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18 m/o going backwards with his development - what can I do?

8 replies

TwittleBee · 16/11/2018 14:42

DS used to go nursery 3 times a week for full days. For past 3 months he has dropped down to only going 1 half day a week (I've gone part time). In these 3 months his development has gone backwards. His nursery have flagged this and due to his behaviour have suggested that he gets put onto a special pathway to check his development. They have also suggested that we get his eye sight checked as they believe he struggles to see.

Today we are taking him to the GP to get referred to an infant optician, so least that bit is moving now.

But regarding his development is there anything we can do to help him? He used to be able to string words together, e.g. "Cats over there" , "daddy gone" , "lets go outside" , "nappy change" . But now we are lucky if he uses 1 syllable to communicate what he wants e.g. "ver" instead of hoover" or simply "poo" for nappy change and even words like "dog" have now become just "d"

He has also become very clumsy, constantly falling over or misjudging where his beaker or toy is for example.

Do I need to be concerned? Is there anything I can help him? Is he going backwards because he isnt finding time with me stimulating enough compared to when he is at nursery? Feel like I am failing him going part time to spend more time with him now

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 16/11/2018 17:18

This is definitely not due to being with you, well unless you’re sitting him in front of a screen for hours every day anyway Smile

How did you go on at the GP? Did they suggest a hearing test too?

numberseven · 17/11/2018 07:27

This sounds like a possible medical issue. How did the GP go?

TwittleBee · 17/11/2018 13:52

Well not all day JiltedJohnsJulie but for about a total of an hour a day sure, is that okay? We do things like bake, draw, go to the Zoo and farms and visit relatives every week. Always have an activity and a trip every day.

Thank you both for your replies. GP has referred us to eye specialist (can't remember the name).

HV is coming over to see him in couple weeks.

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 17/11/2018 14:00

I’d see if you can self refer for a hearing test, just to rule that out too.

There’s a progress checker on speech at 18 months produced by Talking Point which might be useful.

Did the GP suggest doing the m-chat?

TwittleBee · 17/11/2018 19:41

Thank you JiltedJohnsJulie I shall look into the hearing test. No she didn't say anything about the m-chat. Tbh she wasn't really interested in suggesting anything just straight for a referral to eye specialist, She was running very very late on her appointments.

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TwittleBee · 17/11/2018 19:45

Did just do that test btw and did come up with suggesting DS may have autism. Tbh I wouldn't be surprised. My kid sister has autism and I've recently wondered if I have since I watched a documentary on women with autusim (felt like I finally could relate to people)

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JiltedJohnsJulie · 17/11/2018 21:28

If the m-chat has suggested autism, I’d go back to the GP and ask for a referral for assessment. I think the losing skills is a big indicator, although I’m not trained.

If you post in the SN Chat Section there a lot of experienced MNers who might be able to give you some help with assessment and the future Thanks

TwittleBee · 18/11/2018 05:18

Thank you so much JiltedJohnsJulie I really appreciate your help with this

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