2.9 with communication delay or something else

[DoAhhDiddy]

Hello, hope someone can help.

My 2.9 YO DS is an adorable little boy, very sociable, chilled, playful and loving but I'm getting very concerned about his development.

He's struggles with pronunciation, is generally pretty quiet, can say quite a few single words (100-200 maybe) and has only just started saying a few two word sentences (bye bye dog). We get 'yes', not so many 'no's. or shaking his head. He's only recently started to take me to the things he's interested in and hasn't ever really pointed. Loves books, drawing, rough and tumble play with his dad and siblings. Knows nursery rhymes and joins in with actions but can't yet speak the words properly. He has receptive understanding, can point to things in books, follow a simple instruction etc.

He has an older sibling who is 4 and very chatty and it's hard for younger DS to get a word in despite me trying my best to create space for him to talk.

I contacted my HV before Christmas who was very dismissive and said to give him time, but time's running out before he's three when they'll look at him and he is so unlike his older brother at this age, I'm worried there is something like a learning disability going on. He just seems so young for his age.

Any thoughts of suggestions welcome, it's making me feel very anxious x

Hey! Have you done any ages and stages for his age range? Maybe try the 24 month and the 36 months one?

I think if it’s purely his language you are worried about, he may possibly need some support to develop his communication but it doesn’t automatically mean there is a learning disability.

Does he go to nursery at all?

I know two children and one adult who all don’t speak in sentences until the age range of 3-4 and needed to go to speech therapy to support their language development - however, they didn’t have a learning disability and have gone on to performing in line with their peers in primary. The adult is very accomplished. Try not to worry - check the ages and stages to see if it’s purely communication or any other areas your son needs support with and then you can challenge for health visitor with more information or go to your GP :)

I agree that it might be worth doing the Ages & Stages but first I'd do this simple progress checker from Speech & Language UK. It will tell you if he needs some support with communication or not

Have you had his ears checked because I'm getting my 2.3 yo referred for a hearing test but because he's got no words but for words like star and car he makes an aaah sound like he hasn't caught the c or st iyswim. I've got deaf parents and pronunciation is different when hard of hearing.

Thanks everyone. I've been so worried about. After all your advice including @Devilsmommy suggestion, I arranged a hearing test and he has moderate hearing loss through glue ear. The ENT surgeon thinks it's enough to hinder his speech and language, and we've thankfully got a cancellation so he's having grommets fitted in 2 weeks. I'm hoping we see some progress shortly afterwards. If not, I'm going to pay privately for some SLT. The HV has been appalling considering there is a medical reason and a clear delay and yet still won't refer. She said they won't accept the referral unless evidence is supplied that we've been to various community centre groups. I've felt really unsupported but at least now validated that there was something wrong and there is a delay. I'm pretty on it and proactive so my son will be supported through his delay and any other potential difficulties he faces but the thought of other kids being left to it. Makes me so angry! Anyway, thanks for all your comments. Just glad to have a way forward now xx

@DoAhhDiddy so glad you finally found out what was wrong. Imo HV's are useless so always go straight to GP for referrals. Hope your little one is helped with the grommets😊