Absolutely worried sick

[Rokenswife]

Hello!
My two and a half year old had to have a second development check and it has shown that he isn't quite meeting his milestones. His social communication is at 18 months.

It has also shown that he stopped growing in November. He is lactose intolerant (the dietician discharged us at 12 months) and we have just been re-referred for possible gluten/wheat intolerance.
He only has ten teeth, has eczema and suffers with bouts of constipation. I'm just sat here worrying myself to death that something terribly serious is underlying that is causing all this.

He Isn't daft, does he colours, numbers well into the 60s, shapes, asks questions, sings rhymes, eats well by himself, letters, draws circles, can read a word or two.

I'm taking him to the GP in the morning because I feel that the dots need joining. Or is it just coincidence?! There is a hereditary teeth problem my side of the family, his growth could be down to his diet and then his social communication could be just him not socialising enough and will come on when he gets to play school.

Sorry just more of a ramble out loud! :(

[LJBanana]

In comparison my 3.3 year old can't read, or do numbers further than about 20 missing out a few along the way,(my 6 year old has only done numbers to 100+ this last academic year.
He can't write letters either. He has known colours and shapes from a very early age. I think the growth milestones are what you need to address with the GP,the intellectual one's sound more than fine.

[Pancakeflipper]

Hello, I have a DS who has food intolerances. He is now 5. He's very bright. But as a toddler he was behind on the milestones. But he'd spent most of his little life in agony. I think the 'growing' kind of goes on hold or is in fits and starts when their body is also battling other issues. I noticed a huge improvement when DS2 was 3yrs and we had a better picture and could deal with his 'issues'.

As aside, the constipation is likely to be linked to their undiagnosed but suspected dietary issues. Though my DS still does some interesting poos.

Sometimes the worries are overwhelming, but you are pushing things on and things will move along/ change and improve.

[Rokenswife]

Thanks...I'm wondering if coeliacs could be an issue here. I cut out sliced bread in Jan on advice of GP and he hasn't had to have Movicol (constipation drink) since then. So I've gone completely gluten and wheat free in the past week.
There is an Aunty of mine with an under-active thyroid so that's something else I need to ask about. X

[Rokenswife]

Well, the GP is sending him for bloods to find out why he isn't growing so that's a step in the right direction. Dietician tomorrow and on the wait list for SALT group and just been offered a place at play school for sep. Hopefully we will get him caught up! :)

[TwelveLeggedWalk]

If he can count to 60 what development milestones is he not meeting?! I can't think if anything at our 2yo checks it sounds like your ds would've struggled with.

[Rokenswife]

I'll tell you what he can do:
Count to 60
Sing rhymes
Does body parts on himself and others
Follows 1 step and beginning to follow 2 step instructions
Stacks stacking cups
Does the little wooden puzzles with ease
Asks and answers questions (what colour is is? Etc)
Feeds himself with a spoon
Knows a lot of letters
Can read the word 'Mummy'
Throws, kicks, runs, goes up and down the stairs, almost undress by himself.
Draws circles and sticks. Thinks he is writing numbers when he does sticks.

Apparently he is too 'flitty' and doesn't focus enough and so scored at 18 months for social communication. Both of the checks were done in unfamiliar surroundings. Scored at 2 years for every other area (his fine motors aren't very good either apparently).

I know he's a bit behind but he always has been and he's always caught up!

[DeWee]

Coeliac was what sprung out to me.
What's he having SALT for, as it sounds like his language is advanced if anything? Is that to help with social communication? I think that sort of thing is very hard to assess in unfamiliar surroundings with unfamiliar people there too. One of mine would just hide her head in my lap at that age-she's my most socially adept dc now.

[Rokenswife]

Thanks DeeWee,

I think either Coeliac or Thyroid problem. His actual speech is the only thing he is 'on target' with. I told the SALT therapist (who was lovely) that it was his understanding that I wasn't too sure about which is why they've invited him to the little group - I'm going to take all the help I can get with him :)
My thoughts are that once we know why he isn't growing and have solved that and once he is in playschool,, he will come on in leaps and bounds. He's made a shed load of progress just in the past two months! Sometimes I overthink things because I am a teacher and I have had a lot of training in certain areas of SEN. x

[Rokenswife]

He was in hospital, very seriously ill for four nights in February and had heavy cold after heavy cold afterwards. The GP pointed out that although toddlers seem resilient, these sorts of things can really knock them for six and can have an effect on development.
It's also made him very wary of doctors surgeries and people he doesn't know....being poked and prodded with needles and thermometers in hospital wasn't a nice experience for him! x

[naty1]

Did the aunt have a thyroid issue from birth?
I think the birth heel prick test checks thyroid.
His development sounds fine - as much as you can tell from what you have written.
Flitting sounds more a behaviour and concentration.

The growth and allergies sound like the issues.
Were the height measurements all done by you or hv? Lying down or standing?
Has he outgrown his clothes?

[Rokenswife]

The HV did two standing measurements. Prior to that, his last height check was lying down at 10 months. At 10 months, he was following the 50th percentile. Between then and now, he's dropped down to the 2nd.

We were discharged from the dietician at 12 months and my Gp is now fuming with them. He's been lactose intoleren from birth and Gp said he should have been seen regularly by them, weighed and checked all the while he has diet issues. I've had him weighed every month because he has always been small (but growing). Gp isn't concerned about weight, more the height.

My aunt's thyroid was diagnosed in her 20s. He just seems to tick a lot of boxes....including late eruption of baby teeth and puffiness around the eyes. X

[naty1]

Do you mean they did a standing one in nov and one now and the other one was 10m (so approx 10m , 24m and 30m?
How was his weight against the percentiles at these times?

[Rokenswife]

They did a lying down height at 10 months and then the next height one was at 2.5 years, standing up. His last weight was November time and the next at 2.5 years. He has always dipped in and out of the 25th - 50th centiles for weight.

Height wise, he was in the 50th centile at 10 months and has dropped to the 2nd at 2.5.

I've always told the HVs that I've been concerned about how small he is and I've always been told not to worry because he weight has been ok. Dietitican today said little dip in weight is most likely to his new diet (wheat and gluten free). She mentioned coeliacs as well and hopefully this is going to be tested for.