Possibility of never hearing my son speak ...

[kellbelle92]

My son is 2.5 and on the pathway for asd diagnosis. He’s clearly on the spectrum just not really sure where as it’s quite hard to decide whether he has developmental delay too as he walked and crawled early. He has never pointed, waved or clapped. He seems to not understand instructions but then surprises me at times. And he has also never ever said a word... He also never babbled. I hear of a lot of children being non verbal but a lot of them are babbling away... the fact that my boy doesn’t or can’t babble does that indicate that he may remain non verbal?

Anyone have any advice ? X

I haven't heard of an autistic child not talking at all, apart from when they are very young. There is just normally different levels of speech, I have attached a link about non verbal autism which may help.

speechblubs.com/blog/will-my-nonverbal-autistic-child-talk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwnqH7BRDdARIsACTSAdsXBU9cpnkSQCG89HtM6JXEo1oBx-WJ2cS1iiRSJpkmdXJSXaRqVyYaAsc-EALw_wcB

No particular advice, but in case you didn’t know there is also a special needs board on MN. It might be worth asking there as I imagine there are lots of people with more experience.

Thank you that’s very reassuring to read. I guess I’m just imaging a older version of exactly how he is now which I can’t seem to see past !

@Donhill

No particular advice, but in case you didn’t know there is also a special needs board on MN. It might be worth asking there as I imagine there are lots of people with more experience.

No I wasn’t Aware of this actually I’ll take a look! Thanks

Hi my son is 3 and a half and also doesn’t speak, he’s been very poorly in my life as he was born with his heart having many defects and he’s underwent 3 huge open heart surgeries, when I pointed out at his 2 year check that he didn’t speak still he was given a hearing test, he didn’t get one at birth with him being so poorly and rushed to a different hospital, so he got a hearing test and failed, to be honest I was some what relieved as they said all it would take was some grommets and I prayed that’s why he wasn’t talking, he got his grommets fitted almost 1 year ago and still didn’t talk, he’s now waiting for an autism assessment too, he never did babble point or wave either, Iv since had another child who is 2 and my 2 year old does all of the things my 3 year old doesn’t and it makes me realise more what he isn’t able to do. He still cry’s when he’s hungry or thirsty and I do think he will never speak either, he used to smile at me when he was a baby but from his 1st birthday sort of time he hasn’t smiled or made eye contact. Iv been told this assessment could take about 1 year. It’s hard I know and it’s so sad I not know what is going on inside their minds.

@Emz2019

Hi my son is 3 and a half and also doesn’t speak, he’s been very poorly in my life as he was born with his heart having many defects and he’s underwent 3 huge open heart surgeries, when I pointed out at his 2 year check that he didn’t speak still he was given a hearing test, he didn’t get one at birth with him being so poorly and rushed to a different hospital, so he got a hearing test and failed, to be honest I was some what relieved as they said all it would take was some grommets and I prayed that’s why he wasn’t talking, he got his grommets fitted almost 1 year ago and still didn’t talk, he’s now waiting for an autism assessment too, he never did babble point or wave either, Iv since had another child who is 2 and my 2 year old does all of the things my 3 year old doesn’t and it makes me realise more what he isn’t able to do. He still cry’s when he’s hungry or thirsty and I do think he will never speak either, he used to smile at me when he was a baby but from his 1st birthday sort of time he hasn’t smiled or made eye contact. Iv been told this assessment could take about 1 year. It’s hard I know and it’s so sad I not know what is going on inside their minds.

Oh bless you hun I can’t even imagine what you’ve been through i really can’t 😕 my sons hearing tests was inconclusive as he won’t stand the ear peices in his ears but I know he can hear as he responds to his name. It’s really hard to imagine him speaking but they are so young still I suppose and will develop more but no one knows how long that’s the reality I guess ... the thing is my son lets me know what he wants by dragging me everywhere and giving me things so he does get his point across just not by pointing and words. With your son failing his hearing test it may be that he is just very delayed from not being able to hear and will eventually start to pick words up 😊 have my fingers crossed for ya !

My son was also on the autism pathway and the paediatrician was convinced it was autism, he pointed at 2.5 and had his first words at three - but i remember how terrifying it was not knowing if he would ever be able to communicate.

You will read that hand-leading is something that happens with autism, but it happened with my son and he doesn't have autism, he had a severe speech & language delay.

The website teachmetotalk is super useful, so is makaton signing and so is seeing a speech therapist who specialises in pre-schoolers. Many children with autism do learn to talk btw, some end up using alternative methods of communication.

If your son responds to his name then and gets his point across by grabbing and hand leading then that's good.

Hi kellbelle I actually came on to mumsnet tonight to look up the exact question you have asked. I have no advice as I'm actually in the same position as you. DD is 2 next month and like you're DS is awaiting an assessment but paediatrician is sure shes on the spectrum and so am i. She doesn't point to anything or look at anything I point to, no eye contact, no speech although she is babbling, not fond of affection, doesn't respond to her name most times, has a thing about feeling and eating hair and im struggling to find a connection with her because there's no eye contact or speech. I try so hard every single day with her and feel so deflated all the time as theres no response back from her. Its absolutely ripping me apart. Her brother who's a yr older than her tries to play and call her name to get her attention and my heart breaks fir him too.
I'm so scared of what the future holds and if I'll ever hear my daughter talk. Shes had her hearing assessment and all is ok yet I was praying it was her hearing as I thought thats something that can possibly be solved and would indicate why she wasn't responding to me etc. I should have been delighted to hear my little girls hearing was fine but I completely broke down when I got home from the appointment.

I'm very worried of what lies ahead

@essexmum777 thankyou for that , this has put my mind at ease a lot 😊 he’s a little over 2.5 and not pointed yet but I know he can point as he points for himself at things that intrest him so it’s a start ! X

@Littlesparrow0 horrible isn’t it 😕 I just have constant knots in my stomach it’s just so scary. My boy has started responding to his name but honestly it took it of drilling in I constantly say his name he doesn’t always respond first time but will do most of the time now, she will get there with that. It’s just the speech I can’t really imagine my boy talking really and it’s sad x