20 month old toddler not talking

[shoemad]

Hi, my step grandchild is 20 months old and not yet talking at all. he has never made the usual 'babbling' sounds and has just two sounds which he makes 'urgh' and 'gah' - but uses these for anything. He seems to hear all right and appears to understand when you ask him to pick something up or give you something but I'm worried that he isn't really progressing. As a 'step' relative, I don't like to suggest that they discuss it with a health visitor. I don't want to be seen as an interfering so and so. Do you think I'm worrying needlessly? He's a lovely. happy little chap.

[sara3]

he's young enough to be a late-starter, but will have his 2 year check soon so they will be aware then.

I suggest you keep your mouth shut, you'll get no thanks for it :o)

[Sqad]

Seems a bit late to me. I would certainly be asking for a Paediatric evaluation.

[saxy_jag]

Friends of mine have a toddler in a similar situation. Although they are waiting for an appointment with a hearing specialist (their child also has a slight balance problem) they have been told, as I was when mine were small, that slow progress in one area is often offset by a very high rate of progress somewhere else. Suffice to say my friends' son has no problem communicating exactly what he wants and displays a very high level of intellectual development.

Naturally they're a little anxious, but I am confident their little boy will grow into an intelligent, well-rounded child/teenager/adult.

[daffy654]

When my son wasn't 'babbling' by the age of 18 months I mentioned it to my health visitor but was told by him (yes him) that I was worrying needlessly.My son then developed an ear infection and was seen by our GP who asked me was my son telling me that it hurt,I told him my son couldn't talk yet.He referred him immediately for hearing tests that proved his hearing was perfect.We then went through years of assessment to finally get a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome when he was 6.
My son couldn't say a single understandable word until he was 4.

To cut a long story short.......my GP at the time said there is ALWAYS cause for concern in a child that doesn't babble at that age,it may be nothing but must be investigated.

[tamborine]

my 2nd was same.....the pedratrician said "he couldn't get a word in between my elder & me". Have some individual time with child (shopping) so he will have to ask for what he wants.

Treats on requests to encourage him.

[Sqad]

"he has never made the usual 'babbling' sounds and has just two sounds which he makes 'urgh' "

That sentence is the crucial one.

[daffy654]

Sqad,I am in full agreement with you on this one.You should never,ever wait to discuss concerns about delayed developement in children's speech,vital time for assessment and therapy could be missed.

[tamborine]

that's all my 2nd child did.....and eldest responded to share things with him.

However, tho he wasn't considered deaf (tested) he bluddy goes deaf on me!

[swedeheart]

It's true as saxy_jag says that children often put speech development on hold while learning to walk and vice versa. Had your step grandchild been a 'babbler' earlier on I would have said it's probably nothing - some children choose to skip the one-word "sentence" phase altogether and go straight to two-word-sentences around the age of two. But the fact that your grandchild didn't babble is cause to take action now. You're not being overly concerned.

It needn't be anything 'bad' but he'll still benefit from an evaluation and ideally also a referral to a speech- and language pathologist, who will be able to make an assessment of what kind of communication is best suited to help him get his meaning across. Many children who are late speakers benefit immensely from learning to use simple gestures. This is a scary thought to many parents, who tend to think that "if we all use gestures and that works out really well, why would he ever bother to speak?!" but in fact it's just the opposite. "Sign language" aids speech development, and anyone who is at all able to develop spoken language will always do that in the end. Learning to use gestures can speed the process up greatly and above all make life even more joyful for him and his family right now.

But that's just one scenario out of many possible ones. My point is, no don't feel silly for being concerned and yes do act. If he does need help, this is the right time. If he turns out to be "just late", you still won't have made a fool of yourself, no one will think so. Be sure to mention the non-babbling bit. Good luck, and good on you for bringing it up.

[shoemad]

Thank you all for your replies.It's good to hear other opinions. I think I'll probably have to take a back seat and hope that his parents will ask for professional advice before too long.

[Seadragon]

If your're concerned, you should have him checked out.

[karenmac60]

Is he an only child or does he have older siblings? Studies have shown that 2nd or 3rd (or more) children tend to have slightly arressted development when it comes to speech as they are able to communicate with their older siblings without using proper words - whereas the oldest or only children have to form language earlier to make themselves understood by adults.

[albaqwerty]

my older son translated for his brother and we gently persuaded him not to. It worked to some degree but younger one did "abble babble", Younger one pointed and erg erg erg was the response mostly. He is now 15 and cant get him to shut up when he is awake.

[Ice.Maiden]

Like Daffy, my son was very late in talking. He was then diagnosed with autism.
I have to say though shoemad - all children develop at different rates. Some are prolific talkers by the age of 2 or younger, but I remember an auntie saying that her son'd been very slow, and hardly said anything until he was 3.
He's turned out brilliantly, and going for his PhD! x

[MWB]

If your step-grandson has an older sibling, perhaps he's letting them do the talking for him.

A few of my friends with kiddies noticed this was the case with their youngest.

[shoemad]

He is an only child and doesn't go to any toddler groups so rarely sees any other children.
I think, after reading all your replies, that I may have to say something and risk being seen as interfering.
Thanks again for all the comments.

[angiealf]

I wouldn't call it interfering. I'd call it - being a caring and loving grandma. You've got to say something for the childs sake. You will get over being moaned at if it happens. But what if nothing is done and the child never talks in the future all because nothing was said.