To not worry that 3.5 yo DS is classed as speech delayed?

[Olympiathequeen]

He was early to walk (10mo) and runs, jumps and is very active. He also signed from 18 months (supposed to encourage speech) but his speech is very unclear and most words begin with g and d. We understand most of what he says but apparently he doesn't say anything in nursery. He chats to my friends and they all say he has improved.

He understands everything, is sociable, explains things to us in long, intricate not very clear sentences, loves books, and is interested in how everything works. He's also very shy at times.

Nursery teacher asked if we want to attend a speech and language session which I know is aimed at autism spectrum disorders (went with a friend) and I don't feel will help DS.

I have so far refused to worry about this as to me it's not a soeech and language delay but an articulation (which is a physical thing) delay. Pretty sure there is no tongue tie by the way but will ask HV.

Aibu to not worry well not until now?

[ValaMalDoran]

I don't understand how it would just be for autistic kids? Ironically my autistic child is the only one who HASNT had speech therapy.

Take all the help they offer. The sooner they gethelp the easier it is at school. It can take a while but does work it experience. I felt like middle DD wasn't making any progress then one week about two months in it just clicked and she's been fine ever since.

I would say you should give it a try rather than just deciding you think it's useless.

[MrsJayy]

Oh I see you are going to go I'm sure you will benefit from it articulation is about language your son not being able to articulate is a SALT issue I think

[viques]

He is three and a half. School is looming. Please take all the help that is on offer to you, it is unfair to leave your bright lively sociable little boy living in a world where even his parents can only understand "most" of what he says. Imagine how frustrated you would feel if people did not understand you, he seems to have possibly already given up on communicating in nursery.

[user1477282676]

March borns aren't the youngest OP...when they start school I mean. August and July borns are.

I think you might have your head in the sand a tiny bit here...in the nicest possible way. Grab whatever help is offered...you never know how it could impact DS.

[PigletWasPoohsFriend]

DS is a march baby so he will be one of the youngest when he starts school

No he won't be! He'll be right in the middle.

[upthegardenpath]

I would accept the intervention early and happily OP.
SALT is a great therapy and not at all in your face.
It'll just be a gentle assessment at this stage, to figure out how much he can do and say.
Children can be vastly different within their age stages, but by 3.5 it would be expected that your child could express himself.
I wouldn't worry at all - it could be that with minimal SALT, he is helped onto the right path and catches up in no time.
Give it a go - you and your son have absolutely nothing to lose!

[1AngelicFruitCake]

If he's starting school in September then I would accept any help you can. Once at school with other children he may feel conscious of how he speaks. Also, a March birthday doesn't put him in the younger part of the class, it is summer babies that school will be conscious of. You don't know the demand of SALT services in his reception class and if there are more needy children then unfortunately he might not be a priority to be first on the list for school to make a referral.

[MrsJayy]

Tbf it depends where the op lives if her child is young not every UK country has summer born as the youngest

[upthegardenpath]

By the way my DD is a Marchie - they are slap bang in the middle of the academic calendar and that's a cool place to be - not the oldest, not the youngest

[bookwormnerd]

My daughters sessions it was more doing activities of going from one sound to another for example pie tie and working on the speed and accuracy saying over and over again and then working on blending two sounds so c ar to make car. My daughter doesn't have autism and I know a lot of children visiting therapists children who don't.

[bookeatingboy]

Both my niece and nephew had speech problems (3 years apart).

They both struggled when they started school because the other children struggled to understand them. They had SALT during those early years and are now 10 and 7 and speak perfectly fine. No other concerns with development.

There is nothing to be gained from your attitude of "deep down I'm not worried"! If he had an issue with him not walking properly would you take him along to see a doctor?

[upthegardenpath]

Me too book
It's a shame OP, that the Autism spectrum branding of SALT you were given, has already put you off!
SALT exists for so many different conditions, speech and language issues and swallow assessments, ranging from children with profound and complex lifetime conditions, to children who are otherwise 100% healthy.

