What is the treatment?

[lynbrown]

My granddaughter aged 22 months has not uttered a single word. She makes noises but nothing resembling Mama or Dada. She plays away and is healthy. What sort of treatment will the health service offer?

[Traci66]

Has her hearing been checked?

[Anngel123]

I am surprised that the health visitor has not started investigations already. She may have a problem with her hearing. You don't say if she interacts generally. If she is not making eye contact or interacting at all it may be another thing entirely. I won't worry you with the possibles. Needless to say, it is good to see a health professional about this. having said that I believe Einstein didn't speak until he was three!!

[EcclesCake]

Treatment???

She might be just biding her time until she's ready to spout Socrates! It's not unusual for toddlers to hold back until they are confident they are going to get it right. Well that is what I have seen amongst friends and family certainly.

[RATTER15]

The first thing I imagine will be an assessment, available treatments can then be discussed.

[maclarencat]

Lots of children do not talk until turned 2. My son was nearly 3 and for about a month before he said anything understandable in our presence we could hear him on the baby monitor at night in his cot trying out sound and words.

[Sqad]

All good posts re. her hearing.......that would seem to be the first investigation.

[cathfromsaron]

hearing check is the first stage!

also, if you say 'look at the dog' or whatever, does she react?

of course, there is more to communication than just the words and it's wise to be aware, but a bit early to be worried!

[Nibble]

Is she an only child? I said very little at her age, I had my siblings to interpret for me!

[sandyRoe]

I didn't utter a word until I was 3. I can't remember but I probably thought I'd nothing of interest to say to anyone.

[Mamyalynne]

Totally agree, get her hearing checked, if that is fine then bide a while.

What we do subconsciously is react to the grunts and noises, 'Oh do you want teddy?' etc. Thereby the child does not need to try harder,ask 'what do you want?' and gently encourage her.

[pdust]

my son hardly spoke until he started nursery at about 3 and half years old... i mentioned it to the health visitor but as his hearing was okay she had no problems with it. i think i was comparing him too much to my daughter who could talk for england when she was a year old

i thought the health visitor would have suggested something but she didnt... on the other hand my daughter went to speech therapy at quite a young age as she was having difficulty pronouncing some letter sounds...

[Nini74]

probably speech therapy and/or check her hearing, but i wouldn't be worried because all children develop at diffent ages, and 22 months isn't too worrying. You say she's making noises, so it sounds as though she's making some progress. Would help if we knew whether she sees other children her own age, recognises and points to things (eg if you say where's the car, where's your nose? etc)....

[sherrardk]

My youngest (now 4 1/4 years old) has been diagnosed with a severed speech and language disorder. This has taken months to sort out. I first mentioned my concerns at his two year check up and he was referred for a hearing test (all fine). He has been having speech therapy since he was 2 1/2 years old and I have been badgering them for a SEN assessment to secure funding to get help when he starts school in September. I have now got the funding sorted. Your granddaughter might just be biding her time but it takes ages to get a problem diagnosed so press for a hearing test and take it from there. Good luck, x