Getting myself in a state about 2yo speech delay

I would ditch the dummy asap. Apparently it’s unusual for it to cause a problem with speech sounds, but sometimes it does. Also, my late speaker, who had recurrent ear infections was a dummy user, and I wish I’d known at the time, but dummy use can be related to increased risk of middle ear infections, so worth ditching for that reason alone.

Hey OP, I can relate, it's so easy to start spiralling about anything development- related. My eldest DS didn't speak much until he was 3. He had glue ear, for which he had temporary hearing aids (they don't do grommets under 3 in our area). He also has short sight and autism. They all contributed to speech delay and it was a hideously worrying time. He is 6 now and talks an awful lot. I haven't spiralled for a couple of years now.
Every child is different but what I would say is that DS has still never once nodded for yes or shaken his head for no.

My now-18 year old didn’t speak much at that age. I didn’t think much about it tbh because speach was clearly starting to develop but it was gradual. Also had glue ear and had grommets in and adenoids out aged 3.

Mine didn't start talking till gone 3.

Now they're 8 and i can't shut them up! But i very well remember the stress of the speech delay and wondering when it would happen.

Try not to worry. It'll happen when they're ready.

Another one for glue ear causing the issues. Grommets changed my boy. The hearing test pass shows he can hear a sound but he is still likely hearing a muffled sound. I have never understood this and pushed for multiple hearing tests followed by grommets. Best decision I ever made for my son.

My DS did not start talking until he was over 3 yo. He had some sounds that got him by and he did learn to say 'no' when he was about 2.

It was a very frustrating time. I did everything I could to communicate with him, made eye contact, gave instructions in the correct order. We had loads of songs with actions. We ran out of parts of the body to point to, even when getting a bit technical, colours and I grew jaded with counting every stair for him.

When I had finally by-passed the HV and he had been seen by audiology and speech therapy, he suddenly started talking, progressed in leaps and bounds and ST signed him off as normal for 4 yo eight months later.

I too had looked forward to that time of toddler chat, but even as an adult he is reluctant to put anything into words so conversations can be hard work. Yet when he does it is worth waiting for. 🤷‍♀️

Though I do have a slight suspicion my son is on the autistic spectrum.

Yes my boy is two and a half. On the waiting list for SALT. He is going to nursery to help him. Is yours at nursery?

My DS had glue ear. Actually we had a bit of a battle with audiology as they insisted he could hear but he was passing the test because he was watching the audiologist. When he was retested it showed how little he could hear. He was good at lip reading though.

anyway, he didn’t talk until after he was 2, he had his hearing retested, was referred to ENT and had grommets fitted.

He’s fine now, except very loud and never stops talking. He’s off to university next month.

I know this probably isn’t very helpful in regards to your concern but I just want to say, you sound like a fantastic Mum. Whatever it is, I have no doubt all will be okay, because he has you x

They say adanoids shrink (apparently) we were poo pooed on that one too

If she’s part of the dyspraxia programme, she’d know and definitely best placed for you. The Nuffield don’t give diagnosis of dyspraxia anymore- however ours is a severe phonological speech disorder with traits of VD. You’re a long way off for school- but when you’re school age push for an EHCP. There are private schools within the UK that specialises in dyspraxia and associated disabilities, my son attends a private school that’s funded by the LA as it’s named on his EHCP. my son is also severely dyslexic and speech and dyslexia (not always) go hand in hand.
As mentioned the groups on FB already, have a look at them, another person has mentioned DLA, apply for that too. It helps a lot towards costly speech sessions, private reports etc.
if your son does happen to have a speech condition it’s not the end of the world, it’s very common and doesn’t mean he won’t be able to achieve anything he wants to.
good luck!

I have been in a similar position to you also OP. My DD had disordered speech and even I struggled to understand her if she went off topic, let alone anyone outside the family. I worried so much for her and what her future would look like. We started amazing private speech and Lang, online initially as it was all through covid at the start. Very gradually things started to get into place and now at age 9 you would never know that she was initially unintelligible! I think it impacted her phonics, not being able to sound the parts of the words correctly so we had to give her extra help there but now she’s doing really well.
I anticipate that as he gets a bit older and able to engage with speech and Lang more and more his speech will come on leaps and bounds.

Where about are you based? We didn’t really get any help towards a diagnosis or speech until infants school and it was by chance he had a sessions with a private school salt where she mentioned dyspraxia- we were then referred to the Nuffield hospital (London) who have some of the best consultants in (UK/Europe) specialising in VD and speech delay, however I believe the referral process has changed.

As a parent of a child a nearly 12yo boy that had speech delay OP, and subsequently a diagnosis of Verbal dyspraxia (the same condition that Chris Kamara has) I’d say trust your gut.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with your child, however, explore all avenues- referral to ENT, possible glue ear, cleft pallet, get the roof of their mouth checked for hole, tongue tie.
there’s lots of good groups on Facebook for speech delayed children- Mikeys wish, apraxia, dyspraxia are a couple.
good luck.

My son had severe speech problems. He did a year in mainstream school before moving to a speech and language unit. It did him the world of good. He's nearly 13 now and has been back in mainstream for years. He's bright and has no other problems. He still struggles with some words. I know how hard it it. Also, look at claiming DLA, which might help with the cost towards the private speech and language cost. I know its a worry, and it's hard when everyone around them of their age seems to be so different. I learnt not to compare in the end. He will get there. He just needs the early intervention he seems to be getting?

How was he fed?

DS and I did some research when he was about a year into language and relationship between feeding. Basically babies that are spoon fed don’t develop develop their oral muscles as quickly as babies who are fed less soft food and have to chew more. So they do get there (obv) but often they seem delayed compared to peers.