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Original poster

Toddler with limited speech

21 replies

JakeyRolling · 04/11/2021 17:44

If your child was a late talker, at what age did they begin to speak properly?
DS is 3.5 and doesn't really talk. We have the odd word here and there but he's way behind his peers.
We have appointments booked ahead with professional but have not had them yet.
I'm just worried that this could be it for him. I really hope it's not.

OP posts:
whosaidtha · 04/11/2021 18:12

Get his hearing tested. 3.5 is really quite late. Referrals to speech and language usually start around 2. Was nothing picked up on his two year hv review?

miniona · 04/11/2021 18:28

Are you able to pay for a private salt assessment to get the ball rolling? Likely in the realm of £200-£300?
If not, you will just need to chase appointment with nhs SALT, and I agree definitely get hearing tested. Could be someone as simple as glue eat.

miniona · 04/11/2021 18:28

**ear... not eat anything Halloween Hmm

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Families
ChirpyChirp · 04/11/2021 18:32

My first DS started talking at 9 months. DS2 on the other hand was somewhere around 3.5. I remember delaying his nursery start date (he could have started at just-turned 3) as he wasn't really saying anything and I was worried he'd not be able to communicate his needs. I was quite worried about his speech for a while. SLT assessment in reception didn't flag any problems and actually found him to be above average in some areas. He's nearly 9 now and doesn't speak as confidently or clearly as some of his peers but I'm no longer worried.

Rhubarblin · 04/11/2021 18:39

I'm in the same boat. My 3.5 DD has very little functional speech. We're waiting on SALT and as part of the 'social communication pathway' depending on their findings she may then also be sent for ASD assessment. Had hearing test last week, all fine. Paediatrician said she probably has mild autism at recent appointment (I know people don't like that phrase but it's what was used)

Rhubarblin · 04/11/2021 18:40

Are you in England? Are you waiting for SALT? If so, they should send you to audiology first.

Winterfellismyhome · 04/11/2021 18:40

My DS is 3.4 and has very limited speech. He knows various words but cant use sentences. He's just been diagnosed with autism this week. He does attend SALT and his speech is very slowly improving

Original poster
JakeyRolling · 04/11/2021 18:42

His hearing has been tested and is fine. Had a SALT assessment but they wanted him to start nursery before they saw him again (which he did in August)

OP posts:
TomDaleysCardigan · 04/11/2021 18:44

Genuine question, what do you mean by 'this could be it for him?'
(I'm autistic and struggling to work out the meaning of this)

Original poster
JakeyRolling · 04/11/2021 18:50

Language wise @TomDaleysCardigan. Will his speech develop or will it stay at this level.

OP posts:
MistyFrequencies · 04/11/2021 18:56

Hanen More Than Words. Its designed for autistic kids but has such great advice for all kids who are struggling with communication.
Hearing test too. I thought my son's hearing was fine, (he could hear the Peppa theme tune from the next room) it wasn't.

TomDaleysCardigan · 04/11/2021 18:56

Thank you. Sorry my brain took off in about 20 different incorrect directions.
SALT can do wonders with mouth words/verbal communication. If that is the limit of his Verbal communication for now, there are many other fantastic methods. AAC devices can be great, signing or picture systems. Happy to chat and give you links if you would like them for more information

helpthewhos · 04/11/2021 19:09

My son was a late talker but we noticed something was wrong early and taught him Makaton. He didn't really get the point of speaking despite SALT intervention, and then one day just got really frustrated, shouted at me and then lots of words came out from then on. If their comprehension is good there may not be anything to worry about long term, although it certainly is worrying at the time.

TomDaleysCardigan · 04/11/2021 19:15

@helpthewhos for sure, non verbal is definitely mojlt non understanding

user3344 · 04/11/2021 19:28

Hi @JakeyRolling
My DS just turned 3 this month and he too struggles with speech, but this last two weeks has gained about 20 words as well as all the animal noises!
I have paid from private speech therapy but it was a waste of time as he was too young to really participate.
From few professionals I have spoken with the lockdowns and restrictions has caused much higher numbers with children with speech delay.

TheStarMachine · 05/11/2021 16:50

Agree the Hanen book is really useful. My son is autistic and non verbal, but I think it is unusual that 'this is it for him' for any child so young. His language is developing all the time, it is still extremely limited and unclear but massively better than it was a year ago. Push to see SALT and learn about stuff you can do yourself at home - there is loads. The YouTube videos 'songs for littles' have also helped a lot.

Chippymunks · 05/11/2021 18:58

Two of my DC were really late talkers, I paid for private speech therapy for one and the other one also had speech therapy and used PECs for a while. They both started speaking at about 3 3/4, just in time for school (late summer birthdays). Apparently my DB and I were like it, I remember my DM saying just you wait ‘they’ll start speaking while sentences soon’. I remember being cross with her and them guess what, that’s exactly what they did? They did both learn in a slightly different way to other DC. Although they couldn’t speak they could point out all the letters and were reading by age four and a bit.
Now they are regular early 20 year olds, one with a first class degree, the other with a masters.

Original poster
JakeyRolling · 06/11/2021 10:21

@Chippymunks

Two of my DC were really late talkers, I paid for private speech therapy for one and the other one also had speech therapy and used PECs for a while. They both started speaking at about 3 3/4, just in time for school (late summer birthdays). Apparently my DB and I were like it, I remember my DM saying just you wait ‘they’ll start speaking while sentences soon’. I remember being cross with her and them guess what, that’s exactly what they did? They did both learn in a slightly different way to other DC. Although they couldn’t speak they could point out all the letters and were reading by age four and a bit. Now they are regular early 20 year olds, one with a first class degree, the other with a masters.
There's no doubt that he's a smart child. We are starting to think ASD as he likes to line things up and a few other things in addition to the speech
OP posts:
Chippymunks · 06/11/2021 10:36

JakeyRolling my youngest liked to line things up to and also tip all his cars out of the box and then put them back in as if he was counting over and over again. He is then just grew out of doing this but he was/is really good at maths so maybe he was counting.

Original poster
JakeyRolling · 06/11/2021 11:04

@Chippymunks

JakeyRolling my youngest liked to line things up to and also tip all his cars out of the box and then put them back in as if he was counting over and over again. He is then just grew out of doing this but he was/is really good at maths so maybe he was counting.
It's not the only potential symptom he's showing but the speech and rigidity of play are the two biggest ones.
OP posts:
gogohm · 06/11/2021 11:25

Dd is autistic, no language before 3, very limited until 4, full almost adult level conversation by 6 ... she knew all the words but didn't bother using them and really couldn't be bothered about other kids but would happily converse with an adult for ages on a favoured topic eg rock types (thankfully a friend was a geologist!)

She's at a top university currently, please don't panic. I'm not going to tell you your outcome will be the same as ours, or even it was a bed of roses, but a small subsection of children talk very late but are no delays once they get going, I read a book called Einstein syndrome (or similar, it was 28 years ago) that explained her perfectly

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