Speech delay :-(

[Boo44]

I've definitely decided now that my 23 month old son must be speech delayed. I haven't seeked any official assessment yet but think I should

I've posted a few times about this. He does have some words only he is NOT progressing, he is using the same old words and noises/gestures that he has always used, and the gap is widening between his peers. I am so upset and frustrated by it it's untrue. He seemed to be learning with if not ahead of his friends last year. He learnt a lot of his words last year!

I keep being surprised by how much other children his age can apparently say. For instance I was posting in the toilet training thread and people said you know they're ready when they tell you they need the toilet or don't want nappies. Can other peoples 2 year old really say that much? He's so far away from that

I have no concerns about his communication, understanding and language. I understand him 100%, he's developed a lot of sign gestures and noises for words that we can almost 'converse'. He listens to me and can follow complex 3 stage instructions. He points to things in books that I have no idea how he knows those words. He simply has an issue with actually saying the words himself.

I did the mchat and he scored low risk. I don't even know what I think the problem is but I'm starting to get anxious now. I just can't imagine him ever talking to me, he can't even say 'bye' he just waves and says 'ahhh'

Do I just wait for his 2 year check to mention it? Does anyone have any tips?

I made a list a few weeks ago of what he says, I'll try and find it and post it here

 

[Boo44]

Mama
Dada
No
More
Go
All gone
Car
Uh oh
There
In there
On there
Lawnmower

Nooo - nose
Gaaaa - 'ta' ie thank you
Aaaaah - bye
Nann - man
Nana - banana
OoVa - hoover
Sssshh - Freddie
Ma-Maa - grandma
Dadad - grandad
Nornor - police/fire engine
Wowow - Owl
Mo - mole
Num num - food
Nono - snowman
Dodo - dummy
Dansair - downstairs
Brmm brmmm
Dack Dack - Jack

Pig/cow/sheep/snake/dog - all noises, no words

The two words he can string together:
Car mama/dada etc
Aaaaah (bye) mama/dada etc
Uh oh mama/dada
No mama/dada
Gaaaa (thank you) mama/dada

 

[Misstrouble19]

hey i'd talk to your hv and see if you can get him referred to speech therapy my son is only just saying 2 word sentences at 2 years and 10 months!.... but best to have piece of mind xx hope this helps

 

[Boo44]

Thanks I will do I think. Just the thought of getting them involved makes me anxious!!

My main concerns are that he isn't progressing and lots of the things he says, he said almost 1 year ago and not much new...

 

[AP]

It sounds like the main issue is his speech. Mchat is for autism, and it doesn't sound like your LO meets the criteria for that kind of investigation, from what you have said.

Our second daughter Tori is speech delayed, she has just turned three. She has speech therapy, but most of the progress she has made has come from time, makaton signing (we have specifically learnt for our older asd child), and playgroups. Playgroups have certainly made a huge difference. Speech therapy have left us alone a bit because we have the tools we need, and theres not much they can add.

Speech therapy is the way to go, do get in contact with your HV, she can also advise of places in your area you can go to.

 

[Ward]

Both of my sons have had similar issues. One has been diagnosed with autism and one has not and I'm leaning towards thinking he won't be.

We originally didn't stress about the lack of language, as we too could understand him just fine. He found other ways to communicate, like pointing for what he wanted.

Since my ex-husband (we were married and living together at the time) doesn't speak English as his first language, we just assumed that had something to do with it and that he'd catch up eventually. Now, I'm not sure why we assumed that since his dad really didn't speak Portuguese to him at all.

It wasn't until we took him to his 3rd year checkup and the doctor asked if we had any concerns, that my then husband brought it up. He didn't think much of it and neither did I. Neither of us would ever have thought autism. I don't know it was a word we were even all that familiar with.

So fast-forward a bit. It was pretty quickly after that that he went through assessment and immediately began different forms of therapy. He had speech therapist coming into the home and working with him twice a week. We also ended up putting him in day care at their request, so that he would have a daily chance to practice his skills talking to the teachers and other children.

All of these things made such a huge difference for him, I almost want to cry just thinking about it. Within the first year, the impact was huge. He was using fully formed sentences, he stopped pointing for stuff he wanted, etc. It was awesome.

He still has plenty of therapy and he's still behind the kids his age in the language department, but he's come such a long way! (he's six now)

His brother was slow to develop his speech too but I'd say once he hit three-and-a-half, his verbal skills suddenly came out of nowhere. He's a regular chatty Cathy now and I couldn't be more thrilled.

