delayed speech

[marmalade999]

hi everyone!

I have some concerns over our lo speech. he is 30 months old and mainly babbles. I can understand some of it but a lot of it doesn't make sense. he says a handful of works consistently ( mummy/daddy etc). he wouldn't say if he was hungry etc so this causes a lot of frustration. I have no concerns about understanding as hes very bright in the area.
foster carers used a dummy a lot ( which he only has at bedtime now) but I'm really struggling. we are trying everything.
we've had 1 speach assessment which was a waste of time

any advice welcome 🙂

[maisybobbins]

I'd really consider a hearing test at this stage. The GP should arrange one for you pretty quickly. The sooner you can rule out a hearing problem, or get it treated in some way, the better.

[Hels20]

How long as he been with you? When our DS came to us at 30 months, he was severely delayed in his speech. Only 20 words. Fast forward a year - after 12 therapy sessions, hearing test and everything and he had more than caught up - and in his final assessment he was ahead of his peers.

You should have had a referral to speech and languGe therapy now (they will do hearing tests) so push for it.

I now put it down to possibly what he had been through. I also wonder if his foster carers ever looked at him when they spoke (children learn to speak by lip reading in part).

In the meantime, try doing lots of special play - 10 mins a day is all you needd

[marmalade999]

thanks for the reply.
he's been with us for 9 months now. he's started to try and sing along to nursery rhymes and will sometimes copy what we say (simple words car/bus etc). we'very been trying really really hard with it although there is some progress it's very very slow. at least he'said stopped calling everyone mama
he's had hearing test and we have follow up speech this week. the therapist not convinced his understanding is there as she asked him to do a couple of things and he was too busy playing.
good news about ur looking hels that's brilliant!! it's very worrying it maybe part of something else.
x

[chickensarethebest]

I used "It takes two to talk" - this is over ten years ago but I would still recommend it. And "Something Special" dvds also hit the spot for us.

You have already got the specialist intervention and that is what will make the real difference.

[GirlsWhoWearGlasses]

We used 'It Takes Two To Talk' too. We also had bath letters and each night would ask DD to choose a different one, make the sound a few times then try to think of a load of things starting with that sound. We kept it no pressure, but gradually she started joining in. No idea if it worked of course, or it was just time, but it at least felt like we were doing something.

If it helps, DD was at roughly the same stage at 30 months and now there's no shutting her up. I suspect it was due to lack of interaction in FC.

[Hels20]

I used to stress about it until a wise friend said to me: "Hels20, what is more important. Your DS bonding with you or learning to talk. He will learn to talk but is prioritising the bonding." DS's speech didn't start to improve before he was 5 months in with us. But I tried not to panic - yes, it could have been something else, but he followed instructions etc.

It could be something else but it could equally be that so much has gone on in his short life that he is just taking his time...like my DS.

Keep talking to him, do special play, read to him - and try not to panic yet...easier said than done

[Kr1stina]

I found this book very good with our speech delayed adopted toddler. I know it's quite old now but still worth £2 for a second hand copy

www.amazon.co.uk/Babytalk-Sally-Ward/dp/0099297205/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471467443&sr=8-1&keywords=Baby%20talk&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[marmalade999]

Brill thanks for the replies. Took it all on board and will have a look at those resources.

[MintyLizzy9]

Hi, we're in the same position!

DS has been with me 9 months and is 32 months old. He had a handful of words at first (though not very clear and rarely used) and didn't really listen. Hearing was tested and was fine.

His first speech therapy assessment was bloody useless and we've waited a further 6 months and have just received dates for actual therapy (not started yet).

He has in the last couple of weeks taken a MASSIVE leap! Not having conversations by any stretch but lots of new words and linking two words.

I've been narrating our life like we are in big brother . Mummy and mini mint are going shopping now. Mummy is driving the car. Oh look we are home, this is minimints house etc etc etc. There may well be a thread in Aibu about the twatty parent heard in the supermarket but I don't care it's starting to work! We also use books a lot. At the start he wouldn't even sit for a story so I used picture/word books so I would only say the word and point to the picture. We did one tonight before bed and he took great pleasure in bellowing all the words at me. ELC also had some domino type puzzles that had a word on one side and picture on the other and DS likes playing that. I pick the word and say it and he finds the matching picture. There are some good apps for the iPad as well and DS loves the CBeebies one, there a Justins animal noises that has been popular and we have lots of giggles doing the animal noises and he's now started to say the animals as well.

I find that he just won't listen to therapists/doctors as he can understand plenty at home but as soon as they speak to him he's . He's a giddy little kipper though so is still twirling around the room by the time the appointment is over.

They're still so little its hard not to worry, I've tried to make a deal with myself to not worry about it until he's 3!

[UnderTheNameOfSanders]

I came on to recommend Baby Talk but see Kristina has beaten me to it.
We adopted AD2 at 30months and she had delayed speech and I found the book really readable and helpful.

Other things, no radio/TV on in the background. Use simple and repetitive language at times. Repeat back with corrections, but never say what they have said is wrong.