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Potentially autistic 3yr old, speech delay

6 replies

Jackofallmasterofnone · 20/10/2025 11:02

Hello, my middle child turns 3 in a couple of weeks, he's pre verbal. There are no recognisable words but he babbles constantly, makes great eye contact and is getting pretty regular at responding to his name.

Over the past few weeks we've noticed a few sounds which we think are his first words. "A cow goes.....?" And he's responded with "mmmmmmmm" on a few occasions.
He's made noises that sound like daddy and grandad.
He's pulled down his brother's top which had hey duggee on it, pointed to it and said "Duggee" this was the clearest as he did it a few times in the space of a minute or two.
He said what sounded a lot like giraffe and followed it up with f..f..f noises when I'd pointed out a giraffe picture to him.
It's been little things like that which he then, of course, won't repeat!!

Has anyone had personal experience of this when their little one started talking? What happened afterwards? How long did it take for words to follow a bit more obviously rather than us second guessing. I'd love to know what his first word was, but it's not been obvious enough to know! I'm taking the Duggee one as the first word🤣

OP posts:
BunnyRuddington · 20/10/2025 20:26

DC2 is a little different. Was not verbal at that age and then came out either a 7 word sentence so there is hope Smile

Is he on the Pathway yet @Jackofallmasterofnone?

Jackofallmasterofnone · 21/10/2025 09:16

BunnyRuddington · 20/10/2025 20:26

DC2 is a little different. Was not verbal at that age and then came out either a 7 word sentence so there is hope Smile

Is he on the Pathway yet @Jackofallmasterofnone?

Oh wow! That's a huge sudden step, amazing. Yes it's a year until paediatric pathway here which would assess for autism, so we're in that wait now. He's under speech and language currently too

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BunnyRuddington · 21/10/2025 18:07

Jackofallmasterofnone · 21/10/2025 09:16

Oh wow! That's a huge sudden step, amazing. Yes it's a year until paediatric pathway here which would assess for autism, so we're in that wait now. He's under speech and language currently too

It sounds as though the referrals are in place which is half the struggle.

I’m assuming that if he’s under SaLT then he’s had a hearing test already?

Has the HV also referred you to Portage avd have they told you about any local SN playgroups are Nurseries?

Jackofallmasterofnone · 22/10/2025 13:05

BunnyRuddington · 21/10/2025 18:07

It sounds as though the referrals are in place which is half the struggle.

I’m assuming that if he’s under SaLT then he’s had a hearing test already?

Has the HV also referred you to Portage avd have they told you about any local SN playgroups are Nurseries?

They've not given us any of that at the moment because there's no ehcp. He's had a couple of hearing tests and has glue ear. His hearing was within lower but normal range. He's due another soon

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BunnyRuddington · 22/10/2025 20:36

If he has Glue Ear, did you know tgat you can join the NDCS abd I think it’s free.

Sorry I misunderstood about the Pathway. Could you ask your HV for a referral to Portage anyway?

And are you applying for an ECHP?

Understanding glue ear in children and temporary deafness

Learn about glue ear, a common cause of temporary hearing loss in children.

https://www.ndcs.org.uk/advice-and-support/all-advice-and-support-topics/causes-types-and-signs-deafness/causes-deafness-and-hearing-loss/glue-ear

Jackofallmasterofnone · 23/10/2025 16:42

BunnyRuddington · 22/10/2025 20:36

If he has Glue Ear, did you know tgat you can join the NDCS abd I think it’s free.

Sorry I misunderstood about the Pathway. Could you ask your HV for a referral to Portage anyway?

And are you applying for an ECHP?

Yes we've got one more action for inclusion meeting and then they can apply for ehcp. I'll speak to them about portage though, my understanding was I'd have to wait until after diagnosis, they seem to guard the available options from you don't they!
I didn't know that about glue ear, I'll take a look into that, thank you!

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