I think that therapy is the best thing ever invented, so if you think your son has delays that concern you, don't hesitate to reach out for what's around you. It's never too early to start.

I hope things work out for you!

 

[Misstrouble19]

just dont think your alone.. im in pretty much the same boat except my son is delayed with all things and again my son does alot of pointing but i encourage him to say what he wants and he will tell me , alot of encouragement goes a very long way.. im a worrier got a big meeting on 19th june and that makes me nerve wracked knowing there's gonna be me and his dad and like 8 others

 

[Boo44]

It sounds like the main issue is his speech. Mchat is for autism, and it doesn't sound like your LO meets the criteria for that kind of investigation, from what you have said.

Our second daughter Tori is speech delayed, she has just turned three. She has speech therapy, but most of the progress she has made has come from time, makaton signing (we have specifically learnt for our older asd child), and playgroups. Playgroups have certainly made a huge difference. Speech therapy have left us alone a bit because we have the tools we need, and theres not much they can add.

Speech therapy is the way to go, do get in contact with your HV, she can also advise of places in your area you can go to.

So is it possible to be speech delayed without having any other kind of developmental delay or autism spectrum disorder? Sorry if I sound ignorant I just know nothing at all about this kind of thing and am getting myself really worked up about it

Everyone's advice and words have been really helpful. He doesn't go to any kind of day care (ie nursery or anything), when I went back to work after him he spent each day with family. Then I was back off on another maternity leave by December so it's mainly with me again, although we do go to little groups and see friends almost every day. I'm already thinking of putting him in nursery one day a week when I go back to work again in August. My family have offered to have them the full 3 days again but I already wanted to get him socialised so said no. Now you girls have said that as well, my mind is made up.

He is a really sociable little boy. He's fun, giggly, smiley and seems to have bags of personality. He is fun to be around and loves other children. He's upstairs having a nap now and I've just rung the HV. She was lovely and listened to my concerns. She said at 2 years you'd expect 50 words, is that right? She is going to come out and do a home assessment and said he does need checking out. I feel so guilty now, I can't explain why!

 

[AP]

So is it possible to be speech delayed without having any other kind of developmental delay or autism spectrum disorder? Sorry if I sound ignorant I just know nothing at all about this kind of thing and am getting myself really worked up about it

Everyone's advice and words have been really helpful. He doesn't go to any kind of day care (ie nursery or anything), when I went back to work after him he spent each day with family. Then I was back off on another maternity leave by December so it's mainly with me again, although we do go to little groups and see friends almost every day. I'm already thinking of putting him in nursery one day a week when I go back to work again in August. My family have offered to have them the full 3 days again but I already wanted to get him socialised so said no. Now you girls have said that as well, my mind is made up.

He is a really sociable little boy. He's fun, giggly, smiley and seems to have bags of personality. He is fun to be around and loves other children. He's upstairs having a nap now and I've just rung the HV. She was lovely and listened to my concerns. She said at 2 years you'd expect 50 words, is that right? She is going to come out and do a home assessment and said he does need checking out. I feel so guilty now, I can't explain why!

Yes, it's possible just to have a speech delay, probably more common than anything else! At present our Tori has had a preassessment for autism only on the basis that her sister has autism and we want to monitor things. Autism is based on a triad of impairments, speaking loosely, it's social relationships, rigitidity of thought (imagination), and language & communication. The fact you can converse, he can follow 3 step instructions, has a great understanding, you say he's sociable - that's all really positive. I'm not saying autism or the like isnt a possibility, I am no paeditrician, but, everything sounds well! You don't sound ignorant - I knew nothing about ASD to begin with!

The whole "xxx number of words at xxx age" is just a sorta average, but if you look at what you listed above - that's about 50 words - the animal sounds count too.

I was never one for nurseries or social parent things, but, sending Tori to those type of things was were she really blossomed. She is still delayed, but weirdly can sing some songs (unfortunately it has to be rude stuff she picks up - sods law )

Nursery rhymes with signs are fantastic. I would really really recommend this lot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0peZ5AN5vs8 (Toris first favourite rhyme) They use makaton signing. Signing isnt there to replace the speech - it in facts promotes it, neurologically. It's great fun and extends the vocab and understanding. Mr Tumble too, uses Makaton. It can be scary to think about learning something that is almost another language, but you'll find its easier to pick up through songs - most signs are common sense really!

