DS 2.8 and not talking. should i be worried?

[apollo11]

he babbles away, but only really says "dada".
we are going to see SALT next week.

I would be, tbh.
has he had hearing etc checked?

My daughter was quite delayed in talking, but her understanding was always there, she said a few words but for quite a while then just came out with a sentence one day. Can he follow instructions? Is his hearing ok?

It's good that he babbles

I was told: "There is a very big subset of children like yours. Many will have no problems whatsoever and will just talk late. Others will need help to overcome problems with communication."

Is he frustrated about it? That was the worst thing for my kids with their late speech - cue lots of tantrums/whining/separation anxiety.

It is good that you are going to SALT as it is definitely not normal, however, I'm sure there are many people on MN who will tell you their child didn't say a word till they were 3 or older and are now fine so you shouldn't worry too much.

How is his development otherwise?

How does he communicate what he wants to you?

E.g if he wants a drink, what will he do?

Does he concentrate fairly well when playing with a toy or does he rush from one activity to the next?

When DD's speech was delayed, her paediatrician said "Don't worry if she says one word correctly". This was when she was 2 yrs old, and poor mite was learning three languages at the same time.

Your DS doesn't seem to have that one word. I think you should have his earing checked as a first step.

Does he pull you to things he wants? Does he point? How does he communicate?

My bf little boy didn't talk until he was 3.5, we were worried, she was not (or didn't appear to be). He hardly babbled and didn't say even mummy or dada. He would point, nod and shake for yes and no. He is 5.5 now, his vocab is a little limited, quite babyish and he has a lisp but really nothing to worry about.

Does he have a soother appollo11, this was for sure part of the reason for bf ds's delays.

sorry was miles away there!

i know that all kids here who see the SALT get an automatic hearing test, so i will be interested to see the results of that.

as i told the SALT when i made the referral, he rarely has to ask/communicate for something he wants. my husband and i are with him pretty much all the time and know his routine so well. he always has a drink for instance. if he wants you to do something he will push you (!) with his hands. when i was making his lunch one day and came out the kitchen for something, he pushed me back in! (pretty funny actually. he was obviously hungry!). but breakfast, lunch and dinner are at the same time every day, so he knows he's not gonna starve!
we have discovered recently he loves it if someone will sit and play a guitar and sing for him. he gets so excited! if my brother in law tries to get off the couch he will push him back on! and he will grab his mouth to make him sing!

he can concentrate quite well on a toy. believe it or not, he loves books and magazines. he will clomb up on the couch with them, and he looks so plausible!!!

does he point at all?

CLIMB onto the couch

no he doesnt point!

he's never had a dummy

does he appear to understand what you are saying to him?

ie if you said to him " Go and get.."

So he babbles, says "dada", loves someone singing, has good concentration and loves books and magazines .

Do you think he understands what people say to him?

To answer your original question, you shouldn't be "worried" but you should without doubt be prepared to spend a lot of time helping him develop language communication skills. I'm sure you know that "coaching" them doesn't work. If you find that there is going to be a delay in getting speech therapy then I recommend buying a book called "It takes two to Talk" published by the Hanen Foundation without delay.

he should without doubt be able to follow commands, get your shoes, pass that to mummy, give that to daddy etc....

Does he get frustrated trying to communicate in anyway? dc3 is 19mths, she jumps up and down on the spot, screetching and pointing until someone gives her what she wants, usually something she knows she can't have. Failing that she'll slide a dinning chair acrodd the floor and climb to her target.

Is he determined appollo11? Do you have reason to think his hearing maybe an issue?

he doesnt follow commands at all.

he does get frustrated sometimes, crying sometimes and we dont know what it is!

i wonder if his hearing is an issue. he had an ear infection a year ago, treated with antibiotics. he appears to respond better to singing and songs!

i will def get that book. thanks very much lingle.

googled that book.

tbh i feel that he does not get enough talking attention. hes a middle child and his older brother (4) is very demanding of attention, and we have a 9 month baby too. i feel that our oldest got so much more one to one attention. my last pregnancy was really hard and i feel that had a negative impact on him.

Start trying to give him opportunuties to communicate by giving him choices.

E.g hold up 2 different books. ''do you want to read spot or thomas?''

Snack time '' do you want cheese or apple?''

Drinks ''do you want juice or milk?''

When he indicates his choice, repeat it back to him. ''ds wants to look at spot''.

When looking at books, talk about the pictures and point to things as you talk about them. This ensures the language he is hearing is related to what he is looking at and is more likely to make sense to him. Books that are familiar are great as he will hear the same vocabulary over and over again, which will help him remember it.

Always use short, simple sentences with him.

Hope some of these suggestions help.

Apollo, mine were both "singers" and both very frustrated at that age. Both also had a big delay in learning to understand language. Make sure the SALT knows that there is a problem with understanding, not just speaking as this will mean you will be taken more seriously.

The book is expensive but worth every single penny because it will show you how to use the very best communication techniques to draw out his language. It doesn't work for more serious/specific problems but will show you how to gently encourage speech. Also, it is great because the SALTS and doctors tend spend the initial appointments "assessing" your child (I get very stressed about this!) rather than actually offering help. But armed with the book you can start helping with his talking straight away.

I think you've found your and your DH's project for 2009 .

I hate to sound a note of alarm but the pushing etc are typical autistic spectrum behaviours and I would be insistent about getting him assessed by a paediatrician asap. Hopefully you will be reassured but the sooner you get help the better if it is needed.

Good luck with it all apollo

Will be thinking of you

My son was the same and had no language, didn't point, didn't understand basic commands/requests, appeared deaf (and had a hearing test), used to drag me and DH to what he wanted. He was diagnosed at 2 and 4months with classic autism.

HOWEVER

this does NOT mean its the same for your son - i have plenty of friends whose children were in same position as me whose children had delayed speech and now at 5 can speak and verbally communicate very well.

Good luck - push for all the paed and SALT support you can get.

hellymelly - i was obv thinking along same lines

Apollo - it may not be the case,try not to worry (easy to say i know and impossible to do) get the hearing test done and then take on the next stage. But push - don't be fobbed off with he is too young etc

the lack of pointing would worry me more than the speech. does he wave at all?

mine didn't do that at 2 and started waving at 3.5 years

mine stil doesn't point at 5 unless its hoh (hand over hand)

Does he fixate on things like trains/cars wheels,spinning (himself or objects)? these are also common to ASD behaviours