Receptive language delay, echolalia and repetitive behaviour in 2 year old

[craftyoldhen]

My DS has been assessed by a SALT as having receptive language delay. He's 2 and a half and I've written about him on here before
here

He has a lot of echolalia and can recite whole picture books and scenes from TV programmes. But his understanding and original speech is at the 2 idea level (green car, big ball) but not consistently- in the "test" he could do some but not others.

She says I need to talk to him in 2 word sentences as much as possible, which I'm finding surprising hard!

He has a lot of repetitive behaviours, which SALT said might be just down to anxiety because his understanding is so poor, or might be something on its own. He has very little imaginative play.

He has a lot of strengths - an amazing memory, he shows a desire to communicate, he has good gestures, SALT said he's quite interactive and seems willing to learn.

Has anyone got any advice or tips for me to help him?

Does anyone know if receptive language delay can resolve with with support and time, and if this is likely to be the reason for repetitive behaviour and echolalia? I'm obviously worried about ASD especially as my DD has an ASD diagnosis (aspergers). But I guess there's a part of me hoping it's purely a language delay that he will grow out of with help (foolish?!).

[craftyoldhen]

I am thinking ASD. It's pretty bloody obvious to me and the rest of my family! But the SALT gave me a glimmer of hope that it could be just language delay. But realistically does receptive language delay happen in isolation? There's no history or language delay anywhere in the family and his hearing is ok.

We did go to GP for referral in the end and he has an appointment with a paediatrician but not till October. If they have sufficient concerns he will be referred for assessment (that's how it works here). It will take forever 😣

We are paying privately for SALT in meantime because he's really struggling with this, and everything seems to take so long on the NHS.

[craftyoldhen]

Thanks zzzzz. I will admit I know absolutely nothing about language disorder. Or language delays for that matter. Feel a bit lost.
Can I ask why you'd prefer ASD as an outcome?

[Msqueen33]

I would go for an assessment. After one child with asd I don't think many of us like the thought of two. I'm kind of in the camp that I'd prefer autism over a language disorder. My six yr old has asd and her language is very good. My youngest is three and a bit and has asd also but her language is terrible. Salt have already suggested a language disorder. Life is much easier with my six year old as she can talk. I hate the thought that my youngest won't be able to converse or express herself.

[craftyoldhen]

Yes msqueen I hate it too.

When DS was a baby I couldn't wait to hear his little voice so I could get to know what he likes, how he thinks, his little personality. It's the best bit about toddlers IMO, and DD was really eloquent at this age, it was very sweet.

And it is lovely to hear his voice but I wish he would tell me what he wants for breakfast rather than recite Hairy McClary at me

I feel like I don't really know his personality yet because he's such a closed book.

[SpeechLanguageNeeds]

Hi craftyolden, I see that this is an old thread, but hopefully you are still active on this,

I am keen to learn how your child is now? My 4.5 year old is displaying the exact same behaviours and limited speech patterns that you outlined in your Aug 2016 post. Did the echolalalia ease off as your child got older? I hope that the language delay is no longer a problem also?

thanks

[craftyoldhen]

Hi @SpeechLanguageNeeds

I'm still here and have namedchanged back to my old username to reply to you.

This thread feels like a lifetime ago, my DS is 8 now!

He had a massive leap in language development around age 6/7 and is Mr Chatty now. Strangely enough it was learning to read that seemed to help his speech and understanding. And yes i know this goes against receieved wisdom that children need good speech and language development before being ready to learn to read, but DS could read before he could talk well at around age 5!

He still sounds a bit immature for his age and some of his speech sounds are unclear (he can't say r). He has some odd turns of phrase (he always starts with "excuse me, well actually....") , and can be inarticulate at times, especially when upset or in a hurry. He can still be uncommunicative when tired, he rarely tells me anything about his day in school apart from a sigh and "just look in my communication book!". But I imagine that's fairly standard anyway!

He is also still a bit echolalic, but in a less obvious way - you probably wouldn’t notice it too much unless you spent a lot of time with him. But also an amazing mimic, with an a amazing memory.

He was diagnosed with autism age 3, and he goes to a school for autistic children which he LOVES.

[Skipskip]

Thanks for sharing. I have a very similar DS4.8 He’s improved leaps and bounds during reception. His echolalia has largely gone and he’s almost conversational but pronouns are mixed up frequently. I agree reading is helping both reading and being read to. As a visual leaner DS struggled with blending phonics but this is just about coming through now. We’ve stuck with mainstream despite being offered a place at a specialist speech and communication school. This was due to it being further away, their academics running two years behind and his existing setting working we are beyond happy with his progress during reception. We were also ahead in some areas such as maths.

[SpeechLanguageNeeds]

Hi craftyolden

thank you very much for taking time to reply. I am Glad to hear that your boy is Mr Chatty now and that the echolalia has eased at least.

My daughter is using echolalia almost exclusively. I am making enquiries for an ASD assessment, but the pandemic had generated so many backlogs so it could take a few months.

Having read your posts, I recognised a lot of similar patterns you outlined for your son, so that gives me some hope that he has come along so much. Well done 👏

did your son ever display any stimming? E.g hand flapping or others. My daughter does display these currently and when she is a bit overwhelmed or excited they make an appearance.