 

[Boo44]

Thanks atomic pink that's all so helpful. You've been so nice. He actually enjoys me tumble a lot, and does have a tendency to sign things. I'll be showing him those YouTube clips too

I didn't know the animal sounds count as words but the HV said that to me on the phone today too. Am waiting to hear back from them about when they're coming to do a home assessment x

 

[RachA]

Hi.

It's always worth seeing your HV just for peace of mind.

Did you say he used signs for words too? If so those signs actually count towards the number of words he can 'say' So my daughter at 3 years had 7 words but of those 7 3 were actually signs and not spoken words.

 

[Boo44]

Hi.

It's always worth seeing your HV just for peace of mind.

Did you say he used signs for words too? If so those signs actually count towards the number of words he can 'say' So my daughter at 3 years had 7 words but of those 7 3 were actually signs and not spoken words.

Yes quite a few of his first words were signs/noises. For instance he taps his head to mean 'scarecrow' (from us singing dingle dangle scarecrow with a flippy floppy hat to him), and he whirls his arm in circles whilst saying szzzzz to mean a helicopter. He also taps his chest and says 'da' which very clearly he is using to mean 'jack' or 'me'

Do these really count as words?

 

[Misstrouble19]

ive started saying words for my son and he copies me and i also sign them to him so that he gets the understanding of it, try flash cards to get him to communicate?? it's really helping with my son like if i say 'ball'' he will say ''ball'' and we sign it x

 

[sequeena]

Hello I'm another one with a delayed speech child. My HV picked up on Thomas' problems so it may be worth speaking to them. They may also send him for a hearing test as speech delay is sometimes because of a hearing problem - it could be something as simple as glue ear.

 

[Boo44]

My son won't copy me at all. No matter how many times I say things, or if I say 'jack, say ...' he just giggles at me! Absolutely no parroting at all. Not sure if that's significant

 

[Misstrouble19]

speech therapy should help him along .. its good that you have your hv involved now to help you along and these support forums are a great thing

 

[sequeena]

My son won't copy me at all. No matter how many times I say things, or if I say 'jack, say ...' he just giggles at me! Absolutely no parroting at all. Not sure if that's significant

He's only little still. My son has only recently started parroting and he doesn't do it all the time

 

[Boo44]

speech therapy should help him along .. its good that you have your hv involved now to help you along and these support forums are a great thing

You're right, I feel so much lighter this evening even afte just a few posts in this part of the forum. You ladies have really helped me. I think that admitting to the HV i think he has an issue has also helped me... Fingers crossed he just gets it one day and talks, but I'm really glad for all these tips to help him

 

[RachA]

Hi.

It's always worth seeing your HV just for peace of mind.

Did you say he used signs for words too? If so those signs actually count towards the number of words he can 'say' So my daughter at 3 years had 7 words but of those 7 3 were actually signs and not spoken words.

Yes quite a few of his first words were signs/noises. For instance he taps his head to mean 'scarecrow' (from us singing dingle dangle scarecrow with a flippy floppy hat to him), and he whirls his arm in circles whilst saying szzzzz to mean a helicopter. He also taps his chest and says 'da' which very clearly he is using to mean 'jack' or 'me'

Do these really count as words?

If he is using them regularly as 'words' then yes they do count in the same way that animal noises count.

Esther has only just started parroting in the last few months.
I would definitely just push for a hearing test. I know it's not always that simple but a friend of mine has a sister that wasn't talking much at 3 1/2. She wasn't delayed in any other way and after having her hearing checked and dealt with she started talking within weeks.

It is more unusual for a child to just have a speech delay. Most of the time other areas of development are delayed too, even if it's not as much.
Guess what I'm trying to say is first port of call would be HV and ask for a hearing test.

 

[bananabump]

Hi Boo44.. my son is 2 years 9 months and sounds veeeery similiar to your son. We started the ball rolling with the HV when he was 22/23 months aswell and I hate to say this but it's been a very slow process so far! We did have a bit of a breakthrough a few months ago though when our Paediatrician and Speech pathologist both said they would unofficially diagnose him with Verbal Dyspraxia which is also known as Childhood Apraxia of speech. When he's 3 he'll be having a more in depth assessment so that he can be officially diagnosed. Have a look at this website and see what you think about your son.. https://www.tayloredmktg.com/dyspraxia/das.shtml