I’m worried that my 18 month grandson has a learning difficulty. He’s not speaking or pointing or making eye contact babbling He doesn’t respond to his name . They need to get him to a doctor .

All of these are definite signs to a developmental delay. Not pointing is such a red flag in identifying autism. He is still young though and most doctors won't even consider autism until they are at least 2. Unfortunately as a grandparent there isn't much you can do without overstepping. Both of my boys have moderate to severe autism (Levels 2 and 3) and were exactly like this.

Actually it is very important to identify it earlier as all the research shows that the earlier intervention occurs, the better the outcomes for the child. My boys get funding from the government for Speech, occupational therapy, psychology and an educator.

I was literally talking to the other mum's of my sons special needs unit and all of us were saying that not pointing was the biggest flag for us.

The parents should notice the difference between other kids when they take him to the park. If he goes to daycare, the teachers will let the parents know and do their own assessments.

Try not to worry too much yet, nothing will happen or be diagnosed before 2.

Goodness gracious, what is it about grannies that make them turn into such judgmental, hypercritical women?

Carolyn
I dont think the OP comes over as anything like the above description. She is a genuinely worried grandmother asking for views.

Carolyn wise to just wait at the moment I think.

I worried about his squint and reluctantly mentioned it. I was told he had already been seen and hospital were not worried. However it's quite pronounced but I will not mention it again.

Ooh it’s a grey area, I wouldn’t be interfering he’s not your child, how do you know that he’s not a later developer, children develop at different stages, he’s only young anyway, and to say they need to get him to a doctor is going a bit far, it amazes me how many grandparents like to jump right in with both feet, leave things to the parents, if there was a problem I’m sure they are intelligent enough to know their own child,

CarolynSpartan, a good rule for being a grandparent is knowing when to keep your opinions/worries to yourself - and your mouth firmly shut!

Children develop at different speeds and in different ways. One of my four didn't say a word until he was two - then he spoke in complete sentences!

I would never say anything to them and I’m happy with almost all the response . I know my poo stinks too .

Not my real name or child’s just wanted a bit of help . I would never get involved or upset my son .

Beware - you have given quite a lot of identifiable information about a child. I’m guessing your username is your actual name, and you’ve given the child’s name and age. This is unwise, so I’m going to draw the post to the attention of the moderators.

Our DGD didn't talk, or actually do any of the normal developmental things like waving, shape sorting etc. In fact she needed speech therapy at 4 but then came on leaps and bounds. She is now 6 and knows everything and does everything ... probably just didn't want to be bothered as a baby/toddler!!!

Thankfully number 2 developed along normal lines so no anxiety for us there.

Every child is different and 18 months is very early to start worrying. We find the best way is only to comment about things if we're asked, otherwise say nothing!

My first child spoke very early . The second didn’t speak at all until 2.5 because his sister spoke for him. When he did decide to talk he spoke in complete sentences straight away. All children are different, he was just as bright as his sister . Don’t interfere. My MIL did and she drove me mad!

DGS was nearly 3 before he spoke properly, a speech therapist who attended our Church said not to worry. Now age 8 you cannot shut him up.
Although we sort of live in the same house, I never interfere in parenting unless asked.
He will be fine, just stay out of it, one of the reasons for the problems we had with my Mother was her constant interfering.
We eventually moved abroad as she just could not stop, even going to our Doctor with a long list of complaints against us, completely unfounded.

My GS babbled but didn't actually say "a word" properly until he was nearly 3 because his big sister always spoke for him. Now we can't shut him up! Don't interfere OP, you'll get no thanks.

My father in law was convinced that my daughter was deaf, despite having had her hearing checked by a health visitor. I knew better as she could hear the biscuit tin being opened fron a different room and would come in running, shouting "Want one" She has no hearing problems, or indeed any developmental delays but was just very independent and refused to perform party tricks for her grandad!

I had the opposite problem with my youngest son who did have a number of issues after being very poorly with meningitis when 6 months old. The long stay in hospital resulted in him regressing a little ie back on baby formula after beginning weaning and no real speech until turned 2. But this same man refused to accept that his grandson had any problems and thought we were fussy parents for taking him for regular checkups! Luckily there were no lasting problems and he was finally discharged when he was six - ironically his sister, just 13 months older who Grandad thought was deaf, doted on him and it wasn't until she went to school full time that he was allowed to speak for himself!

I was too laid back to be cross with my FIL but he really should have kept his pointless comments to himself, we were well aware of how our own children were developing.

Yes, the original poster might have concerns, but please keep them to yourself for a year or so, it's amazing how much toddlers develop in a short period of time.

Leave it to the parents.

18months could be nothing or could be a problem. However, they do not need you trying to make them insecure on their parenting. They are more in tune with their child than you are.

I know it’s hard, but, bite your tongue, say nothing and never say “I told you so”

My DS, sorry (I should have checked after deleting part of my post).

I think, reading this thread, that quite a number of us have intelligent, successful children who didn't speak until they were 2+.
If there is nothing worth saying, why bother?
He could, however, say 'dinner'.

DD not DH ( now that would be funny!)?

Oopsminty ???

In any case OP you are jumping the gun, with all the milestones..my eldest DH didn’t say a word until that age or older.

Just leave him alone.

My son hardly spoke for years

He's a doctor now

Your grandchild is only 18 months

Plenty of time!

My highly intelligent DD did not speak in any meaningful way till she was 2.

She also started reading very late. I found her reading The Wind in The Willows one day and said: "Can you read that?" and she said yes. It was the first sign of even trying to read. Personally I think she was waiting for something worth reading rather than wasting her time on Janet and John!

OP - I think you need to leave it to the child's parents and the health visitor who will be checking the child. Please try not to worry and certainly do not tell them what to do.

Goodness gracious, what is it about grannies that make them turn into such judgmental, hypercritical women? The parents of this child know his health issues better than you and if you trust your son's parenting skills at all then he will get his child the care and assessments he needs. You sound like my ex mother-in-law who wrote us a letter explaining my child needed speech therapy. Well the therapy was all ready under way, we just hadn't told her about it, bc every little detail about my child's medical history is not her business. MIL turned into such a paranoid, anxious, fussy granny and it was such a cause for contention. The irony is, where was this paranoia and anxiety when she was a mom? Bc she damn sure wasn't that way when her kids were young! I know bc I was there and I saw it with my own two eyes, as I met her son when we were teens. So this lady who could barely parent her own children properly had the nerve to give me parenting tips and trick regularly. And she wondered why we fell out...it's really easy but I guess when you think your poop doesn't stink and only you know best then that's the outcome. My suggestion (take it or leave it) stay in your lane and just enjoy being Grandma. Leave parenting and the worries that come along with it to the parents. It'll make your grandma experience so much more pleasant for all involved!

Sorry Bibbity. I meant to reply to CarolynSpartan's post, not yours.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Has the health visitor checked his hearing?

My second son didn't say a word till he was over 18 months and then suddenly came out with a long sentence. Children develop at different speeds. They also have different personalities. My first son used to babble and chat away all day and is now a very chatty extrovert type but my second boy could talk but didn't say much and he is now a much quieter type than his brother.
Your son and his wife are the best ones to know if there is a problem.