Anyone had a child that is speech delayed?

[hogu]

And when did they start speaking?
My 2 year old is 'borderline' delayed apparently which has upset & worried me a bit. He had his health visitor review today.
He's 2 years & 4 months and can say around a dozen words although he says much more it's his own language.

My DS2 sounds very much like yours. Certainly says a lot less that’s his brother at the same age. We have a referral in with SALT but still waiting to see someone.

What have they said? What will SALT offer? I've never heard of them

So he is bilingual? I think it's quite common. My ds had way more vocabulary in my native language than English at early age. My ds was flagged up for speech issue at 2 year old check up, but now I think it's a lot to do with being bilingual, though my ds also had other issues like traits of asd.

Mine was practically selective mute outside, but spoke continuously at home, both English and my native language.

If you think he has no problem speech wise in your own language and has no other issues, you should let HV know.

@roguetomato Ha no he's not bilingual, I meant his own language as in 'babble'. I will probably refer to him as bilingual from now on though ☺️

I wasn't worried until I spoke to my health visitor today about it, hence my post

Oh, ok. My ds had his own language too, it was kind of cute.
Your ds maybe referred to SALT, Speech and Language Therapy. Don't worry too much now. My ds definitely had problems, but now he's perfectly fine thanks to all the help he received.

DS1 was late, at age 2 year 3 months in his 2 year review with the health visitor had to write down every word he spoke / signed to count whether he had 30 (or whatever the number was). He'd had glue ear with hearing loss though. Once he started he picked it up quite quickly, and there were no issues by the time he started school. He did finding reading harder than friends DC though, which I wonder is related.

DC3 still isn't talking at all at 21 months so we've been referred for a hearing test as a first step. We also have a phone appointment with SALT, they apparently aren't doing face to face for young kids here.

We were told to look at this website ican.org.uk/i-cans-talking-point/progress-checker-home/ which has information and a progress checker.

Please start with a hearing test. It may be that your child isn't hearing fully and is missing some speech sounds.

My DD ‘failed’ her 2 year check (as described by the HV, not my words!) and was referred for speech therapy. We had an assessment but had to wait until she was 3 years old for therapy sessions. She had undiagnosed glue ear which probably played a part in the early delays, but she progressively was diagnosed with more problems. Most of the children she has SALT with caught up, especially when they started nursery. DD was the exception.

Both of my boys have been late talkers, and now absolutely no issues at 8&5, anecdotally boys do tend to be later but if there’s any issues with hearing etc then at least your HV is on the ball.
My youngest barely had any words at 3 then jst flew and as the cliche goes I now can’t shut him up!

My ds has had salt involved for 6 years 3 times a year the review him and set new tasks for him to work on if he has improved its crap really 6 years on and still feel like going back to the start

Check hearing. An Audiologist will do this.

My DS1 has a speech delay. He is 3 years 6 months and has around 8 words.
The NHS speech and language therapist sees him once a term at nursery and leaves a communication plan with targets.
We also employ a private SALT who sees him twice a week in our home for an hour each time.
My son is starting to communicate using PECS and makaton.

Make sure you’re naming every single thing he touches. Enunciate everything. Lots of repetition.

@Mylittlepony374

Check hearing. An Audiologist will do this.

This. In the UK you need a GP referral to see the audiologist.

My ds is 9 now and had speech problems. He went to a speech unit placement for nearly 3 years. Hes in mainstream now and doing well, although he still struggles with some words and sounds. He had speech dyspraxia. My advise is to get help, early intervention really makes a difference.

Both of my kids. My daughter had for words at one, lost them within a month, then picked up six words at 2yo. She stuck with that for the best part of another year. She suddenly got a few dozen more overnight just before she turned three, then had some sort of weird developmental leap and one morning had full sentences! She was nearly 4 by then. She went from "me go nursery" to "I wonder if the orange car will be in the car park" in literally a single night. Her paediatrician said there was clearly a single link that hadn't formed yet that would enable the speech, but it had clearly developed in the background.

My son was less dramatic. He Brad a handful of words at nearly 2 then veeeeery slowly increased them. He was still virtually speechless at 3 1/2 when he started nursery. At 6 he now rattles on continuously with barely a pause for breath.

I’ve two with one, don’t worry! 9 out of 10 times they grow out of it. DC2 still mispronounces some words but getting his speech delay investigated helped us find the underlying cause. DC3 speaks mainly in his own language, but he’s happy and thriving and SLT have said he’ll talk when he’s ready. He is capable, he just prefers his words for things

Hi , my son didn't start talking until he was at nursery for around 6 or 7 months so he was over 3 . We was on the waiting list for speech therapy ... By the time that came he couldnt stop talking ! He knew every word just chose not to speak .

He used to point at things and we would get it for him , so we had to stop and ask what he wanted etc.

When playing I used to take the lead with a toy like a character and say " hey let's play in the garden" and didn't give him a chance looking back . Speech therapist advised to sit quietly and let him play and he will get you involved . It all worked and now he doesn't stop talking EVER !

Xx

Yep my DS would only say single words at 3 and by 4 was speaking but with a stutter. He's absolutely fine now and often I can't shut him up!

Yes, my son was referred to SALT around that age. They will probably refer him to have a hearing test to rule out any problems there (my son did have hearing loss), and want to see if he is interested in interacting and communicating in some way.
As I remember, we had an assessment and then attended a group, which was quite basic (make sure you speak to your child and don't just leave them in front of the TV type of advice), then went on to individual sessions and had sounds to work on at home.
My son started talking at 3.5, full, complex sentences, non stop, but did have disordered speech sounds, so has continued to work with the speech therapist.
I think a lot of referrals don't lead to intervention after being reviewed by a speech therapist though, at this stage is just an extra check.

*Mylittlepony374

Check hearing. An Audiologist will do this.

This. In the UK you need a GP referral to see the audiologist*

The health visitor can make an audiology referral in the UK. You can probrably self refer as well.

Hi OP,

I have 2 sons, one is 6 now but he didn't have any words until 2.5. This in itself isn't so far from normal however more concerning was that his understanding was delayed too. He can speak now and is doing okay however he has been referred for autism & ADHD assessments due to his language & communication issues.

I have a 16 month old now and the difference between them is so obvious, I just didn't see it because DS1 was my first and I had no experience of normal child development. DS2 has about 8 words but more importantly he can understand so much and follows instructions already which DS1 didn't do until much later.

Does your child understand simple words and instructions? If he does then I really wouldn't worry, I'm sure his speech will catch-up soon.

Interesting to hear some of your stories and it's made me feel a little better.
I honestly don't think DS has a hearing issue and he understands everything I say.

I think like a PP I tend to just go accept him pointing at things and I make the suggestions etc rather than encouraging him to try say the words himself. I'm hoping he will just get it in his own time, I really don't want to feel like I'm
Holding him back or not doing everything I can to help him

My son was well on his way to 3 before I stopped worrying. He understood everything but had about 6 words. He used some made up signs instead.
Eventually it was like a switch went on and he went to full on sentences in a matter of weeks.
He had some speech therapy when oldet as there were about 4 sounds he had trouble with.

My nephew was like this. Spoke very little and hard to understand. Brought to a speech therapist. He turned 3 and it was like it all came flooding out. He's a little chatterbox and has very clear speech.