Slow speech age 3 yrs and 3 months....

[angelinaballerina76]

I have been concerned about ds's speech for just under a year. I am annoyed with myself that I did not push this but put this down to a lazy boy.... Plus I am also guilty of doing everything for him. YES...I have babied him.

First of all he passed all his checks/milestones.

He said his first words quite early and said mum and dad at around 7 months and 10 months a few more words.

We have seen the HV twice and had two assessments. One was his 2 years and 7 month check and another was just after he started pre-school at age 3 years. The assessment shows that my son has advanced visual and concentration skills but his speech is holding him back – not by loads but just below the level he should be at according to the tests.

At the first assessment we were referred to speech and language therapy. My DS has been to see the therapist and she has seen a huge improvement since he started pre-school. However, she has just gone off on maternity leave.

HV advised my son is not showing any signs on any of the spectrums for Autism/Aspergers.

I had let myself believe family when they said there was nothing to be concerned about and he would probably improve when he started pre school.

Now he started pre-school 11 weeks ago and although his speech has made some progress the gap between him and his peers is visible both in terms of speech and behaviour. Although….. he is the youngest in the entire class. 9 of the kids are starting school in Summer.

I'm hoping someone else can tick all the boxes and say this was my child and he just took time…….. and had “lazyitis”

I am also hoping that more and more time he spends at nursery will bring him on as I have seen an improvement.

He definitely has the desire/need to communicate. He does want to share information with me, he points things out to show them to me, he points and waves, he has great eye contact. He knows to make eye contact if he wants something. He beams and smiles when you praise him and understands praise.


My main concerns are:

Only has around 40-50 recognisable words (although he will echo quite a lot of different words now if that makes sense). Has started to string maybe one or two words together but no real sentences.

Does not engage really in two way conversation. So if I ask "do you want juice etc" he will not answer yes – he will just say “juice”.

Plays with toys and concentrates on them well. He tends to plays alongside other children not always with them.

No sense of personal danger

Will look at books and loves the pictures but not really sit and listen to a story, never has

He's very affectionate and loving towards people and does love attention.
My DS spoke 20 words roughly when he started pre-school/nursery 11 weeks ago.

He now speaks roughly 50 words although a lot are echoed. So he has really progressed and he is attempting to communicate.

My concerns are lack of speech and also understanding, he understands most commands – come here, sit down, don’t do that, bad. He says juice and gives us his cup when thirsty but doesn't understand the word 'cup'.

He is strong willed and maybe stubborn. If he doesn’t want to do something he will ignore you. Otherwise he is just a toddler.

Has anyone had a child very similar? Maybe it is just toddlerhood coupled with speech delay? Or even hearing?

I have an appointment to get his hearing tested on the 24th of April.

I have done a bit of background research. Some posts refer to the “The Einstein syndrome - bright children who talk late by Thomas Sowell”

I have not read the book but I can tick all of the below

Boys are 3 times as likely as girls to have speech delay
Strong family history of late talking
Good memory
Good understanding
Communicate using other means
Mischievous
Long concentration span when engaged in activities that interest them
Likes music
Interested in how everything works
Extremely curious/nosy
Affectionate
good at puzzles
Highly active, enjoys physical play and time outdoors
May have problems sleeping and ‘switching off’
Pick up on conversations and responds accordingly (non-verbally)
Late to potty training


I am hoping someone out there has had the same experience and can say it took time but they all get their in their own time..... Fingers firmly crossed.

[moomoob]

Have you had his hearing checked? My ds had severe glue ear apparently for him it was like listening underwater which is why he found it hard to repeat words etc once he had grommets put in his speech improved drastically he's now a very articulate 7yr old

[momtothree]

Whilst i understand your concerns (DS the same) take some joy in that whilslt hes nit talking he is listening. This will bring him in leaps and bounds when his speech comes on. Son also had glue ear and recommend olbas oil to clear which worked. Also recommend giving him answers like yes i would love some juice, thanks mom`

[angelinaballerina76]

Thanks for your replies.... He has an appointment a week on Friday (24th April) to have his hearing checked. I am willing that appointment to come round so we can get some answers hopefully. Either tick the box or see if that is a cause.

[claravine]

My child was similar at three, I would say it took about three years under speech therapy and working on basic concepts etc for him to catch up with language, a bit longer for conversational skills. I had to break down language v simply to help boost his understanding, modelling long sentences didn't help at that stage, I needed to work on basic concepts and verbs. My area ran hanen courses, ask speech therapist if your area does similar, if not its worth going in ebay and getting either you make the difference or it takes two to talk, these arev practical guides to help bring your child s language on. Also check out the ican/talking point website

[angelinaballerina76]

Claravine - thanks for the tips. Did starting pre-school/nursery help bring your child's speech on?

Sorry to ask the question - did the speech therapist ever say "why" your child had delayed speech? My DS just seems too busy running about and more outdoorsy. The speech therapist said it is as if he has all the words in his head but in no rush to part with them.

I will ask the speech therapist. She has seen a big improvement since starting nursery. We all have. She has given us lots of tips all about saying single words and just "car" not saying look at that car and oh look at the bright red car etc.

We have flash cards and games so he has to match the card to the object and he will say dog, car, spider etc

My DS has doubled his words since starting in January and I hope it continues.

He also likes frozen and tries to sing along and really catches a lot of the correct words. I don't let him watch frozen too often but we play the music in the car and he sings along. I hope this is a way to encourage speech too.

[momtothree]

My son didnt speak because of hearing and his sister spoke for him- so if i asked juice or milk she would say it in a yes/no question. .. he also didnt have much confidence in speaking aloud as the children didnt understand him. Also they can be referred if theres a jaw or tongue issue. He was placed in all the lower groups until i spoke to the teacher and explained hes partly deaf and understands more than they give him credit for - he moved to top sets 2 weeks later!!! Just one to watch.

[angelinaballerina76]

Thanks mum of three - Speech therapist told me also that DS speaks as if an older sibling has been doing all the talking for him.... that sibling would be ME. I know I have done everything for him and even talked for him.... I have to stop myself getting what he needs just because it is easier to just give it to him than make him say it.

[claravine]

No, they never found a reason, he had an autism assessment but he had traits of it but not enough for diagnosis. Tbh nursery only helped when he was starting to speak in sentences, at the one word stage it was working on it just me and him that helped. Encourage frozen as a topic of conversation with books and toys, could be a great way to talk about cold and hot, snow etc

[angelinaballerina76]

Claravine - sounds just like my DS. I have found me working with him has brought on more than the 45mins to an hour once a month with the speech therapist. Since starting nursery though he seems to want to communicate more and repeat more. I have made books out of pictures to get him to repeat his favourite things.

I find first thing in the morning he will repeat anything I say but as the day goes on I have less chance of him being as interested.

Thanks - I might go invest in some more frozen books and toys - He knocks on the door and says elsa, snowman etc and basically copies the scenes. My friend's little girl has the doll that you press her necklace and she speaks and he loves to repeat what it says.