Developmental Assessment for 28 month DD

[nurseysarah1981]

Hi, I'd be really grateful for some thoughts...

My dd is now 2 years 4 months old and doesn't say any words. She is able to make herself understood by pointing, shouting, pulling me and dh by our trousers to where she wants us to be. This is all fine but we'd really like her to say something, anything really!
She goes to preschool 2 mornings a week which we started her at just after her 2nd birthday, we were hoping she might pick up some speech skills from her peers. She hasn't.
She is very into books and being read to, she loves to play the interactive apps on he iPad (and can work it more fluently than either me or dh can!).
I don't think it's necessarily a developmental delay, she actually seems pretty switched on, but I don't know what's stopping her from speaking.
She's seen a speech therapist who has now referred her for a developmental assessment at the local child development centre. Has anyone had experience of these? Not sure what to expect apart from being told it will last all morning!
Any advice you can give me on your own experiences of speech delay or developmental assessments is really appreciated.

[FourHorsesOfCourses]

I'll post later, but first thought is.....are you sure she can hear?
Have a look at a milestone chart for her age and see where you think she is in different areas

[nurseysarah1981]

Hi, yes, she can hear! She's passed two hearing tests now (the HV didn't believe she passed the first one!).

[sunnyfriday]

usually, jn your first appointment you will discuss your concerns but the paed will probably go through your Dd's developmental history.

the paed might also play with your Dd so see how ahe responds etc.

Write down everything (concerns and developmental milestones) and take it with you. it is so easy to forget
to mention things.

[addictedtosugar]

You say no words. Does she make sounds? Or is she silent? Did she ever babble, and then it stopped? Or has she never made sounds?
Sorry, so many questions, just trying to get a sense of where she is.

[nurseysarah1981]

Thanks, I really appreciate your input!

Yes she makes sounds, she also sings in tune (wheels on the bus, twinkle twinkle little star etc) but just with lala or baba instead of the words.
She doesn't say anything that resembles a word and doesn't really make any attempts to! She sings all the time though which is very sweet!
Her friends are all very verbal which probably doesn't help my anxiety. They all say short sentences but also just seem much more grown up than dd in terms of their play.

[sunnyfriday]

how is her understanding of language?.does that appear to be fine?

[Sticklebricks]

My DD is the same age and is at the same development stage as yours and she's had the assessment. The therapist gave her different toys to see how she handles objects, if she plays make believe with toys (like feeding dolls), if she shows her a toy in a box and then puts a lid on the box, will she open it to retrieve the toy. It's quite eye opening as to how she thinks. It lasts about two hours with about 200 questions! Upshot is that we're waiting for the next stage - speech therapy and more assessment in three months. You might want to take the iPad to keep her amused as it lasts such a long time while you're answering questions...

[nurseysarah1981]

Yes sunny, understanding appears fine, although she very rarely obeys any kind of command (!), I do think she understands, she gets cross if I tell her it's time for a bath or excited if I tell her she's going to see grandma.

Thanks Sticklebricks, that's really good to know. I'll be sure to take something entertaining with us, she's quite a self contained little person and generally happy to play by herself but you know the one day she becomes high maintenance it'll be this one.
Reading the 'milestone charts' it seems she is behind in a few things, she can't walk up and down the stairs (bum shuffles) for example. But they all do things in their own time I guess.

Thanks for the advice! Gawd bless mumsnetters!

[sunnyfriday]

I think that it a good sign that her understanding is fine.
My DC1 has severe speech and language delay (talking and understanding behind) as well as ASD and the SALT told me that it is always a good sign if the understanding is fine

have you had a read about oro-motor difficulties/oral dyspraxia? I have a friend whose child has this (speech delayed, understanding fine).

hope you get some answers during your assessment.
and maybe pop over to the SN Children board? a lot of us have DC with speech/language issues.

[nurseysarah1981]

Thanks, will def do some reading on oral dyspraxia.

Thanks for all replies, hope your lo makes good progress.

All the best.