Can anyone help with my DS' speech age 3.5

[wheelsfellofflongago]

My DS can speak, it can be a bit unclear, but it's because he doesn't tend to practice. Example today I'm on the kitchen and hear wahhhhhhh wahhh which is DS' fake crying. I come into the room he's in and he holds up a figure. I know he is frustrated that this figure is hard to get into its vehicle. But I was annoyed he always does the fake crying and insisted he told me in words what he wanted. "Use words, to tell me what's wrong, not crying." Which he did. I asked him if he was at preschool and needed help would he cry? He said no I just play, no help. So basically he wouldn't ask for help. I've been on some speech courses rather than him being given any speech therapy, he has a expressive language speech delay of 6 months to a year behind. But the course say not to pressurise them to talk or ask them to say things. So should I carry on the use your words approach or not? I can't say we getting anywhere with his speech otherwise. His last assessment they wanted me to work on verbs, which we do. Help any advice ?

I've had one with speech delay so you have my sympathy.

Could you ignore the fake crying? Probably easier said than done I know.

Has anyone pointed you in the direction of the Talking Point website? They have some useful tips.

Is he due for another assessment soon?

You don't have to pressurise him into talking, no good will come of that, but I don't think encouraging him to use his words is being too hard on him and what choice do you really have? As they get older their needs and wants become more complex so they do need to learn that if they want something it's best to try and verbalise it. I just try and be as kind as I can about it with my 21MO but if she's basically just whining and I know that she's capable of at least using a single word to ckmmunicate what she wants then I do say 'mummy's really sorry but she can't understand crying. Can you try and use words to tell me what you want' I don't think there's anything wrong with that and I believe most speech therapists would advise trying to sensitively make them do this rather than anticipating what they want or interpreting body language. Good luck. It must be frustrating for you and your LO x

Due a phone assessment in feb but I will push to take him in again . I just write these issues down as I always forget to say the right things on the assessment.

My mum says he's just lazy. I wouldn't say this to him of course, but he can communicate what he wants with basic sentences, but prefers the crying or pointing.

Just = must No wonder he has a speech delay

Writing a list for the assessment sounds like a really good idea. I always forget what to say in these kind of situations too

I think it's probably about much more than simply being 'lazy'. Speech aquisition is so complicated and I don't think at it's most basic level any child will sit there and think 'I know that I CAN speak but I'm not going to bother' I think some do however need more encouragement to develop the neurones and social skills necessary for fluent conversation. It's a subtle difference but one is much more positive about the child

Would a couple of sessions with a private SLT be an option?

I don't think its being lazy either - my ST once told me that talking is the easiest way for children to get their point across so if they can talk they will.