Causes of speech regression in toddler OTHER than autism?

[DanceMonkey19]

Just that really. Worried sick about ds. At 16 months was beginning to talk, had 20+ words. By 21 months had stopped. Had lots of tests that all came back clear, now just waiting on referrals to various services. So desperately worried that it's autism. What else would cause this??

the waiting list for grommets wont be long op., if they are indicated. are you being referred to ent now?

The audiologist said that for a referral to ENT his hearing had to be below 25 decibels for 3 months. She refused to tell me what level it was at just that it wasn't that low? So will be re-tested in 12 weeks, by which point it will be 8 months since he stopped talking 😭

That's reassuring okiedokie, she's come such a long way!

Sorry to hear about your nephew Enid

Oops, not your nephew Enid but Nogods - an ad was blocking your username, sorry

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Try get a second opinion
Not talking plus glue ear = grommets
can you go private?

In meantime work on sign language makaton and use photos and symbols

I wondered about going private but think they would still want evidence of glue ear persisting so would still have to wait and do a repeat hearing test?

Has he any other indicators of asd? Can he point to things? Does he look if you point?

isadora he gives eye contact and is smiley. He had stopped pointing but has started to do it again in the past 2 weeks. He does weird movements, the consultant thinks they are stereotypies? Which I think are common with asd. But these movements and the speech regression are the only asd traits he shows as far as I know

NIICE guidelines advocate for parents to have hearing aids for glue ears. Persist.

Go to your LA and speak to a teacher of the deaf and ask for some advice. They may have specialist toddler groups you can go to. They definitely have lots of tips for you.

Look on the National Deaf Children’s Charity website for ideas.

At home.

Create. Very good listening environment- lots of sound adsorbing carpet, rugs, curtains etc. No hard floors and echos. No back ground noise like the radio or the tele on.

Face to face interaction with clear speech, wait for eye contact to initiate talk. Provide a clear model of talk in play.

Feel free to PM me. I used to be a specialist HLTA for hearing impaired children 0-5.

Atalune thanks. I very much doubt he'd wear hearing aids. The other tips are good

@DanceMonkey19 wondering if your son did start speaking ? I’m going through the same now and very worried…..

@Zara84 DS did have grommets inserted, however he also went on to be diagnosed with asd and global development delay. He is 6 now, and I would say that apart from speech he has regained all skills he lost during his regression. He is still non verbal but his understanding is coming along. He is a lovely boy but ultimately my fears were realised. I've come to terms with it now I think, and while I have big worries for the future I am just enjoying him as he is and taking it day by day. Just wish he'd sleep a bit better 😊

OP - you said you’ve had various tests carried out what are these ?

Blood tests, a hearing test under sedation and EEG. We were initially worried he had something called infantile spasms but that was ruled out quickly. His blood tests checked for any chromosonal/genetic disorders and the EEG ruled out epilepsy. We were told at 24 motlnths that having ruled out anything out it was classical autism but had to wait a further 12 months for an official diagnosis.

Check if they’ve had the ‘spelling check’ on genetics testing, just to be sure. I was always told that if it is one area of development that’s not progressing it’s not too much of a concern but if there’s more than one then start fighting.

@Foreversomething thanks, the paediatrician didn't tell me any specifics, it was just microarray that's all I know?

from what I understand, microarray is a check that all of the chromosomes add up. There’s a second layer of testing that they can do which effectively does a ‘spell check’ on the chromosomes. This will tell you if there’s an alteration, addition or deletion to chromosomes. I didn’t know this test existed until the consultant said it was the last resort.

Thanks for your response @DanceMonkey19

did your son say any words at all..or blad use jibberish or sound? Also was he pointing or leading with hands? Sorry for all the questions!

So he had words, them over a 2 week period he gradually stopped. He became really clumsy, and it was just... like the light had gone out behind his eyes ☹️ Just in his own world, no understanding or anything. He has very very gradually returned to how he was over the past 3.5 years but still no speech, although he is now saying yes and no. But for months he was virtually silent.

If you start your own post with your specific concerns then there are many knowledgeable folk on here who can advise on how to seek advice and help x