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Original poster

Language development...so pleased

18 replies

hmb · 14/02/2004 16:07

We have had a few problems with ds's language development. He is a wonderful, loving little boy (now almost 4) but he was slow to talk and even slower to use language (IYSWIM). He has now been going to a wonderful nursery mornings only for just over a year and we have just had his first formal report. And it is full of how much his language has improved, and along with it his behaviour with the other children. He is hard to recognise as the little boy who started nursery.

This isn't posted to show off, but just to say how proud I am of ds, how delighted with his wonderful teachers I am, how relieved I am and how thankful to all my friends at Mumsnet who have given me support, especialy Jimjams.

OP posts:
katierocket · 14/02/2004 16:09

ahhh..hmb that's lovely, really good to hear.

Davros · 14/02/2004 16:09

Lovely news hmb!

Evita · 14/02/2004 20:50

Yay, hmb, and yay ds!!

I had terrible language problems as a little one, and now have a PhD, so there's always hope!

coppertop · 14/02/2004 22:11

You must be so pleased! Well done mini-hmb!

tigermoth · 15/02/2004 07:41

that's so nice to hear, hmb. Going on my experience, good nursery staff can really help bring on little children. There were some causes for concern when my youngest son started nursery but by the time he left (4 years 4 months) they had really diminished. Like you, I was over the moon when I had his leaving report (and talked to the staff about him). I was especially pleased that his report stated he was very caring towards other children, shared and played well with them, enjoyed talking to adults and was very popular. This from staff who had found my son worryingly unresponsive and uncontrallable when he first joined.

Original poster
hmb · 15/02/2004 07:44

Your ds and mine almost sound like twins tigermoth! Ds was getting into all sorts of trouble because he lacked the language skills to deal with the other children so he would lash out. I was very worried about him and the staff were concered. They put in some basic SALT, and what a turn around! His remort describes him as a loving little boy, and that makes me so happy!

He now takes part in activities, which he never did before. Only when he feels like it though But that will come

OP posts:
Jimjams · 15/02/2004 22:45

awww that's lovely hmb

Everygrainofsand · 19/02/2004 13:56

Hi
Just joined. I'm male and have a three year old son. My partner (Josh's mum) works full time and is chasing a career she never had time for before, which leaves me as househusband and babyminder.

First of all it's the hardest job I've ever had (and I've had a few... from factory production work to high flying executive stuff)... but it's also the most enjoyable and rewarding.

Josh is three years and three months... and has a problem with his speech. He babbles away but has difficulty forming the words. In every other respect he's a normal lovable child. The health people will insist on doing these tests on him...the building block tower, the peg board and the colour chart stuff... he does them all and does them well but gets bored and refuses to play their games after a while... I realise they have to test for autism (the 'A' word that every parent dreads)... but surely someone should just shine a torch into his mouth to start with, and check his palette... as far as I can see it's a high palette and sort of black (is this normal?).

Instead they all seem content to sit there with their clipboards umming and ah'ing at his tests performances...I have mentioned my concerns re his palette and they nod and press on with their tests... "we have to dismiss every possibility" is the normal response...

Any advice?

Thanks.

zebra · 19/02/2004 14:02

Can YOU communicate with him, Everygrainofsand?

Issymum · 19/02/2004 15:15

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request

coppertop · 19/02/2004 15:43

Hi, EGS and welcome to Mumsnet. Has Josh actually seen a Speech Therapist yet or has he just seen the Health Visitor? Usually the Speech Therapist (or SALT) will carry out an initial assessment to see if there is a physical problem. They will look at things like whether Josh can use a straw, blow bubbles, use his tongue properly etc. If they are concerned about anything they will usually refer you to the appropriate person.

My ds1 is 3yrs 8months and first saw the SALT at 2yrs 6mths. She did a full assessment and suspected that he had autism (we already suspected this so it was no surprise) and put him on the waiting list for Speech Therapy as well as referring him to the Child Development Unit. In our case she was right but, as I said, it was something we already suspected.

Who has been assessing Josh so far?

Jimjams · 19/02/2004 16:05

EGS my son has autism and a speech disorder (although it took the pros a long time to realise he had a speech disorder as well).

Auitsm should be fairly easy to spot in a 3 year old. Does your son point? both on request "where's the.....?", and to show you something as in "look daddy there's a doggy".

Does he bring you things to show you? How does he get your attention? Does he ever use your hand as a "tool" ie pick it up and place it on what he wants?

Pointing is a big big thing. Would he have passed the CHAT test at 18 months? That's a very good indicator of communication problems.

My youngest son who is just over 2 may have a speech disorder (verbal dyspraxia perhaps) but he is so very different from his autistic brother, and can communicate with ease despite lack of clear speech.

Original poster
hmb · 19/02/2004 16:55

EGS, welcome to Mumsnet.

I started this thread because of the imrovement that I have seen in ds's speech development. He was slow to form words, or to chose to use language to communicate. Dd (who is older) was very quick to speak, so I had nothing 'normal' to comepare ds with.

His nursery picked up on the problem, as it was causing behavioural problems, and he didn't join in with activities or play with the other children. they put in some basic SALT and it has made a huge difference, and he is now almost inrecognisable. At the time I was devistated to think that my beautiful boy had a 'problem', but boy am I glad that it was sorted out so quickly....not completely sorted yet but we are getting there.

Bottom line is that if there is a problem, however small get it sorted out ASAP, it makes it all so much easier. Many posters know the frustration of not being able to get the help required.

OP posts:
Thomcat · 19/02/2004 17:02

It took me a while to find this, but so glad I did. Great news hmb

tanzie · 19/02/2004 20:43

EGS - has he had his hearing/ears checked? My friend's DD hardly spoke at all, doc and HV said she had no problems, was just slow, so friend took DD to a third doc as she wasn't happy. He syringed her ears and she had a watch battery stuck in there (which no-one else had found). Apparently, by the state of it, it had been there for a year or more. The little girl is fine now and has comeon in leaps and bounds.

Everygrainofsand · 20/02/2004 12:07

Many thanks everyone for the welcome and advice etc etc...
This is just the sort of site I/we've been looking for.

Josh has so far seen the GP, Health Visitors, another GP and has a hearing check scheduled for next week and a meeting with the "behaviour team" is being arranged.

He communicates very well with me and his mum...via babbling and pointing etc... he is learning new words every day ... it's just that he has trouble articulating them properly... today he said, "calm" altho it came out "cam"... that sort of thing... he says "Mum", and "oh no" very clearly and babbles thru stuff like "bubbles" "book" etc etc...

He's very strong, well balanced and co-ordinated and very good at problem solving... very inquisitive too... loves 'reading' his books and magazines..

The Health Visitor is due on Monday so I'll try and get her to look in his mouth... I'm certain that's the problem...

A great site and, again, many thanks for the welcome... I'll let you know what happens...

Yes "Evergrainofsand" is a mouthful isn't it (a Dylan song title by the way) so EGS is fine...or any other name will due...

Jimjams · 20/02/2004 12:10

Everygrainofsand- search on verbal dyspraxia (and apraxia same thing) before the meeting. It can give severe speech problems without anything physically being wrong.

closetscot · 03/12/2004 10:50

my daughter is 3 in february, and has been diagnosed with mild expressive lanaguage delay , any suggestions will be gratefull

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