfect of course ).
I guess my main concern is that he doesn't say words clearly.. its like he knows the first sound of the word and then the end just trails off or he puts in a completely different sound.. for example his 'word' for dog is 'deeeeo' and muffin is 'muuuu'.
I think i'd feel better if we are referred to have his hearing tested because although he seems to hear properly i'm starting to wonder if thats the problem.
Most things i've read say not to worry until they reach 2.. but he's 2 now and not talking much so that makes me worry even more!
I guess i'll just see what the nurse says and go from there.

Bjrose- i didn't know about the list of sounds, i will definitely ask the nurse about that.

One more thing, my DS never 'found the beat'. I remember when the other kids in my mum's group started dancing and bopping to music at around 1ish but my DS just never seemed interested. He likes High 5 but only the opening song, but even then he doesn't dance he just smiles at the TV. I know he can hear it because when it comes on the TV and he's in another room he comes running in to the lounge room to watch it.

Do you think not being interested in music is related to not talking?

[joshnchloesmummy]

My ds is two years 4 months and was also a late talker. Up until his 2nd bday he hardly said any words he now says two and three word sentences and is mimics most things we say. He was never a very vocal baby and has a quiet temperament - i think it is also dependant on personality and confidence\

[~clover~]

I'll just have a look through my drawer. I might still have mine...

Nup. Can't see it sorry.
But I found this

18 to 24 months
says some 2 word sentences such as "more milk", "all gone", "me go"
asks for a cookie or toy
says "whatssat" a lot at about age 2
understands "where is mommy/daddy?"
understands simple directions "get your coat"
understands more words than can speak/say

warning signs does your child use more gestures than words?
are you concerned about your child's ability to talk and/or understand?
age 2 to 3rd birthday

Speech Development and Milestones - Index
Early detection of difficulties at any age can make learning to talk easier. If your child shows any of the warning signs listed for his or her age group, please contact the Speech-Language Pathologist at your Local Health Unit for more information.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

age 2 to 3 years
combines words in 2-3 word sentences such as "me do it"
follows simple directions e.g. "put the teddy-bear to bed"
answers simple questions e.g. "what's your name?", "which one is the big doll?"
can put a toy "in", "on", "under" when asked
answers simple questions about objects e.g. "which one do we eat with?"

warning signs does your child show frustration when trying to talk?
do you have difficulty understanding your child's speech?
does your child put 2 words together?

Activities
2 -2 1/2 years Your child should begin to identify pictures in place of the actual object. If you have a book or some pictures of words she uses (i.e. ball, cup, spoon, etc.) you can ask her to identify them. You can also see if she can match two pictures that are alike and knows when they are different.
Expose your child to different surroundings and the vocabulary that would be used in them. Take walks, go shopping, plant a garden, have a picnic, clean the house or yard together, etc. Talk about the new situations before they happen, while they are happening, and when you are done.
At this age it is fun to begin imitating sounds of objects and animals with your child. Bark like dogs, chirp like birds, make fire engine noises, etc.
Ask your child lots of questions to stimulate his thought and language. When he is telling you about things he is doing praise him for his efforts in communicating.
Some additional speech and language your child should be exhibiting are as follows:
uses two word combinations
uses pronouns - 'my', 'mine', 'you' and 'me'.
refers to self by name
uses negative phrases such as "not go", "no want", etc.
stays with an activity for 6-7 minutes
builds a small tower with blocks
carries on a conversation with dolls and self


Activities
2 1/2 - 3 years

When playing with blocks or other objects, she should be able to understand the concept of one. If she has 6 blocks and you ask her for one, she should be able to hand you just one block.
At this age, you should begin introducing your child to 'big' and 'little'. While playing with him, have several different sizes of blocks and ask him for a little one or a big one.
Playing a simple memory game with your child is good at this age. She should be able to remember two digits or letters. You say two numbers, i.e. 2 and 5 and see if she can repeat them back.
Your child should understand the use of objects. Ask him, "What do we use to comb our hair?, drink our milk?, cut with?, etc.
Other speech and language characteristics your child should exhibit:
Uses two - three word combinations
Repeats simple sentences
Follows simple commands (Put the blocks in the box.)
Should be articulating consonants more clearly (b, k, d, f, g, etc.)
age 3 to 4th birthday

HTH

[lestyrox]

Thanks Bjrose I had a rough idea about where he should be for his age but that made it a lot clearer.
I think i'll talk to the nurse about waiting a few more months, maybe untill he's 2 1/2 and see if there is an improvement. Its only been the last few months that he's started to make more sounds and try more words so maybe he just needs a little longer. In the mean time i'll keep encouraging him to use his words and encourage him to express himself verbally more.
I guess everyone is different and every mum has at least one concern about their child, whether it be talking,walking, food issues etc so i know i'm not alone
Talking it through on here has really helped so thanks everyone for your advice/comments