[upthegardenpath]

bookworm as opposed to bookeating!

[madamginger]

My then 3 year old was speech delayed, he has no other issues or SN.
He had twice monthly sessions for 2 years and now he's 6 year you wouldn't even know he had any problems.

[MrsWhiteWash]

If March is youngest in the year - is OP in Scotland don't they have a different cut of date and Jan Feb the youngest usually defer 12 months?

If in England and Wales March isn't youngest at all.

All mine have been very young in the school year - summer babies- it was only my DS who had hearing issue who seemed to be impacted by being one of the youngest.

[MrsJayy]

Scotland is winter birthday 28/9 is last intake day for school . I'm confused now how is he youngest in year ?

[WouldHave]

If this is just a lecture then you need to ask for a referral for actual therapy. I would be concerned that he is not talking in nursery: it may be just that he doesn't talk because he can't make himself understood, but if that it is the case then he needs help to overcome the problem because you don't want his silence in nursery or school to become entrenched.

[Agerbilatemycardigan]

Like PP said, take any help offered. DD3 struggled with speech at school and it made her quite shy and unwilling to join in with some activities. Luckily her speech improved, and then you couldn't stop her from talking

Hopefully your DS will be fine in time, so try not to worry too much.

[MrsWhiteWash]

Okay - I'm not completely up on the Scots system.

I have to say I got fed up how many of DS troubles were blamed on him being a younger one in the year and also being a boy. We ended up putting in home support so he caught up - did wonders for his confidence - and wasn't left lingering and getting further behind in bottom groups.

[c3pu]

Sounds a lot like my youngest. When he started year R and was doing phonics, we practiced them every night and by February the speech therapist had discharged him. She was amazed at his progress.

His speech still isn't the clearest at age 6, but certainly not abnormally so.

Therefore, YANBU. Chances are he'll be fine with a little help and practice.

[MrsJayy]

I wonder if you are used to his speech op and can understand his needs then you don't see it as an issue op?

[maggiso]

Glad you are going, even though you have attended previously. In my area for OT the initial talk was the gateway to starting assessments ( if needed) and therapy. You can listen out for any advice that would be specific to your child and if needed pass it on to his teachers.

[bumsexatthebingo]

I don't think yabu not to attend the session if you know it is totally geared towards social communication but I think yabu not to do anything. In your situation I would want a referral so your sons particular issues could be looked at. If your older son has a physical disability the exercises your youngest may benefit from could be different.

[Hellochicken]

CoteDAzur I think OP was just giving more information on development.

OP you are not worried that he has ASD or global development delay.

but as pps have said that is not the only reason for SALT review. I appreciate you feel nursery don't know how much he can do - because he is shy and you can understand him. However this age they start to play with others more and want to please the teacher! If he is shy already, knowing he won't be understood easily may hold him back a little bit. It may not, he could be equally happy but as pp also already said SALT can't harm.

[Olympiathequeen]

I haven't assumed that SLT is only to do with ASD, just that the last session I attended with a friend, all the parents did have children on the spectrum. But I agree just being able to talk to a SLT about the schools concerns would be helpful. Even just to be pointed to some online resources or given some exercises for speech (the singing, rhyming ones sound a great play idea and something easy to do after nursery. So that would be useful. I refuse to correct him when he says things 'wrong' because I feel that will affect his confidence (told to do this by an auntie) but I can see how it's already affecting him at Nursery. I was only told yesterday that he never talks in nursery which was quite a shock so I see now that helping him grow his confidence with the right input would be useful.

He was the youngest in nursery so I assumed he would be the youngest in school so it's a relief to know he won't be.

I do wonder if the children who had SLT for a year and then spoke better would have got there anyway but provided we can make it a game it can't do any harm either way. Off to dig out the rhyming books so we can have a game.