2.10 year old speech and social communication delay

[GHIHRU2021]

2.10 year old (g). Not speaking. She can lable things, colours and repeat ms Rachel songs and nursery rhymes but no language or words used to communicate except “open” “milk” “amu”. Everything else is her repeating what she knows from books, songs or tv. She can say up and build blocks. Uh oh. But Al the other words are just nouns. I’m feeling devastated. Started nursery in September going 3 hours per day 5 days a week. One week of crying but now settled. Plays by herself, not peers. Doesn’t acknowledge other kids or teachers. Knows they are there but won’t speak with them. Doesn’t point. Leads us to things when she wants them. Attention doesn’t stay on an activity for too long. Doesn’t respond to her name in whichever tone or however close I am to her. Although on occasion she will turn around but not sure if that is because of the sound of my voice or her actual name. She is such a bundle of joy but as more and more people say she is behind with her communication and social skills the more worried I am getting. I thought she would just catch up in her own time. We are on the waiting list for private speech and language, have been referred by health visitor for child development, are really trying to engage with her through play to increase words, have audiology appointment coming up.

I just feel helpless really. Don’t know what else I can do. I don’t really know what I’m looking for here but I’m just feeling very overwhelmed with little to no support and don’t know if I actually doing all I can to help my beautiful daughter.

I've had one just like this and she did speak eventually but still struggles with some aspects of communication but to most people she'd pass as talking normally. She certainly never gets any comments.

Can you tell us more about the referral to Child Development? Did the HV say how long the waiting list is or what they'll do?

And have you applied for an ECHP yet? If you go over to the SN Children Section they can advise you on how to apply and what to ask for. It sounds as though including SLT might be a good start

Thank you I for your reply.

no EHCP and they haven’t told us how long the waiting list is. Just that we have been placed on the list. I will follow this up. Was your child diagnosed as having SN? If yes, what support are they getting? Is this helping them? How are they now?@PolaroidPrincess

You don't need a diagnosis for an ECHP, it's based on need and your DD seems to have clear needs, like SLT.

Like I said before, the SN Children Section is a great please to ask about how to apply for a workable ECHP and what to include. And yes my DC was diagnosed with a few different things but is older than your DD, they have a few friends and they are studying and working.