speech delay due to not listening / focussing

[cjn27b]

Concerns were raised at our 2.4 year old DS 2 year review about his speech and responsiveness. We've since seen a speech and language therapist, and an audiologist. His hearing is fine, but he just doesn't hear / listen when he's focussed on something else. As a result he's not learning to talk, and is currently at the speech level of an 18 month old. We've been given some exercises to do and have more appointments, but I'm just wondering if anyone else has experienced this.

Hi our DS was later in talking - when we went for the review he seemed to be talking so much less than his peers and even than some younger toddlers and I was so worried! He also went to audiologist and although hearing was ok he had to go a few times because of fluid behind the ear but I don't think that really affected him - no matter what we did he just didn't seem interested in talking! He is now 34 months old and is talking loads - not all of his speech is really clear (especially to others) but his vocabulary and comprehension is really extensive and continually growing. Can your DS communicate his needs to you and do you think he can understand you? We found that our DS could make himeself understood by us and knew exactly what we were talking about but he just did not seem interested in talking and as you said just did not seem to want to hear/listen, just wanted to do whatever it was that he was doing. He did also have his own little gobblydegook language that he used when he was playing so I guess it was just a matter of him wanting to talk in our language when it suited him. Anyway what I am trying to say is that although I was quite concerned at the time (especially as my eldest was a really early talker) I am now not concerned and just think he decided to talk later than 'the average'. Good luck! xxx

cjn, i would ask for another set of hearing tests/speech therapy in a few months tikme

there are conditions such as glue ear (fluid behind the ear drum) which can affect hearing, but that can come and go.
so it is possible that his hearing has been affected, but that the fluid had drained, or was just much lower at the time he had his hearing test done

so do ask about that

My DS was similar - very few words at age 2. When he had the hearing test, it was obvious that he could hear, but couldn't be bothered to react. (However, whispering 'chocolate' from the far corner of the room had an immediate reaction).
He had speech therapy, then the therapist got concerned that he wasn't reacting to her or making eye contact & arranged for a paediatrician's assessment.
He suddenly got the hang of talking when he was 3 - just before the paediatrician's assessment. The paediatrician decided he was OK, but had probably been getting bored by the speech therapy.
He learnt words etc very quickly after that, and his speech has been fine ever since - though he tends to gabble (aged 13).
He is still very geeky & will play on the computer all day unless dragged off to do something else.

Yes DS2 is (was) like that. He had always been happy to play on his own since he was very little. He would concentrate on one toy or puzzle for a very long time - it was worrying. At 18 months he could do large and complicated puzzles that his brother, who was 4, couldnt (and wouldn't) do. His mind was channelled on one thing at a time, and his first word was at 2 and a half and now, he is nearly four and he is talking but not very clearly.

He also found it difficult to make friends and socialise (except his brother who could understand him).

Now, at nearly 4 (he will be 4 in April) he is much better, plays with friends, talks quite well, but he is in a special school that has a language unit for children with speech delay.

I think the only thing I can say is to stick with speech therapy and try to get the most out of the service. Try to get his attention before you speak to him, and also try to play with him at his game (if he is concentrating on something playing one thing, talk to him about what he is doing. It's like narrating his play if you want. Don't ask him too many questions, just take ten minutes a day and comment on what he is doing, focusing only on his activity with no telly or music on).

Speak in short sentences and repeate the key words.

By the way, DS2 had glue ear for a little while, and it does come and go. He's had 3 (yes 3) hearing tests because his teacher was concerned that he wasn't turning when called in nursery. She told me that one day, he was playing with a toy and she called his name 5 times on the right side, and 5 times on the left side. Only when she clapped her hand and said his name loudly he turned his head.

He is now making a lot of progress weekly but after a lot of effort.

We had tests for fluid in the ear, and he doesn't have any (well at the moment he doesn't!). He has had ear infections in the past, but not persistent ones.

He is good a socialiseing, and his play is fairly typical of a child his age. The SLT doesn't want to say anything about long term prognosis, so I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Meanwhile, it's lots of exercises, running commentary etc.. If anyone has good ideas of games that'd be great.