My 3 year old’s nativity

[Peachplumpear38]

Just looking for stories of hope really. My son was essentially deaf for the first two years of his life, his hearing has improved at his most recent hearing test which is great. His hearing issues were structural and they do seem to be improving as he grows. He is a very late talker and possibly autistic although nothing has been confirmed yet. I’ve just been to his nativity and bless him he sat to the side playing with some little toys instead of joining in. All of the other children joined in to some degree. The difference between him and the most able of the other children was like night and day.

We are getting him as much help as possible. He is very smart and his memory is something else. He recites whole books and knows his 10 times table but has next to no social skills.

did anyone have a child like this when they were little and they have grown up to have a nice life? I would just like some stories of hope to be honest.

thank you so much 😊

My son isn’t and wasn’t deaf, but his speech was unintelligible to everyone except me and his childminder until age 5.5 years.

He was always there, and included, but somehow not really engaged because he couldn’t build a relationship with his peers or the nursery staff because he couldn’t talk to them.

He was and is very intelligent. He struggles with social situations and hates things like nativity plays and parties because they were socially complicated.

A change of school at the start of Year 4 transformed his social skills because he got a “fresh start” with kids who hadn’t known the unintelligible child.

You’d never know there was ever an issue now. He is thriving.

Keep supporting him. Things can change very quickly with hearing and speech. Good luck!

How about this one-friend's daughter has just started at college, and they said she probably wouldn't be able to attend a mainstream school (she was also deputy head girl when she was at my children's primary, she's obviously a bit older).