Frustrated with 2year olds lack of speech.

My 2yo doesn't say much. She says maybe 10-12 words but its still within the range of acceptable for her age so no one will do anything for her just yet.
When she wants something she just screams or shrieks at us and makes pinchy movements with her fingers. She can hear fine she's passed all hearing tests and she can understand what we say.
The words she says are basic ones mum dad nana hi bye etc she can't or won't even try to say words for objects or food it's all just screaming and we have to guess what she wants and go through things until she gets what she wants. I've tried ignoring her and asking her repeatedly what she wants but that always turns into a full flung tantrum.
She was 2 in December. It's starting to stress me out because I don't know what she wants and I'm tired of the screaming. She's started to hit me or throw things a few times too but I don't know if that's frustration because she can't/won't say what she wants or If its a tantrum because she's not getting what she wants.

Have you tried teaching her sign language?

I'd suggest sign language. It gives her something you know she CAN do to communicate with you and explain her wants. Start wtih simple ones.

more
eat
drink
please
open

Things like that. It helped my daughter a lot when she was behind and put into therapy.

That really sucks. When mine was that age he had to tell me or sign to me or he didn't get it.

I asked my nurse about sign language but she said at this age it can discourage her language skills. I don't know anything about it so I just took her word for it.
Maybe it is normal, I don't know. My son had much better language at this age. You could basically have a conversation with him.

My son was (and still is) behind in speech. He wasn't telling me what he wanted at that age so he had to point it out to me or he didn't get it.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Jude ♥ JGL:</b>" That really sucks. When mine was that age he had to tell me or sign to me or he didn't get it."</blockquote>




Yea I've tried that and it didn't go down well lol
She's generally pretty well behaved. And she consistent with the words she does say, she says thank you when we give her something. It's just the not understanding each other that seems to stress us both out lol.
The handful of words she can say are clear and other people can understand her. There's doesn't seem to be any attempt to say new words and she doesn't have any 'baby words' for objects or food, its just pinchy fingers and screaming.

My mum thinks she doesn't actually know what she wants and she just wants me to go through everything until she sees something's and thinks 'yes ill have that!' Like with food, just go through the cupboard or fridge until something tickles her fancy lol

Quoting hobbit*:" I asked my nurse about sign language but she said at this age it can discourage her language skills. ... [snip!] ... it is normal, I don't know. My son had much better language at this age. You could basically have a conversation with him."

I disagree with this statement. My daughter was in therapy for delays and sign language helped her a LOT. They will pick up the words when they can, but making them use words they KNOW is one thing. However, if they haven't learned those words, then trying to force it will only make them frustrated (hence the screaming).

My daughter went from a severe delay to being ahead now. Sign language really can help. I'd look into it a little more if I were you.

<blockquote><b>Quoting she nan igans:</b>" I disagree with this statement. My daughter was in therapy for delays and sign language helped her a ... [snip!] ... went from a severe delay to being ahead now. Sign language really can help. I'd look into it a little more if I were you."</blockquote>



She said that sign language and me going 'do you want this this this this' isn't encouraging her to use words to tell me what she wants and it will do new damage in the long run because she will just get lazy with talking if I do all the talking for her or if she uses her hands. Which do make sense to me so I just left it, but there's always conflicting info out there and it can be so confusing and you don't know what to believe!
Not disagreeing with you lol just saying what the nurse said! But know that i know it can help I will look into signing and ger more info about it because this is really doing my head in, and it looks like its helped your daughter. thanks!

<blockquote><b>Quoting hobbit*:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting she nan igans:</b>" I disagree with this statement. My daughter ... [snip!] ... though and ger more info about it because this is really doing my head in, and it looks like its helped your daughter. thanks!"</blockquote>




I guess it comes down to, do you think she is just lazy? Or do you think it is an actual speech problem?

Quoting hobbit*:" <blockquote><b>Quoting she nan igans:</b>" I disagree with this statement. My daughter ... [snip!] ... and ger more info about it because this is really doing my head in, and it looks like its helped your daughter. thanks!"

Yeah, I'd look into it. I agree, that listing things won't help. How we did it was teaching my daughter signs she'd need. So when she was thirsty, she'd do the sign for "drink." When she wanted to eat, she'd sign "food." If anything it was MORE work then saying a word, you know? Then she started saying the words with the signs, because I'd say the word everytime she signed it. Then she went to just words. Occasionally now if she thinks I don't understand her (or I tell her no) she'll start using the signs again, haha.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Jude ♥ JGL:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting hobbit*:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting she nan igans:</b>" ... [snip!] ... I guess it comes down to, do you think she is just lazy? Or do you think it is an actual speech problem?"</blockquote>




I honestly don't know what I think lol.
I think it's lazy because what she can say is clear.
But then I don't understand why she won't try to say stuff if its clearly frustrating her too that I don't know what she wants?? Wouldn't that indicate a delay?

Whatever it is, I have to wait and see how she goes until June when the nurse will assess her again and see if she picked up anything new, and if she's still doing the squawking I guess that's when she'll be referred?

Problem is our guidelines say minimum 10-20 words at 2, and she's on the lower end but still in the guidelines and referring her would be a waste if time now because there's no 'issue' yet. That's what the well child nurse said. So ill just have to wait and see how he is in June. It's going to be a loooong 6 months lol.