Receptive language delay

[zogasaurus]

My DS (2.1yrs) has just had his 2 year review and been referred to SALT as he isnt really speaking much.

One of the bigger concerns is around his understanding and receptive language, as he very rarely follows simple instructions (he does occasionally if it suits him (eg bring mummy the dinosaur), won't point to thing's in books (although does point to share or request things), will often just look away/through you if he doesn't want to engage. He is very confusing, as he will do all of these things as and when it suits him, although more often than not he ignores you. So I really have no idea how much he's understanding.

The HV is going to visit us again in a few weeks as she's considering a referral to a paediatrician for the understanding/receptive language delays.

Is anyone able to tell me what can cause issues like this? Or how I can help his understanding? It can be really difficult to get his attention and I'm at a loss of how to support him, so any advice would be gratefully received

Thanks

Anyone?

I’m sorry I can’t offer any advice, bumping as I’m in the same position with my little one.
Reading your thread my little one sounds the same. He’s recently had his 2 year review where the hv has said she will come back to review again in 3 months but in the mean time she’s put his name down for a community paed (suspected autism but she mentioned global delay too) although she did say it’s highly likely he will get knocked back as he’s only just turned two.
He’s although had a salt referral knocked back, applied again and am still awaiting the outcome. He did have around 6 words but they’ve all gone, he doesn’t point to anything either.
Hopefully this’ll be a helpful bump for your thread. Good luck, I know it’s hard but try to stay positive.

My daughter was referred to SALT at her two year review as well. She wasn't really interested in speaking and was quite happy, babbling away to herself.

Advice we recieved was to keep speaking to her about everything, reading to her (even though she had no interest)

She went to nursery with hardly any language and will be heading to primary one after the summer with almost perfect speech!

I found that basic flashcards (tree, cup, plate, apple etc) helped, even if she would only look at a few, then she would start recognising them and sometimes, if I was lucky, repeating them.

Try not to stress too much about it, which is extremely hard, I know. If your son is anything like my daughter, he will come on at his own pace

Thank you both

I'm sorry to hear you have similar concerns Pinky. I didn't realise they could knock back referrals? I hope they accept my DSs. I must admit autism has crossed my mind.

I'm pleased to hear your DD is doing well buscuit - would you mind telling me what flash cards you use? I've been thinking of trying some with my DS. He must get so frustrated when he wants a drink/something and can't express it, so I thought that might be a good way to help him

@zogasaurus I apologise for mentioning autism, I’m just telling you what our journey is so far. I’m thinking positive and trying to do all I can to help him. It’s frustrating though when all I seem to hear is “autism”. I don’t want to label him, I want to help him.
I’ve been using flash cards too, I bought some from home bargains. The children’s centre I go to and have done the early communication class through said that even just a few minutes a day doing the flash cards will help, I explained to them that he won’t sit still to look at them and that he isn’t attempting to copy any of the words.

I just picked up the flashcards from home bargains as well, if I remember rightly they were only about £2.

If you have a computer and printer at home you could get creative and make your own to suit your son's needs.

Its awful when they get frustrated and you can't help, I totally sympathise with you, it will get easier though. When he's ready, the speech will flow :)

I hope this helps, just wanted to share some of our experiences. Our son is now 3 years 7mths, we were referred to SALT & the paediatrician after our sons 2 year review, as he had very few words (less than 10) and was struggling to communicate, he would point to things but of course it was highly frustrating for him when we couldn't work out what he wanted.

He is having weekly salt sessions (since sept last year) and is really starting to try to say more now but is still delayed in his receptive language and very delayed in his expressive language. He knows about 50 words now but doesn't use them all spontaneously. We were told to keep the language we use with him very simple. If he tries to say something but doesn't pronounce it correctly don't focus on how he said it wrong, but to model how you say it correctly for example if he said "horter" , you would say "would you like water?" Or "yes that's right, water" instead of "no, it's water not horter". Also to build on what they have said e.g they say "car!" You reply with "yes, red car!"

Have you thought about using signs? We were also recommended by our hv to try using signs with him, we attended a signalong course which cost £75 for both hubby and I, it was a day course. It was a brilliant sat and since then we have been using signs with him and they have really helped. The signs have also led on to him then saying the words whilst signing them, e.g he learnt how to ask for more by signing and now he can say more but quite often still signs it whilst saying it. Whenever the speech therapist introduces a new word or concept she also signs as well and it's really helping him to pick up more quicker.

It sounds like using the pecs now/next/then system might work quite well for your son? Basically you have cards with images/photos and words on and you use them to let your son know what activities you are doing now and next. E.g now breakfast, next get dressed, then play date.

Do you have Instagram? There are some really good speech therapists that you can follow on there, one of my favourites is peachy_speech. She has brilliant highlights explaining all sorts of things that can impact speech, like the communication pyramid. She also shares ideas of good activities you can do and what a child can usually do at 2 years old and 3 years old etc.

Sorry that's such a long post, I hope some of it is helpful x