Speech/Communication Delays - Support Thread

[RiverRock22]

I have noticed a lot of speech and language/communication threads on these boards lately. Any parent who has gone through this will know it is a lonely place and like me I assume many of you have been up to all hours trawling these boards looking for answers.

I thought a thread where those of us in the same boat could take refuge in would be a good idea. To share tips or just chat about our experiences.

My daughter is 2.8 and is experiencing what I initially thought was a speech delay, however, I feel now is more of a communication delay as her receptive language understanding is poor as well as limited use of gestures etc.

I feel she hits a lot of autistic red flags but only on the communication (and by default the social) front, although this isn't being marked as a clear cut case of autism just yet. I have sought SALT assistance and we are working through the communication areas, starting with attention and listening activities. My main concern at the minute is communication, she is so passive to the point she barely interacts with us and doesn't want too much input from us and this makes me so sad. I long to have a toddler that doesn't give me a minutes peace wanting to play games.

I know there have been many fantastic ladies such as @lingle who have been through this and came out the other side. So anyone who has been through it and wants to give advice you are more than welcome.

So welcome to this safe space to moan, worry, chat and get advice.

Thank you for your well wishes @needhopeandluck. A dark place describes it well.

How is your son now? Has he been diagnosed with anything or is he back developing typically?

@scaredandspiralling he was diagnosed with receptive language delay. Too young for ASD assessment as he is under 3.

What are the next steps for you?

I’m not exactly sure @needhopeandluck

I think an autism assessment with the Community Paediatrician, but there was also talking of a speech and language assessment and a hearing test.

@scaredandspirallingFingers crossed for you and your little one! I hope it is only something temporary.

F

@RiverRock22 so please I found this feed...
My DS just turned 3 and just like your DD- social interactions and response to social cues are so minimal. I am drowning in worry for the last 6 months, before that I wasn't so worried, but meeting his age kids and seeing how well spoken they are made me so worried. DS is very active, always fidgeting, loves to sing his songs (ecolalia..?), says single words, or few two word combinations (wash teeth, let's go)
can follow some directions when he finally understands them, but would never respond to simple questions and other social cues. It's like he looks past me into all other directions but me when I ask him the most simplest of questions. He is capable of repeating words, says words in the visual card if presented to him, but if I ask him a question - no chance of getting responses. Not even "do you want candy?". He knows what yes / no mean, but wouldn't say it.

This is a long one! Hoping for some advice on what you have found helpful strategies?

DD is 29 Months.
I arranged a hearing test at 18 months - 45/50db high frequency hearing loss. She wouldn’t tolerate the pressure test though but they could see fluid. Repeat test the following month and similar scores. Private test in the June and hearing at 40db. End August so nearly 24 months and hearing was 30db and ENT appt said this is normal so glue ear has cleared no further action.
Language
Her receptive language is very delayed but recent progress in responding to so simple one step instructions related to her drink, come etc. interestingly though For about 6 months if I say toothbrush, she’ll run upstairs (with me) pull her step out and greens her brush and give me the paste! She also knows shoes and is good at getting dressed when I say arm etc (suspect this is just the routine so hoping it will stick soon without the clothes as a reminder for arms up etc?)

expressive language - using up for up and eat when feeding her dolls. Speech also identified

Requesting needs - some hand leading but now gives me her drink for example to open. Before she would just try and do it herself!

Play
This is very strong - good imaginative skills and pretend play, has been good since the summer so around 21 months. Fine motor and gross motor are all advanced too! She’s now enjoying books, this has led to the development of pointing :) her problem solving is also pretty good.

Interaction / Social
She’s quite content doing her own thing. She’ll often join me if I play with something to invite her and she enjoys people games like row your boat, horsey etc. all the tickle games and finger games etc! She’ll occasionally bring things over to show me, saying that she’ll often come over with a book and sit on my lap. Her eye contact is good in games like peek a boo, row your boat etc.

She does look at other children, but not much, she copied a little girl at a soft play the other day.

her imitation skills are amazing, well I think so, we moved up the copying with objects to now copying actions so she’ll stomp her feet, rub her tummy. Recently I have showed her CBeebies baby club - she’s been copying them with wond the bobbin and head shoulders - just some of the actions. She’s not quite copying me with these yet? I do them with her but if I sing it she does not yet copy but this is quite new.

pointing in books is new - she’d be n holding my hand to point and naturally started doing it herself, she sometimes grabs my finger too. We haven’t yet got declarative pointing.

sensory

Rocks on the sofa (it’s got a bouncy back) and did in the high chair. Seemed to start with feeding. Only rocks when TV is on! If I give her something she stops? Some tip toe walking but we have had new wood floor too

often holds things and shakes them like a rattle?

worries
I am worried that she doesn’t respond to her name and isn’t as interactive as others, coupled with the sensory and overall language delays looks like autism?

i have been pushing for ages HV said she can refer me but she’s very young etc. they also think the hearing needs sorting too.

Anyway, if you have stuck around what are your thoughts? Could hearing possibly explain all of this?

Hello, I think that the delay in speech is due to the fact that the child is developing poorly. We need to broaden his horizons, we need to do more with the child. I work with my child using the cards that I ordered on this site, these are the cards wunderkiddy.com/matching-game/animal-shadow I recommend it from the bottom of my heart. My child was also developing poorly, and when I started to study with him on these cards, I saw clear progress in my child's development.

@scaredandspiralling how are things now? did it get better?