If you're concerened about your childs speech - when should you 'see' someone about it?

[PanicPants]

Ds is 2 and a half, and whilst I've been quietly concerened for a few months I've always thought he'd start getting clearer eventually. But the CM has mentioned it now as well.

He has quite a good and varied vocabulary but hardly ever pronounces anything right, mainly just says the vowel sounds in the middle of a word and lots of words are accompanied by an extra sssss on the end.

He is lashing out at the moment physically, and I wonder how much of this is frustration.

I'm a teacher so I understand the value of reading stories daily, talking with him, repeating the words he says etc etc.

But is it too soon to seek outside help?

TIA

I also don't think he has any problems with his hearing. Hears everything, and responds to sounds both sides.

Just to offer an alternative opinion. This is quite normal speech development for a 2yo. DS started school this yr and still misses the 1st syllable of many words, his teacher said this was quite common.

When DS was 2 he stammered alot. The SALT at work said this was quite common and not to draw attention to it as young children can be put off speaking if too much fuss is made.

I'd just see how he goes.

Speak to HV to get referral to SALT and a hearing test. You have good reason to especaily as you and your CM are concerned .

My DS was 3 when he was referred, I thought that he didn't have a hearing problem , the SALT didn't push for a hearing test . In the end I had a hearing test done privately as he was making no progress with his speech , found out he had glue ear.

PanicPants - it depends on area. You may be able to self-refer directly to SALT - phone up your department to find out. Otherwise IME, GPs often pass the buck to HV re:referral.

with glue ear their ability to hear fully fluctuates and sometimes it is certain pitches and clarity they are missing out on. Hearing is also a brain function (I think auditory processsing??) a bout of glue ear means this has to be relearned to a certain extent.

Thankyou all.

Hi this is my 1st message on mum's net so bear with me. reading the previous messages on the glue ear topic and keeping seeing SALT mentioned. My son is 2 and about to have his 2nd set of grommits due to quite severe glue ear and wax build up. He may also have an underlying hearing issue but until the glue ear resolved difficult to test for (though the tests last year after the 1st operation looked positive in terms of the underlying hearing). I have been lucky enough for my son to be managed under my private health cover, so have not been frustated with waiting lists (except initially when started off on the NHS route). But i keep thinking i should be getting back onto the NHS route in case he does have longer term hearing issues which will need to be managed probably through the NHS e.g. keep seeing SALT. Any advice on what i should be tapping into would be brilliant.

I'm surprised at people seeing a SALT at 18m. I have been blithely assuming it's fine for my DD not to have any words at 16m. When should she have words? What are the things that made you look for a SALT referral at 18m? Lack of words or something more?

Thanks for any advice.

In response to margoandjerry, i would expect a female at 18 months to be saying some words, although there is a vast difference between different children. My son was saying words following his 1st grommitt operation at 16 months and he is certainly not one of the advanced children at nursery or in my mum's group, for his age. My advice is not to panic but to check out further with your GP, and stand firm with them that you want to be referred for further checking. Also, is DD pointing a lot for things that she wants rather than naming the item she wants? Any other signs of communication other than vocabulary?

Thanks for answering Den39. Yes she generally communicates quite a bit, pointing and grunting! She certainly knows lots of words, points out things when asked where they are and follows instructions so I wasn't particularly worried.

I suppose she's never been much of a "talker". Didn't do much babbling as a baby etc. And now she seems content to just point and grunt rather than say the words. I'm fairly confident her hearing is ok - she passed the newborn test ok and actually always seems to have quite acute hearing - turning her head to the source of a noise from a very early age.

Also I thought about it afterwards and realise that she does say one word quite consistently - "dark" - but obviously that doesn't come up THAT often.

It's good to know it's something to watch. I will make sure I raise it next time I'm at the GP if things have not progressed.

wait at least until they're 3 and a half, though i know some waiting lists are very long. my son was referred at that age, we waited about 3 months for appointment.