3.0 year old late talker

[Mum2prince]

Hi everyone! So I have a Ds who has just turned 3. He has made tremendous progress but still very delayed in speech and language. I worried it was more than a speech delay when he was younger, possible language disorder, maybe even ASD.

Took him to see pead and salt when he was around 18months, both were less then helpful and put him on the list for nhs salt group sessions. Took things into my own hands and decided to get him private salt and help him as much as possible, so kind of a wait and see approach (but still being proactive).

So he now will repeat after you, so I'm able to teach him new words. I know he is learning these words as he uses them in context the next time he says that word. He's now using mainly 1 word sentences but has some 2 and 3 word sentences like 'open the door'.


I started to relax abit when I saw as his vocabulary grew his confidence grew and he was able to play with children and although his speech is behind he is really good at communicating his needs. For instance he would say 'come' take me to the kitchen, point at an apple, and say 'apple'. If you wash it and not peel it for him he will hand it back and say 'open apple'. So he gets his needs met with his small vocabulary.

He also shows me things whilst out so walking past the fruit market he will point and tell me 'Orange , 'watermelon' etc which I thought was good. He seems to be getting there. Also his pretend play seems to be coming along nicely as he struggled before, so as u can see I had a few worries that seemed to be improving.


So w


The thing that is currently worrying me is his constant noise making. He's always babbling, singing nursery ryhmes, humming or what I find most worrying repeating phrases like sorry George a couple of times before speaking nonsense and making another noise. Now i dont know if this is normal seeing as he is just having what his Salt describes as a language explosion or if it's not typical development.

He's also a sensory seeker, he loves his trampoline and jumping. He loves playing football and running around. He often asks for bear hugs by saying 'big hug' or even 'squeeze!' When he wants one. He will also request to be sun around, he loves playing ring a ring a rosier, and just anything to make him dizzy. I've just yesterday caught him flicking his wrist up and down when I told him to stop he did straight away but it got me worried again. Does this sound like ASD, sensory processing disorder, or normal 3 year old behaivour.

I try to keep in mind he is delayed and is very much like a 2.5 year old rather than a 3 year old, I also tend to over analyse him quite abit. He is my first, my other ds is 6mo and I haven't any other children his age around me to see if it's typical development.

Sorry for the long post, I thank whoever replies in advance. I'm in much need of support right now as others around my ds either think he is a happy little boy. Just want to get him further help if needed.

[Mum2prince]

Sorry for all the typos, we have family over for Xmas.

[Mum2prince]

Meant to say we have family over for Xmas so I'm extremely busy atm wrote his and didn't read it back before posting!

[BackforGood]

Speech and Language Therapists play a crucial role in the diagnosis of Autism, so she would be the best one to ask, as she already knows him.

I don't think we are telling you anything you've not already researched to say that a combination of unusual speech development and sensory differences would often be a pointer - at least for further investigation into possible autism.

[Mum2prince]

Thank you @backforgood, I actually hired a salt that specialises in children with ASD, also he is on a ABA programme but he has speech targets. His consultant and therapist both worked with many children on the spectrum. They say they are happy with ds progress and they haven't come across a child like him before. But im aware that ASD is a spectrum and no two people present the same. I forgot to mention there is history of speech delay on both sides (mine and dh). My little sister speaking at 4, brother at nearly 3, both NT. And on Dh's side many of his siblings (big family) spoke at 4 and sometimes even over! So they dont understand my panic.

Also I feel as though I've done so much research, but ASD is not so straight forward. Ds has empathy, affectionate and social, knows what 3 year old should (numbers, alphabet, fruits, colours etc) can communicate. But he is quirky. But is this more than a NT child is what I'm asking?

[Mum2prince]

Sorry I meant to say the therapist and consultant say they aren't meant to diagnose any disorders, though they aren't conceded. They have worked woth many kids on the spectrum and said they have yet to meet anyone like ds, hinting he did not present to have asd in their eyes.

[Mum2prince]

Concerned ** autocorrect

[openupmyeagereyes]

Are you in the UK?

Is he in nursery, or will he be starting nursery now he has turned three? Often this is the telling time because dc more obviously present differently than typical children or struggle with the different environment, that sort of thing.

It sounds like the therapists are sitting on the fence slightly, which is unsurprising given his age.

Whether he has ASD or not he clearly has some underlying issues. You are getting help for his language delay with the SALT, you may find an occupational therapist helpful too. We have been using one for nearly two years and she’s been great.

I will say though, that having language and being able to make needs known does not rule out ASD. My son has always done this but he is still autistic and imo became more obviously so from the age of 3.5 onwards. I also came to see autistic traits in family members, myself and dh included, even though I think we are largely NT.

[Ellie56]

My second son used to talk gobbledy gook ending with a recognisable word and repeat certain phrases. He was diagnosed with a severe and complex language disorder at the age of 4.

My youngest son had language delay and sensory issues and was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder at 7. He has always been affectionate.

Crucially though, they both had statements of Special Educational Needs (Now EHC Plans) at 4 and support was put in early.

I think you have described enough to warrant further investigation. In my experience, the right support (and the right level of support) from the earliest years makes all the difference.

[Mum2prince]

Thank you both for your replies, @openupmyeagereyes we are in the UK, but hoping to move abroad this new year depending on a job offer. Where I will be taking ds to get private healthcare through insurance. He seemed to be improving and the nhs was taking forever so I thought I would give him some time and put some therapy in place privately. I took him out of nursery as he would be too tired to go nursery and get therapy everyday, thought he would benefit from the 1:1 therapy more than nursery. He won't be starting actual nursery till next year.

@ellie56 yes I don't know I was thinking language disorder, dysplasia, sensory issues, possible HFA I'm not sure. I can see some form on nuerodiversity there, and that's not what worried. The fact that i don't know how exactly to help him or some weeks I think he's fine, just learning etc. And then I go back to being sick with worry (anxiety), because of my anxiety I find it hard to trust my instincts. He is in the nhs system, he has seen a pead just before he turned 2, not much help as I said just reffered him to salt and said keep an eye. He is due a follow up appointment in 6 months now roughly. Nhs salt refuse to give him 1:1 therapy and is very spaced out, they are going to give him another block of group therapy After new years but to be frank if it clashes with his aba programme I won't be taking him. Also waiting for audiologist app as his ears have never been given the all clear and he seems to get worse in the cold months.


Dh lives abroad and I don't really have much other support other than video calls. We are torn between ds1 being a late bloomer or if something is up. This may c9me across as being in denial.. But in my household it's quite the opposite, because of my anxiety I am very observant of ds. And that's just what I see, some days I feel he's got a language delay, others I feel like it's abit more?

[Mum2prince]

Dyspraxia* sorry for typos

[Ellie56]

We were convinced DS2 was autistic. He showed so much bizarre behaviour, had obsessions and couldn't cope with change. In fact we even had him assessed again at age 10, but they assured us he wasn't.

He's grown up now and we're still of the opinion that if he isn't on the spectrum, he's right on the edge of it.

I would go with your instinct that something is not quite right. You know your child best.

[Mum2prince]

Thank you @ellie56 definatly will carry on getting him as much support as possible. I do think he is as you describe your ds2 to be somewhere on the edge. I will keep a close eye on him. Thank you again. It's a relief to speak to others in similar circumstances

[Ghostoast]

I have autistic twins and both of mine say "oh hello suzie sheep" "oh no, sorry George" as part of their echolalia. They're 2.9.

[Quency25]

Hi, i know this thread is a few years old but just wondered how things were now? In a very similar situation x