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Our 2.7 DS has had only 3 words for the past six months and despite starting speech therapy, us parents doing a communication therapy course to learn and try different methods at home - nothing really seems to be working.
I keep hearing 'oh so and so didnt talk until they were three/four and then it was a whole sentence' - but I am becoming increasingly sceptical about this being the truth. Lots say their child has SLD at this age then go on to say they have 30 words. That would make my absolute day/year if that were the case because at least there is something to build on. we have moon, car, bubble, park - none of which are fully pronounced and not always said.
I just can't see it getting any better at the moment - we get a hint of a new word then it disappears and never resurfaces despite much praise/repetition.
This has is also affecting his social communication - or that is another delay as well - not sure - and can be very unfriendly to friends and other children - even ones he sees regularly. We can't potty train as he can't communicate when needing a wee etc so feel he is slipping further and further behind.
Would just like to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel because it feels like nothing will ever change

neither of my dc's were early talkers, I can remember dd saying apple for the first time at about 2.6 and ds hardly spoke through pre school and was referred to a speech therapist, he knew all his letters and numbers but the only word he really knew was train. Now at 14 and 11 they are both extremely high achieving children, at selective grammar schools and are particularly gifted in learning foreign languages!
HTH

I've been there and it's heart breaking isn't it.

My third was always late achieving all the milestones, and I thought it was because he had the others he didn't need to say anything.

To cut a very long story short he is now in reception and doing ok.

His speech isn't perfect and we don't know if it ever will be, but in terms of the overall progression he has made I am over the moon.

Do you think your dc understands you. Can you ask them random commands and will they follow them?

Have you tried sign language ? We enrolled on a tiny talk course, which helped. Again he was slow to pick up on using the signs but it certainly helped as he grew older to express himself and avoid too much frustration when he couldnt make himself clear.

It can be difficult to respond to you, without sounding dismissive. My three DDs all had speech delays. DD3, in particular, was classified as having a severe speech disorder, and didn't really have any words at all at 2.7. Her speech was still very poor when she started school last September, although she has now largely caught up.

But seeing the light at the end of another person's tunnel is not going to help you. You've obviously got on to the professionals, and hopefully are getting proper support from the speech therapists.

Best wishes for the future.

DS can follow lots of simple commands and understands a lot - mainly practical stuff like 'get your boots' 'turn the light off' 'close the door' 'time to get in the car' etc.
He is also very verbal in terms of making sounds, chanting, joining in with the music in the car (faves being laura marling, mercury rev and sigur ros all seem to get a reaction!). I think I just expected to have been further along by this point or to see a more obvious change but its not apparent yet.
We are starting to try sign language - but achieving eye contact has been anothe issue - that I think is starting to improve. so thats a plus.

my eldest daughter literally did not speak until she was around 3 and a half - she went to speech therapy for a while but basically, she spoke when she wanted to! If medical ailments have been ruled out, I would say try not to worry, I know it's hard but I'm sure things will be ok.
*She is now 22 and hasn't ever stopped talking since she finally decided to btw!

Some children are just behind and they do catch up, while some never do. I have seen many children with little or no words suddenly blossom into litle chatterboxes. The key is that you have already started to be aware and to help him.
I think the best thing to do, and the hardest too, is just to accept that he has few words at the moment. It is so tempting to try and hurry them along when they are behind, but they will find their own way.
Have you looked at the ican website? Loads of info and help on there.
I am currently working with a child nearly 3 who has no words at all and we have made a book for her with photos of everyday objects that she can use to indicate her needs. it is working really well. Also try learning some baby-signing, that works well too and helps relieve some of the frustration that children feel when they can't communicate.
Also, don't think thas you have to wait for him to speak before you can potty train, I have worked with several children who have successfully potty trained wih hardly any speech- sometimes it is evident when children need to go to the toilet and you can always use a sign or a picture to help.

The following practical commands is good. One time try something unexpected like put your shoes behind the curtain just to check its the command they understand rather than the habit.

Don't forget 2.7 is still very little.

Agree with insancerre , there is a sign for nappy which we used successfully from this age.

Potty training is another issue IMO, and not related to speech, they might get it now, they might not but it's worth a go.

He does often tell us in his own way what he wants us to do - sit in a certain place, brings his shoes when he wants to go in the garden, goes and fetches the ready brek box from the cupboard when he is hungry (he does eat more than this!!) Last night he made both me and DH drink tea from our mugs that were on the table - we think because he associates tea with biscuits and was hoping this would make them appear!
will try the pictures for potty training - not sure what pictures to use though!!

If he's ready for potty training you really don't need words or pictures. My DD2 pulled off her nappy at 21 months, but had no words at all at that point. She simply got the potty herself when she needed it.

Take a photo of the actual potty you are going to use. When you take him, show him the picture as you say the word.
when he is more confident and recognising when he needs to go, encourage him to point to the picture of the potty. You could stick them on a wall or put them in a little photo album somewhere within reach
some children try to lead the adult to where they want to go by taking their hand

My DD2 is just over 2.5 and the only word she can say "properly" is mummy. That's it. She simply can't pronounce any of the other sounds / words and although she is good with her own sign language it is frustrating for her when she's "saying" something and not even her parents have a clue about with it is. This is words like "drink" "play" - she can't even say daddy or her sister's name.

Nursery seem to think she is fine though and their idea is to think about speech therapist at 3 if she's not improved by then.

I think DD is fine, I feel like she's fine. I'm sure your DS is fine too

When I say her own sign language I mean she rubs her tummy for hungry, gets her shoes if she wants to go out, that sort of thing.

I don't want to sound flippant with my comment above and when dd was not talking I was in bits thinking she never would, but hopefully all will be ok.

no flippancy thought!! I guess it just feels like a lonely place to be sometimes when it seems like all the other kids at nursery/playground are running around having little chats etc. I would love a little conversation with my boy like my friends have with their DC's of the same age. I would love for other parents who dont know him not to look at him like he is a freak when he makes all his funny sounds in the park and has meltdowns over small things. He is the size of a 4yr old so that doesnt help. (and no, I dont really care what people think - but it can make situations feel even more stressful than they need to!).
Just worried we will be in the same place this time next year with school on the horizon etc.