Non verbal 2.5yrs - so frustrated hard to engage

[Twinmama4]

So i have twins born prem. Now 2.5yrs no words. One very hard to engage and so frustrated. Really struggling to do things with him as he just walks away. His meltdowns have turned up a notch to the point im scared to leave the house with him. His twin again no speech alot more social and does try. Both do babble alot and have a whole range of sounds.. mamamaa, dadadad, baba, gaga, sssss, aaaa, eeee, rara, brumbrum. But no actual words does having a variety of sounds actually mean anything in way of speech will come or not? Life is SO HARD! at the minute. They have all professionals involved portage, pead, salt. But nothing really appears to help! X

No real experience, but have you considered trying baby signing / makaton? I have read that signing alongside speech can help with communication for speech delay.

We found BabyTalk by Dr Sally Ward helpful with our speech delayed DD.
www.wob.com/en-gb/books/sally-ward/babytalk/9780712680981?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhvnOncOO-QIVTe7tCh0QcQclEAQYAiABEgLZaPD_BwE#GOR001195156

I don't have twins but my DS same age and is basically the same. I find it exceptionally hard with one so first of all well done your doing amazing.

Do you have any other services involved to help you on this difficult journey? Nursery, Health, Portage etc?

Sorry I just read they have everything involved. Portage helps my DS and we are slowly seeing improvement but he also does 2 days a week at nursery which I desperately need for the break, I work those days but I'm busy and occupied and love the me adult time.

Have you applied for DLA for them?

Thank you @TeenDivided i will order that and have a read!! @stressingmum yes they do to nursery 3 days a week whilst i work. We definately see improvements with one twin although no words she uses correct pronouciations for things and does try shes good with colour matching loves to draw and will sit and do something with me with her full attention sometimes just for short periods some longer depends how interested she is. But her brother has alot less joint attention. He gets increasingly more frustrated and his meltdowns are most definately getting worse i struggle to get him to sit and engage with much he loves running and will do ready steady go run with me for ages he will slot coins in and cars dowm track for short periods other than that he loves to carry his peppa figurea around allover playing on sofa with them tapping on everything. I just dont kmow how to engage him anymore feel like they will never learn to speak and i worry so much for them both but especially my son... does your DS have good understanding for his age or is that also delayed?

@Twinmama4 yes I feel like will he ever talk and I guess the answer to that is something nobody can give a definitive answer to.

My DS's understanding is relatively limited he knows things like yes/no and the routines of the day - I am currently trying to get rid of the dummy as he is very attached to it so we are having a lot more meltdowns. A new hobby of his is to carry lots of toys at one time and when he drops one he screams like the world has ended but won't allow me to help.

He is great at eye contact and wanting me close by but hates playing together if I'm trying to do a puzzle with him he will watch until I'm nearly finished then he will do the final piece.

I am pretty sure he has ASD but they won't place him on the pathway until he is reviewed again at 3 because he has no sensory issues and his sleeping is very normal for an average 2 year old.

I know it's easier said than done but I try and focus on the small wins like today we had only a few meltdowns and he ate everything presented to him today with no dramas, he didn't cry in the bath or when we brushed teeth so today I'm winning no doubt I will suffer tomorrow. One day at a time.

Ahh he sounds sooo much like my DS. he carrys toys all the time!... he is so cuddly and loving. His understanding is delayed he understands yes/no understands certain requests like kiss or come here but if i said get the ball he wouldnt kmow what i meant. Both twins are now on the pathway but i think with them being premmies we have been under a pead since birth so theyve been known from the start... id love it if you could update me how you get on over time... x @stressingmum

I appreciate that we should not be encouraging too much screen time but have you looked at ‘Rachel’ videos on untube? She is very engaging and teaches children about how to pronounce words alongside lots of singing and Makaton signing. My 22 month old dgd adores Rachel. To be honest, a lot of what she does, apart from the signing, is what we instinctively do anyway but it may help you with two toddlers to cope with. Our dgd has learnt lots of little actions which she uses alongside words to express herself. We mainly use it as a wind down and sit together joining in with the songs and actions.

@gingergiraffe thank you i will 5ake a look at that 😊