2.9 year old with speech and language delay

[MascaraAndConverse89]

I have posted about this before, but just wanted to get a bit more advice really.

My 2 year old DS has a speech and language delay. He's been to one SALT session and is going to another next month. He's went to have a hearing test but didn't understand what they wanted him to do so they couldn't go ahead with assessing him.

The HV observed him at playgroup a couple of weeks ago, and she has referred him to go and see a Paediatrician. She noticed that he struggles following playgroup routine and that he always keeps a toy in his hand. What could this mean that she would refer him to see a Paediatrician? He's also a very fussy eater and trips up a lot over thin air sometimes.
The playgroup staff says he gets on really well with other children and can play alongside them as well as try to play with them. Obviously the speech and language delay prevents him from communicating with them the way he probably wants to.

What usually causes a speech and language delay? The way the HV was going on it made me think he might be Autistic? DS says a lot of one word sentences, and has now started to put a couple of words together.

Can anyone share their experiences and/or share any advice please?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Speech and language delay doesn't automatically mean there is a problem. What is your gut feeling with this?

[cuntycowfacemonkey]

I'm very surprised they did not manage to assess his hearing. My ds had one at the same age and had a severe speech delay (and did consequently get and autism diagnosis) and they managed to do a hearing test and a sight test so I really don't understand why they couldn't and would ask for another test.

Could you get an assessment with a private SALT? I know it's expensive to tbh we would have got nowhere with ds's speech based on what was (or wasn't rather) offered by the NHS

[Lauren15]

There could be any number of things that she is considering. What did she mean when she said not following playgroup routine? That's an interesting comment.
My ds1 had been speech and language delay, affecting his expressive language. He was absolutely fine after a year of SLT although he struggled making friends at nursery because of it. Lots of people tried to tell me there was more to his problems than his speech. I was lucky he went to a great speech therapist who reassured me. I hope you get similar good advice.

[cuntycowfacemonkey]

Sorry I realise my post implied that your ds may have autism and that's not what I meant, just that a hearing test should have been possible in the circumstances.

Try and see your HV refering to a paediatrician as a positive thing. Hopefully you will have your mind put at rest but if there are any underlying issues (an it doesn't have to mean autism) then it's great they will be addressed whilst he is so young

[Lauren15]

We went private as well for speech therapy, including assessment. I strongly urge you to consider it. I work as a 1:1 assistant and over the years I've known a couple of kids with S and L difficulties. I think the SLTs who have come to the school to be appalling.

[chocadd1ct]

speech delay often resolves itself. however,if there is a significant delay in understanding (guess from your post this is the case with your DS), often, there are some other underlying issues going on. HV referred to paed as this is outside her remit to assess and diagnose.

there can be a variety of causes. I have been there and we started out with speech and language delay and now have a dx of autism and learning difficulies.

I would also push for another assessment with audiology. DD had her first hearing tests at 15 months and they managed to engage her. they played noises (at different frequencies et ) from certain corners of the room and checked if Dd resonded/turned head. there isn't really much to 'understand' in terms of instructions. seems you didnt have a good audiologist. they should know how to deal with younger children/those with delays.

[AlmaMartyr]

DS was quite like this; he had severe glue ear so was very deaf hence lack of understanding. He had to have a two person hearing test to help him - audiologists are normally very good at working around delays.

Glue ear is often misdiagnosed as autism, and he was assessed formally but the consensus was overwhelmingly that the hearing loss had affected him - it has a big social impact as well as speech. It's also very difficult to diagnose lack of hearing without a test so probably worth pushing for them to look again.

[Moles10]

My DD has a language delay and is now 2.5yrs, although is really coming along now, only a couple of initial sounds to work on.
After an assessment with the SLT we were referred to a group. The children played with SLT and a group of parents had time with another SLT. She gave us lots of useful ways to help develop our children's language. There was a lot of narration, so narrating what your child is doing while playing. Or playing alongside your child and narrate what you are doing. This comes naturally to lots of parents. I would find I asked too many questions, which would put pressure on her to answer. Other tips were to wait at least 10 seconds when you speak or ask a question to allow time for your child to respond. There was lots of encouragement and modelling, so if they don't say the word quite right repeat it back positively. For example child might say "Get oss", instead of "get off" and you repeat back, get off teddy (in positive tone) and exaggerate the F sound. This is quite obvious stuff and I am sure you are doing it, but when I was given the structure, it really helped me engage and she gained so much confidence! Good luck!

[Iwantakitchen]

Glue ear is easy to check, GP or audiologist shines a light in the ear and if the ear drum is dark and matt it can indicate that there is liquid behind the ear drum. Whereas a hearing problem, caused by glue ear or another source, can be much more difficult to diagnose in children.

DS didn't 'get' the test either. It was in a dark room with some strange puppets in a corner, strange sounds and he spent the entire time crying. Second time we went, he was so scared that he started crying in the waiting room and literally held himself on the door frame of the test room. They couldn't test him either. Third time we went to a different hospital and a much more friendly environment and he was fine.

Children are refered to paediatrician or paediatric team if there are more than one areas of concern, such as dealing with food, social skills, physical development, AND speech. We saw a paediatrician every six months until DS was diagnosed with Verbal Dyspraxia by a team in a specialist hospital.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

If it does turn out to be Glue Ear you can join the National Deaf Children's Society for free. Lots of support there

[loopylou10]

Hi, My friend has a son who's nearly three and he hasn't started talking yet and like you her son was referred for hearing tests, child development appointments etc. To look at him he seems like a normal happy little boy. His understanding is good and he follow simple instructions like "go get your shoes" etc. However he is not as agile as other children of his age, and is still quite toddly and clumsy. He was then referred to the genetics clinic for a blood test which came back that his levels were high for the muscular genetics testing. my friends has now been given the awful news that her son has Duchenne muscular dystrophy. You may want to research this yourself and see if your sons behavior and development fits in with any of the early symptoms. I should stress that this is a very rare condition, but symptoms of this disease don't normally become apparent until the ages of 2-3.

[gg1234]

Sorry for the interruption in the middle but I wanted to know in case my 2 years old can be monitored for speech delay .I am basically confused where to taken him to .Would be nice if anyone would give me any advise .

Thanks

[chocadd1ct]

GG, if you have concerns then you can either ask HV or GP to refer to Salt for an assessment (did your DC have a 2 year check up?). Many areas allow you to self refer - just google the number and give them a ring. 3rd option is going private to get an assessment and a few pointers. Many areas have long waiting lists and nut taking referrals before 2/2.5 or even 3 and you may prefer to may.

[chocadd1ct]

also,some areas operate also Salt drop in clinics.

[2boysnamedR]

My son has got ASD but he had two hearing tests which first showed glue ear then it had cleared up.

They should be able to test even when they are non verbal as my son only had to turn his head for the sound

[2boysnamedR]

Also there are lots of causes for delays. If it was asd then I'm sure more than person would be flagging concerns with you so please don't worry too much about asd.

If people are concerned there is underlying reason he needs referral to peadiatrics sooner rather than later