Son not talking at 2 years 8months

[ollie2020]

I know this is something that all parents stress about at times, but I'm going to post anyway!!
My son only has a few clear words, about 10. He's 2 and 8 months. We try and keep talking simple and stuff but he still doesn't copy. He is understanding our commands more and more and is happy to interact so long as he knows the person or takes a shine to them!
He couldn't work out the hearing test tasks and got really upset so he's not had a proper one, but we have done some frequency Ines at home and he responds to the lot!
How to do you teach a child that doesn't copy to talk!! Answers on a post card please!!!

Has he had his 2.5 year review yet (I know some services are really stretched so doing them late)? Are you in touch with the SALT team yet?

He's had his review but they were more concerned that we don't let him walk down stairs on his own! Been told that we need to wait until he's 3 before and speech therapy would be considered.

I would check your local SLT's criteria for referral if you were told that by HV rather than direct from the horse's mouth. Our HVs have different criteria for referring to those the SLT service apply (go figure...). HVs won't refer until 3 for expressive delay (though refer earlier if expressive and receptive language seem affected); SLT service actually accepts referrals from 18-24 months. Google yours, the referral criteria should be published somewhere and you may well be able to self refer. There will be a wait of probably several months for initial assessment and another wait for any recommended therapy to start so best to get on that list now if you can. In the meantime, the Hanen Centre's book "It Takes Two to Talk" is good for ideas to support at home yourself (or reassurance you're doing the right things). If finances allow, an independent SLT could bridge the gap until NHS support kicks in www.helpwithtalking.com/Default.aspx . As I understand it, a majority of children whose speech is delayed do catch up spontaneously by 3 but those who don't benefit from early intervention so ideally support should be made available asap to all in order to catch those who need it (as it does not harm to those who don't). Are they repeating the hearing test?

I took ds along to a SALT drop in session just before he turned 2. Can you see if your surgery has one of these sessions?

you need a referral. 10 words at 2.8 is way behind.

You say he is understanding 'more and more' which sounds as if you have concerns about his understanding too. Is his understanding age appropriate?

In most places you can self refer to Salt. I would do that as a matter of urgency. We waited well over a year for Salt (my daughters speech and understanding was severely delayed). You may well be looking at starting Salt at 4 if you wait until 3 and your are has long waits. This won't help your DS.

do you have other concerns?

Hi OP

I had two very late talkers. DS was 3 before his first word, DD was 3.5. Both different journeys.
Both are now teenagers and extremely fluent use of language.
Don't panic.

My dd was a very late talker. It turned out to be glue ear. It took a long time to get all the tests and then gromits fitted but the give away (to me)was that she only spoke using vowel sounds- she just couldn't hear consonants. She caught up very quickly and now as a 1st year in secondary is in the top percentile in English. I think all the extra effort she had to put into words actually made her better with them in the long run. She didn't start speech therapy till she started school and hardly talked at all at preschool