Nursery raised concerns about 2yo speech and possible hearing issue?

[sparklestar4]

Hello,

My DS turned 2 last week, I had a parents evening with his nursery key worker. They have said that they don't hear much speech from him but they will come up with a plan in 3 months time if they don't see any improvements which now has made me think he might have a possible speech delay.

This is my second child and I know every child develops at their own pace but their comments have sent my mind spiralling as if I should have noticed this sooner?!?

He is very good at understanding, following instructions, gestures (hand waving, pointing, blow kisses etc). He can say around 50-70 words consistently but some of the words he says are very broken, sometimes only myself or my husband can understand what he is saying.

My DH and I also noticed DS recently started saying "huh?" when we talk to him it's made me question if he has an issue with hearing?
He failed his hearing check in his right ear twice when he was born but passed it on his 3rd test - again this is making me question whether he did pass the hearing test in that ear...

I'm not overly sure what outcome I'm wanting from this post but maybe some advice or reassurance in next steps or do I give DS a chance to wait and see as he's only turned 2?

I would ask the GP to do a hearing test referral anyway, if they did have a speech delay and need to see SALT some areas insist on ruling that out first or things like glue ear are common in toddlers and simple to rule out so nothing gained by waiting on the hearing test itself.
Speech and language some say 50 words at 2.5 for a referral so if nursery think waiting 3 months is ok then it might not do any harm for SALT, you can probably see the local wait time for NHS SALT online anyway to make a judgement on it.

Start with a hearing test then see from there

I too would get his hearing checked, especially as he failed his newborn hearing test. The HV and the GP should be able to refer you. I’m not sure of the Nursery can?

Like others have said, it could be glue ear which is often temporary and treatable

Has he had his 2 year check yet with the HV?

Thanks so much for your replies!

@ExplodingSmittens Not yet, it's not until 2 years and 3 months in my area, I guess which is why DS nursery is holding out until then.
How would be the best way to raise my concern to get his hearing checked?

I would talk to your HV now and ask her. Personally, I wouldn’t wait till the 2 year 3 month check as the wait times are already long

Ask for him to go on the waiting list for speech therapy and ENT for hearing. If he doesn't need them when he gets to the top, you don't have to take them up, but there can be a very long waiting list for both so you're saving time.

Ds had bad glue ear. He had his first set of grommets at 20 months. His hearing was assessed as being less than 10% at worst.
However he had adapted a lot. He lip read (party trick about age 3-4 was repeating people's PIN numbers when they mouthed them to themselves as they put them in ), he would watch and do what he thought was right from his sisters/other people. He watched things with subtitles and learnt to read and then used the words he knew to understand.

They adapt really well. If he hadn't had ear infections constantly, I'd never have taken him to ENT - and ENT was the one pointing out that he was lip reading etc. They said it's perfectly normal for parents not to realise because they naturally adapt to their child.
And for glue ear, it's up and down, so you think "I know he hears because he responded when I opened a chocolate bar behind him" but don't realise two weeks later that he didn't hear a door slam behind him.