Severe speech delay in 2.5 year old

[headstone]

My son hardly says any words. He has been seeing a speech therapist who showed me how to play with him to encourage sppech but I've seen no improvement. He doesn't
seem delayed in other aspects, in fact he walked very early. I dont know where to go with this. He doesn't appear to have hearing problems. He doesn't seem autistic except he can have bad tantrums when out. He seems to like playing with other children and likes imaginative play. Anyone have any ideas? Should I go back to his GP. We moved areas and I'm not in contact with the local HV.

[Chinklupapa]

Hi, do you have any update on your son?

[Mrsmarple123]

Hi could you share an update on your son. Mine is 2 years 4 months and hardly speaking but understanding is ok. X

[Coco2891]

The speech therapist or a heath visitor can refer you too. And school wise you could always keep him back a year or have a fazed start?

[headstone]

Hi everyone,
Thanks for taking the time to post. My son will continue to see the speech therapist but the GP won't refer him to a paediatrician yet. Coco2891 if it makes you feel better I had a speech delay and none of that list has applied to me once I started talking. My worry is my son was born in August, should have been September. He will really struggle a school if his speech delay continues.

[notgivingin789]

Sorry OP ! I didn’t mean to worry you even more. I was just highlighting to the poster above about the seriousness of having persistent speech and language difficulties.


OP, your DS is 2, you can seek advice and support from a speech and language therapist at one of those Stay and Play (I think !) sessions in your nearest children’s centre. I would also see a GP about your concerns. It could be nothing but I wouldn’t take the risk and adopt a wait and see approach.

[LambMadras]

Far more boys have speech delays than girls.

I'm bored of this. Just google it or talk to a professional.

[saison4]

a speech delay in a boy is extremely common.

this is such a nonsense. it really isn't true!

[LambMadras]

I don't care who you agree with. This is my opinion. And at no point have I told the OP not to go to the GP. I think you are putting words in my mouth.

One more time: a speech delay in a boy is extremely common. Most boys catch up. If he is not showing signs of other issues by all means go see the GP but don't start panicking. That's all I'm saying.

I'm a little tired of being jumped on by trying to reassure the OP based on my experience, that of many of my son and his peers, my own GP, local health visitors, and a private speech therapist. I am not claiming this is fact in HER house. I am merely offering my experience.

And I think the OP is an adult and can book a GP appt if she wants to.

[Coco2891]

Wish I hadn’t read that list going to bed 😞

[notgivingin789]

Lamb No offence but I agree entirely with Miss.

It may just be a speech delay but no way would I take the risk and adopt the wait and see approach and go for the “Oh but boys talk late brigade”.

Speech, language and communication difficulties has a huge impact on a child/Adults life.

This includes :

1. Socialisation
   
2. Lack of academic achivement even though the person has average cognitive ability.
   
3. Frustrations/ low self esteem
   
4. Language difficulties may impact on a person ability to get into employment
   
5. Maybhave Difficulties maintaining relationships/ friendships.
   

The list goes on. So yes, OP go to your GP.

[EssexMummy123456]

the website 'teach me to talk' is fab, it has a checklist of 11 pre verbal stages that toddlers go through before they talk, and lots of podcasts and video clips on encouraging talking.

[Coco2891]

My son has just turned 3 and has speech delay - this in top of not always answering his name and not pointing which has lead to us getting a referral to paediatric from the speech therapist we waited 10 months to see -now we have a 12 month wait to see multidisciplinary team 😖 So my advise would be get reffered anyway just incase waiting lists are as long in your area -and by then he could be taking fine and if he’s not you’ll be glad to see someone

[LambMadras]

I'm not discouraging the OP. Get him tested til the cows come home if it makes her feel better. I panicked hugely when it was my own son in this position so I do get that.

I am only trying to share my experience that if no other red flags are present, that most likely he will start talking when he is ready. And a lot of research has shown that boys are often later. I attended an NHS course for late talkers and all of the participants were boys.

Good luck OP. I hope he starts talking soon.

[chocolateiamydrug]

I am sharing my personal experience and trying to reassure the OP that if there are no other signs of anything wrong that her son will get there in his own time. This is what a professional told me.

that is the sticking point. you basically discourage the OP from seeking help based on your own experience. I do think this is wrong. It is much better to get a child assessed if there are questionmarks in order to identify those who need help rather than waiting for things to resolve and missing a window of opportunity. This is what several professionals have told me (I have a child with SN). And nobody is awful to you.

[LambMadras]

Chocolate - why are you being so awful to me and dismissing my own experience? Who is jumping on who here? I am sharing my personal experience and trying to reassure the OP that if there are no other signs of anything wrong that her son will get there in his own time. This is what a professional told me.

Your sneery comments are just fucking rude.

[EssexMummy123456]

Was he late to point op? or to follow your point?

[lyssie29]

Has he had a hearing test? My 2.5 yr old daughter is delayed in her speech and when she was referred for s&L they also automatically sent her for a hearing test. She has glue ear and just waiting for a second check up to see if its cleared. If not it'll be grommets. She has lately all of a sudden started saying more words though so it's either cleared or it wasn't anything to do with glue ear.

[chocolateiamydrug]

well, in the kindest possible way - she had a point.

[LambMadras]

Chocolate - read her post to me. She said I was talking nonsense. Was that very nice of her?

[chocolateiamydrug]

lamb, not sure why you are laying so much into miss. I think she posted sensible advice (referral and further salt assessment).

OP said she isn't sure about the the level of understanding and that salt hadn't assessed it.

are you always so miserable when people trying to help others?

[LambMadras]

The OP hasn't said she has any concerns with his understanding. In fact no concerns at all that he has additional needs whatsoever. I'm not sure where you are getting that from tbh.

All I'm saying is that there seems to be a general level of hysteria when a child doesn't meet a 'milestone'. If there are no other red flags then just let the child do things at their own pace.

[missadasmith]

no, I am not but I have a severely disabled child for which I was fobbed off countless times by GP and HV. I went more than 10 times in a year to request a referral and was fobbed off (but once referred, we got a dx within a year). my DD will never talk and never be independent. I was not overly dramatic.

All I am saying is that certain things cannot be diagnosed nor ruled out by some MNetters and GP but need to be seen by someone more specialised.

and fwiw, the OP does not know of her child understanding is fine as that was never assessed and from what she posted, it doesn't sound like the right level for a child that age!

[LambMadras]

Missadasmith

Pardon me? I didn't realise you were a speech and language therapist.

I paid to have my son privately evaluated and the professional was of the opinion that if understanding is there, and hearing has been checked, that speech will follow in its own good time. She said first words for boys anywhere between 2 and 3 is perfectly normal.

All of this drama and flouncing off to the GP is crazy. No wonder the NHS is on its knees.

[missadasmith]

lamb boys are not often late talkers. such nonsense doesn't help the OP.

great that your DS started talking at 3 but just because it happened, it doesn't mean it will be the case with OP's DS. that is why a proper asseszment is important to identify if he needs help or not.

Fwiw, my child never started talking properly. if I would have been given £1 everytime someone came out with nonsense like that to me, I would be rich!

[LambMadras]

Boys are often late talkers. I would say he is perfectly normal to be honest especially if he understands what you are saying to him. My DS1 was 3 when he started talking. At 2.5 he had zero words. Now at nearly 4 he never shuts up.
My DS2 is 2.2 and no words yet. I'm not remotely worried.
Just enjoy your son and give him time.