Aibu to think that I can work with Ds (25 m/o) to improve his "severe expressive language delay"

[FurCoatNoKnix]

DS has been assessed as having a significant expressive language delay with attention issues and paediatrician has rated him as being less than 12 months on language age. He babbles constantly but she couldn't get his attention often during the assessment. And he's barely talking. She wants to see him again in six months. Aibu to think I can do something and work with him intensively in that time to improve him? Surely there must be personal interventions I can carry out and some extra support may bring him up?

i took my son to chatterbox when he was two it gave him extra support and he really came along so they decided not to do speech therapy x

"It takes two to talk" by hanen is a very good book with lots of practical advice on helping you dc with speech.

Thank you! I will look into it!

Am no expert but mentally running through our local area we have classes at Sure Start, baby/toddler music & singing classes, baby signing, library Rhyme Time... Probably more. Worth checking what's in your area perhaps? I think signing and nursery rhymes were a big help for my two.

Try signing, running commentary of what you're doing and expanding language eg.

DC: ball
You: yes blue ball
DC: blue ball
You: bouncy blue ball

Etc.

Stupid q but anyway, has he had hearing tested recently?

I'm at work full time and DH is sahd. I'm happy to get stuck in when I can but unfortunately limited, in terms of attending local classes :-(

With ds2 we spent much of our time on working on his attention as we did his speech. What motivates your ds, what does he enjoy? Use these things as a reward for participating in activities. Ds loved bubbles so we would do a short activity (only a couple of minutes) then he could blow some bubbles.

Agree with checking out sure start groups too.

No he hasn't yet had hearing tested. We are waiting for an appointment in a few weeks time.

I will talk to DH re local groups.

My nephew barely said four or five words until he was three. He understood as much as any other child his age, but he just didn't talk. Then when he was three he started adding more words in and by about age five you couldn't see any difference linguistically between him and another child who'd spoken on a normal timescale.

I definitely think there is a chance for him to improve, especially if you're putting in effort yourself to help him. Maybe see how he gets on with a bit of baby signing? It has positive effects on speech so if he likes it it could help.

You may feel a bit self conscious a first but you can replicate rhyme time at home just you, dh and Ds, no need to attend the group.

Reading pictures books and talking about the pictures (not just reading the printed words).

Itiswhatitis, what sort of activities did you do? I've really no idea
and am doing the obvious stuff, rambling like a madwoman about what we are doing. My nine month old seems to be taking it all in while the two year old lets it wash over him!

i would actually go to a private speech therapist if you can afford it. we fannied around in the NHS for the best part of a year before giving up and going private. If i knew then what i knew now, i would just have gone private in the first place.

My Dd didn't make a sound until she was 18 months and then we only had the occasional mumbled word. She started Pre-School at 2.3 and this made a huge difference.
You might find in the right setting without a parent around your Ds might flourish...

He seems like he has ok hearing, but then it might not always be easy to tell.. Green folder, how did you select the private speech therapist? Money isn't plentiful, as I'm self employed and the breadwinner and have two little ones, but I'm willing to make sacrifices if it's going to hold him back.

Initially it was just engaging him in simple shared activities/turn taking etc I will try and dig out all our "homework" from the private speech therapist sessions.

One example I remember in the early days was I would blow bubbles and then stop and say to ds "more bubbles?" "Ok ds you say more bubbles" and encouraged him to make sounds even if it was just "mmm" and then I would blow more bubbles. Or do "ready, set....." And encourage him to say "go" as a way of showing him that by using words he can get a response.

The other thing I started doing was asking him questions that needed him to respond with something other than a head shale or nod. So instead of "do you want a drink?" Say "do you want juice or milk" "do you want apple or banana" "do you want a red t shirt or blue t shirt?" "Shall we go on the scooter or walk?" I used to try and find ways of asking questions with options in every situation.

Like, like, like everyone. Thank you so much. Chipped, I'm looking into this . I think preschool might really help.

I do agree that nhs speech therapy has been a waste of time (what little they actually offered) if you can find the funds I would highly recommend a private SALT.

Get in touch with ICAN (children's communication charity). They have an advice line where you can speak to a SALT. Also lots of resources on their website.

Frusso, he will follow instructions if it's like "put that in the bin/bring that to daddy". If it's "go to bed", there would be a different outcome!

Have a look at mommyspeechtherapy.com under the early language development section. Www.speechteach.co.uk is also good. I agree with teensybitlonger about contracting ICAN, they have a website.
But the most important thing to start with is to make sure he can hear.