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25 month old and no words

3 replies

Vanishabenj · 03/08/2024 11:00

Hi everyone, I just wanted to get a bit of advice really. My son has recently turned two. We noticed that he has still not said his first word at about 18 months old. After a number of appointments it was found that he had glue ear which was affecting his hearing.

He had grommets inserted and his adenoids removed back in April, and a positive hearing test a few weeks after.

Since then he has been seeing a private speech and language therapist, Who we’ve actually stopped seeing now. She said that he wasn’t making much progress, and the way it came across when she spoke to us very much like she had given up on him so we’ve obviously stopped using her.

There are also other things that play here which I’m a bit worried about, he doesn’t wave or point. However, on speaking to a senco individual at Nursery she is sad that this is all part of communication and will come so it’s not really something to worry about.

He seems to have found his own way of communicating we hold our hand and takes us to what he wants, or pick up what he wants for example his bottle if he wants water.

He doesn’t really play with other children, doesn’t seem to have much interest in colouring role-playing etc. Although perhaps it is a bit too young for this.

Anyone else had a similar experience with their little one, obviously a bit anxious in terms of his development.

OP posts:
autumn1638 · 03/08/2024 21:30

Is there anything specific you are concerned about for example autism?

The glue ear will cause speech and communications delays and if it is the glue ear that has caused the speech delay then it will rectify. The speech delay itself will cause the lack of pointing etc. does that make sense?

Because he has glue and this has been identified I would be expecting him to begin catching up. And the lack of pointing and dragging you to things etc will fade away as his speech catches up.

I wouldn't expect a two year old to be reciprocal socially. So they play alongside rather than with other children.

Does he make eye contact? Did he smile socially at around six weeks?

It's possible that there is autism however because of the glue ear it is not possible to assess.

It is much more likely that this is caused by the deafness.

He should be having speech and language therapy and I would request a referral through your g.p. Or heath visitor to cypitt.

Vanishabenj · 04/08/2024 12:14

Thank you that’s really handy to know.

I think the worry comes more from potentially being on the autism spectrum he has had a few referrals made - development review, speech and language and is seen at the hospital once a quarter as he was slightly prem. his speech and language referral was rejected due to his age so we went private.

He does make eye contact, but it isn’t consistent, and he’s always been very smiley.

I’m going to request another development review for him as his previous development review was carried out before the grommets.

OP posts:
autumn1638 · 04/08/2024 12:36

Yes ask for another review.

Yes I would be worried about autism as well so having regular reviews is sensible and you are right to be questioning this. It's just that all children who have been deaf present this way. Obviously some children with autism will need grommets and that will add to their communication difficulties. Telling the difference at this age is not possible. So it's a waiting game but it is quite excruciating when you are going back and forth wondering is it autism.

Look up the research on deaf children and theory of mind. It makes it really clear the impact that deafness has on development.

I don't know what area you are in but here we will refer to speech at age 2 if they are not saying 2-3 words together. I haven't made a speech referral since the pandemic though so things may have changed. The private speech therapist sounds a bit rubbish tbh.

I hope things get better for you.

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