2.10 DS Speech Concerns

[Lulybelle]

My very lovely and bubbly 2.10 DS1 is behind his peers with his speech. His naming vocab is very good (if you point to things in books or real life he can name pretty much everything) and he can count to 10 and knows his colours and some shapes, he understands everything and can follow three tiered instructions. ....but he doesn't seem keen to use sentences at all and his pronunciation can be very dodgy and worse when tired or excited. I understand most of what he says but strangers don't understand much at all.

He has a handful of clear well pronounced short sentences he says like 'what are you doing/where are you going mummy?' 'what's that noise/item etc' 'more food/drink/telly programme/toys etc please mummy' 'too big/too small/too hot/too cold' but generally he'll communicate and make himself understood pretty well with one or two words and quite babyish noises and body language. If you ask him a question like what did you do today at nursery, he'll say 'painting' or sing songs' but there is no conversation, I'm not execting loads of sophisticated chat but his peers seem so much more advanced and a lot more able or keen to express themselves.

I always try to model words and sentences and the HV and his nursery say he has very good social skills and lots of friends at nursery despite not being verbal and that he is behind but within the quite wide normal range. Im just slightly worried that maybe he needs SALT and that maybe I should be making a bit more of a fuss - or perhaps I'm being all PFB about it (please feel free to tell me if I am!)

I guess that I'm looking for a bit of advice on whether he seems normal or whether I need to push the HV? Also any reassurance from others that may have had similar issues with thier DCs and that have panned out ok would be fab.

Hi Lulybelle.

My DS is 2.6 and, from what you describe, very similar to your DS except I would say that most of my DS pronunciation is very difficult for anyone other than me to understand. He is getting there slowly, but I also worry about his speech development compared to others around his age.

I don't have any answers, of course, but I would say that if you feel your DS may benefit from SALT then I would definitely pursue it with your health visitor. I feel very fortunate that the Hv team in my area seems very proactive and my DS has been referred to SALT and I have also been given lots of support and advice. However, my DS was referred in February and we are still a month away from our first actual appointment. They are very backed up.

I would think that if you are concerned, better to get him on the waiting list now, and if everything resolves by the time he is seen, great. Better than waiting a few more months and then getting on the list I think.

My DS is also a very happy and social little guy. Lots of people seem to say things will one day just click, and I hope they are right, but I am also concerned about him getting too far behind. He has some friends that seem to have complex conversations about feelings etc.

My DS is starting nursery in September and I am really hoping that will help him along.

Thanks Mamaus, it's hard isn't it - he is improving and no one seems concerned but I don't want him to be so far behind that it starts to impact on him, especially when he starts school next year. I know it doesn't matter what people think but we get a lot if isn't he talking yet comments and it makes me sad for him because he is bright and funny and people don't always seem to see that.

I would ask for his hearing to be tested. This is always the first thing that needs to be ruled out.

He may catch up on his own, but I would start the ball rolling for speech therapy. The waiting list is probably long anyway.

In the meantime encourage him as much as possible to talk, sing, make animal noises, blow bubbles/raspberries.

There is a huge range of normal at this age, and it is very positive that he is saying a few clear sentances and answering questions and carrying out instructions.

It is difficult. I go back and forth all of the time, one day I may feel--actually I am over thinking it and he is just fine, to the next day worrying that it is something more serious.

Along with my worry, I feel a lot of
guilt. Like it is somehow my fault he is behind. After all, he spends nearly all of his time with me. I also have DD, who is 18 months, and her speech is coming along amazingly well. I worry that the age gap is too small and that held him back somehow. It's silly really, but I feel that way sometimes.
So far in playgroups and around other children, my DS seems happy and confident. But I worry that if his speech doesn't improve, he will withdraw or it will hinder his confidence. He has had a few episodes with sharing etc, where he can't really communicate and he gets so upset. I know a lot of that is normal for all kids at this age, learning to share and play well with others etc. but, I feel his frustrations are compounded by not being able to be clearly understood.

I also worry that my DS may lash out physically at other children, so far he has only done so to his sister, poor thing. He had a terrible streak of biting her, which was a nightmare, and it was always when he was frustrated or tired and not getting his way.

On the whole though, he is a sweet, happy and bright little guy, and he really is improving every day. They did check my DS hearing as part of the referral from the hv and it is fine. Which I thought it was, but in some ways I wanted something to blame it on if that makes sense?

As kelda said, my hv have also recommended letting my DS try lots of different sounds. Blowing bubbles, blowing feathers, making funny sounds, making funny faces in
Mirror,sticking tongue out this way and that. Basically making facial exercises into a game..

Also, it is really positive that both of our DS are communicating in their own ways and getting their points across. Hopefully we will both get that one day where everything just clicks, and it will be a case of careful what you wish for, and we will be in the middle of the "why" phase before we know it! :)

I know its hard bit there really is such a wide range of 'normal' and it sounds like he is in it. However there is no substitute for a proper assessment if you really are concerned.
If you do decide to registrar for SALT (Speech and Language Therapy) its not going to do any harm and by the time you get an appointment things may have changed and you can just say you don't think he needs it any more, as long as you let them know no one will mind.

In the mean time these are probably things you do any way but try to actively think about doing them more.
Next time you get a chance to play with your child 1-1, turn down background noise like radio, tv, or the washing machine get down to his level and try these tips.

1. Try to talk in slow simple sentences. If he generally uses two words aim to use three 'key' words. Eg 'i like bananas' or 'daddy's is driving the car'

2.try not to ask a lot of questions, things like 'what colour is this?' don't provide much of a language model and are frankly going to make most reluctant talkers switch off. Try commenting on everything instead, especially the things he is playing with or looking at. 'wow that a big red car.. brrrmmm'. 'im going to eat an apple now' etc.

1. Expand what he says. If he says 'look dog' say 'Yes, its a big soft dog'
2. Have Fun, if you prove your self to be a relaxed, fun and engaging person to be with then he will learn more than if every time your with him your trying to actively teach him something.
3. Repeat repeat repeat! Games like teddy bears picnic are great for repetition. 'lets give dolly some juice' 'lets give teddy some juice' lets give doll a cake' etc.

It sounds simple but clear modelling and getting rid of the pressure to talk and answer lots of questions really can make a big difference.

As for his speech sounds they will probably improve when his language does so i wouldn't be concerned about that yet. If when he see a cat he says 'tat' say 'yes its a cat'. Its very common for pronunciation to slip in longer sentences its just because the processing load becomes to much and its the first thing to go.

Someone has already said this but get his hearing checked, just in case even a slight hearing loss due to something like glue ear can effect speech and language temporarily.

Finally from what you have said he sounds like he is doing great he has good understanding he has a wide vocab which he uses skilfully and he he has good social and play skills. It just building up his sentence length now so he can express all those crazy toddler thoughts.

Well done for being so switched on, i work as an SALT and our biggest difficulty is getting the parents on board.

Best of luck.