Toddler speech issues

[smugtandemfeeder]

After posting on another thread have decided to start a new one about my DS. He is 2.7 and i've posted other threads about the difficulties we are having but wanted some advice about his speech.

I know its really hard with a 2 and a half year old but I have always felt his speech is a long way behind his male friends of the same age. He isnt severly delayed by any means but there are some very odd things. Whenever I mention it to any proffesionals they start leaping up and down telling me his speech is coming along well and he is meeting the expected milestones.

He talks in a whiney voice - all the time. And shouts a lot.

He stutters when excited and particulary when stressed or tired. Stuttering to the point where he is bright red and crying "I just cant talk mummy"

He repeats things a lot. "I want it some xyz, I want it some xyz"

Some words have gone backwards eg tomato is now DuMado, banana is now BuBaaNa, hungry is now Fungry. I was called Money instead of mummy until very recently.

He didnt say much until he was two, then quickly progressed with long sentances but his actual sentance formation for simple things hasn't progressed much.

He copies a lot of sentances from the tv. "Its been a marvellous day" but he cant say some really basic things. Eg he still says I just want it some, rather than I want some or Please can I have some.

Im surrounded by people telling me his speech is excellent and normal but these things can be more complicated than -can he use two word sentances - or am I making a bit too much of it.

I have tried ignoring the stuttering as per simple google advice but am now trying advance TheArsenicCupCake strategies of deep breathing - if I can get him to listen in the midst of a rage.

[USoRight]

If you are very worried you could ask for a SALT assessment, but this takes forever! A private SALT would assess DS. Sorry not sure of the cost but would put your mind at rest hopefully.

Speech is the most variable of the milestones, boys tend to be less verbal than girls and DS doesnt sound to have a major problem at the moment. It could be that he is a bright boy whose brain is working much faster than he can express himself verbally. It could be that he is progressing verbally in spurts like the growth ones only verbally.

If he has other issues, sorry I have not read the other threads so am looking only at the speech, and you are thinking on the autistic spectrum then you must push for a more thorough examination of your DS. If your instinct is saying something is not right then you are probably right.

[smugtandemfeeder]

Thank you, we have been referred on the nhs for autism/add type things and have had one appointment privately with a psych. The private psych was very dismissive of my speech concerns (he was quite dismissive of all my concerns actually). I dont think there is a major problem but the stuttering is really really upsetting him. Lots of other issues but just thought I would get some opinions on this one as i'm not sure whether I need to do anything or not.

[beautifulgirls]

Have you tried your local childrens centre? Some have speech therapists separate from the NHS speech therapy system who may be able to advise you if things are of concern or not and give you some help if needed. If your local NHS speech therapy service is anything like ours they look at a list of criteria as to why they shouldn't see you at all and if you tick any of their get out clauses you will just be sent some information and told to get on with it yourself. I hope however yours is not that bad.
The other option you have is to consult a private SALT if you can afford it. You can find one close to you here

[smugtandemfeeder]

Hi Leonie, did anyone ever take your DDs speech issues seriously? I just feel a bit silly mentioning it to the professionals. I expected the people who work in this area to be really knowledgeable about the complexities of it. I'm not saying that they aren't knowledgeable, but so far they have all done quite a lot of telling me things are normal. I have only had one app at the psychs so I think I need to be more patient but his report so far comments that DSs speech is good. Even though I raised my concerns.

Will try to video for him.

I know his speech is ok but there are some very odd things about it.

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

we have been very lucky with DD2 speech. She has a modarate delay in expressive langaugae and mild delay in receptive langauage. She uses echolalia from TV and did stutter vfor a while but wasnt a stutter but was classed as "jargon". She also has certain words for other things like: ticktock = clock, colour=juice, pink =cake and so on.
She also lost some language just after she turned 2.

We have a great NHS SALT and am just about to start a Hanen based course too :)

I would highly recommend getting a private SALT asap if your NHS one is not good. Our CDAC has a specialist SALT that deals with children being assessed for ASD, anychance you could ask yours?

Intresting if you meet DD2 she has excellent speech but its not the words she has thats important but her understanding and use of it.

HTH

[smugtandemfeeder]

He does an awful lot of memorising phrases from the tv. I rarely let him watch childrens tv for the first two years of life but now it is one of the only things that relaxes him and gives us a break. He is obsessed. He wakes us saying "maker-mobile" and "Magansha" from Magi Nation and "Its been a marvellous day" which he learnt from Justin bleeding Fletcher on cbeebies "and various wierd phrases.
He copies a lot of my phrases but he does use them in context.

Eg when I ask him to shut my bedroom door he says "course I can, course I can, course I can"

Yet when you try to have a conversation its really difficult. DH and I have both realised we keep our sentances really short and really clear. If you stumble over a word you have lost him. If you use jargon you have lost him. I contstantly have to rephrase sentances and shorten them to clarify what i'm saying otherwise I dont get any response.

If he is engrossed in the tv or one of his repetitive games he does ignore me completely, however loud I shout to him.

Only have one more app with the psych so may need to wait for the nhs to do the speech tests. Cant afford a private one, im on maternity leave.

[lisad123isasnuttyasaboxoffrogs]

i hate to say it "but those that shout loudest" win. Keep on their backs, make sure you get that appointment.
We were told to use no more than 3 words for dd2 and make sure we always use her name first so: dd2 shoes now, dd2 dinner eat ect