2yo speech

[TheRealMBJ]

I am taking my 2 yo to the GP tomorrow to discuss some worries and ask for a referral but would just like to get some idea as to how hard to push etc.

DS has had absolutely normal motor milestones but is not speaking. He has excellent receptive language, can understand and execute 2 and 3stage best ructions, can point to objects in a story book etc but has only about 10 words, not all that intelligible. (He also has severe separation anxiety and DOES NOT sleep).

I am planning to ask for a speech and language referral and a children's audiology referral (just to make sure but I'm sure he hasn't got hearing problems). Should I be pushing for a development paed referral too? How worried should I be?

Anyone?

You can do a hearing test at GP and explain why you are worried. He/she should take your concerns seriously and refer to speech therapy. However this will take several months and I bet you a fiver that your DS will be chatting by then!
Good luck. You have nothing to lose, and you can always pull yourself out of the system if you want later.

I am answering tentatively in the hope that people with more knowledge will be along soon.
I have 3 boys. The eldest is 9. He has severe Aspergers syndrome. He spoke very early and was speaking in full sentences by 18months. I didn't realise how different he was to other children until he started school.
DS2 on the other hand is now 5. He didn't say a single word until well after his 2nd birthday. The HV was meant to refer him to the SALT but it appears she never got around to it as when she saw him again at 2.5 he could say 10 words so she was no longer worried. However, I was worried about him (especially given his older brother being autistic). He didn't recognise his name at 12 months, he didn't point at 18 months (even now at 5 he does not point reciprocally i.e. points then checks you are looking at what he is pointing at), he rarely communicated and did not particularly seem to understand much language. He did not want to interact with me and happily played on his own getting upset if I tried to join in. By 3 he was talking ok. At 5 apparently he has a big vocabulary but he would still rather point at something and grunt rather than talk to me if he can get away with it. He is currently on the waiting list to be assessed for high functioning autism.
DS3 is 3 has the odd autistic trait but nothing major, he talked early like his big brother.

I think if it were me in your situation, given that your DS understands well, I would ask for a referal to a SALT, and also maybe to a sleep clinic, but probably not a dev paed - unless you really have a lot more worries than his speech and sleep.

Thanks

I am hoping that it is nothing and that by the time the referral comes through we have no more concerns but, I'd rather start now (because it does worry me ) and it be fine than get to 2.5 before referral even gets sent and him not seeing anyone until after he starts nursery. IYKWIM

I don't really worry about ASD although the thought do cross my mind at one point, his social skills are fine

Did he/ is he babbling? Have you heard him make a reasonable variety of consonants and vowels?
My son has verbal dyspraxia. This is his story so far. I knew that something wasn't right and had to make a nuisance of myself to get him the help you need.
For us we saw the local Child development centre where his hearing was tested and then we were referred to Speech therapy.

My DS2 hardly spoke before the age of 2. By 2.5 he was talking for England. Could be that he is just listening in to all your conversations, and taking notes...

I think in most areas you can actually self-refer to speech and language therapy. I know you could in my dept (ex-SLT here). See if you can get a number and phone up and speak to someone. But go to the GP as well. Blanket coverage, squeaky wheels etc.

Am in the same position here TheRealMBJ with DS who is 2.3yo.

I've gone down the HV route who did a complete 'two year check' a couple of weeks ago. He passed the comprehension side of things with flying colours and is very physically developed but can only say things like mama, papa, and bauble (?). He doesn't seem able to construct words so will say 'ooo' for the noise a cow makes, but can't put them 'm' on front of it.

Anyway, we've been referred to the SALT team- waiting list is 5 months, but at least things are in place if their is a problem. HV said that they'll want him to have a hearing test which seemed a bit weird as he had just responded to loads of her instructions without any problems. I did try to decline this, but maybe I should rethink that.

Oh and he doesn't sleep well either (unless he's tucked in next to me in bed).

crikey mine 'passed' his 2 year check a couple of months ago as the 'HVS' (nursery nurse) who did it, did not even speak to DS. Most of her time in my house was spent cooing over DD (6weeks or so at the time), eyeing things up (I got the impression she was looking for whether she needed to call SS) and telling me how badly neglected some kids are

Despite me flagging up a concern.

Anyway, it is 6 weeks on and there hasn't been much change at all. We used to have a SALT drop in at the CC but due to staffing issues that's gone

Theparentconsultancy I have seen your posts around and they read like advertisements. I'm sure you mean no harm and is only hoping for some exposure for your business, but I feel this is a sneaky way of going about it and it is against talk guidelines. There are plenty of ways to legitimately advertise on MN. I have reported your post.

I wish he would sleep better (and particularly later) but am not interested in 'training' methods

MBJ- let's hope the GP is a bit more useful then. Let us know how you get on today.

Five hoursSleep- I read your blog and found it very interesting. Alot of what you say rings very true with my DS. Am rather worried now. Do you know what causes verbal dyspraxia?

crikey - please do go with the hearing test - you really can't tell from just speaking to them.( i say this beacuse I have been almost completely deaf on one side for over 10 years, and you'd never know).

good luck, Real, my 2yo dd has speech delay and I am glad I pushed at an early age as she has had lots of input already and is making good progress.

yes, I think push for one. Not because you should be worried but because this isn't clear-cut.

However, it may be the SALT rather than the paed. who gives you real answers.

Ideally you want to be on a waiting list for a dev. paed. now but have your aud. results and SALT assessment done before you see them. You can always come off the list

I have seen the GP and we have agreed to get the aud and SALT referrals now and then perhaps a dev. Paed referral. If I do go the dev Paed route I want to be referred out of area as I have not heard a single good thing about the dev. Paed in our area. (Had a chat to some mums with kids with ASD, he is apparently such a misogynist that he won't even speak to women, and I'd you challenge him, he terminates the consultation )

Hi mbj pleased you got the referrals.
Hope all going well with little DD.

We are on the waiting list for salt for my DD who is 21 months and whose only word is 'no'. I'm not overly concerned as her comprehension is good, but I figured it was as well to get on the list now.

As a quick hijack, all is fine our end. DD going through a bit of a funny sleep phase, ends up in bed with us a few times a week (bet that sounds like bliss to you!). I think you know she weaned about six weeks ago
I had an overnight admission to the maternity unit at 26 weeks with contractions but that's all settled down and I have my fingers crossed that baby stays put for now.

Good that you've got somewhere today mbj.

So what would a dev paed do that is different to a SALT?

They would look to see whether the speech delay is part of something more, something like a pervasive developmental delay syndrome (ASD etc) however, as they are almost certain to want a SALT report (and SALT will want audiology) AND I want to go out of area if a developmental Paed is necessary. We might as well start with those 2 and hope the dev Paed osn't necessary.