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.

Apollo I live in Surrey, mine have never had an automatic hearing check before seeing SALT I've always had to demand request one. One had glue ear and one has limited hearing in the high frequencies.

When I saw this thread in active convos I thought I had started it as my DS is also 2.8 and not talking!

Tom babbles, hums the syllables to words and has recently started to do the phonic sounds of letters. His behaviour is quite bad. He bites, throws things, hits and bangs his head.

We had an ENT referal last month as he has quite large tonsils. They tried doing a hearing test, but they couldn't get him to do what they wanted. He is having his tonsils/adenoids out on the 28th and they will do a hearing test when he is asleep.

He has also jusr recently started refusing his dinner. Before that, he would only eat shepherds pie. Today he had his breakfast (oatabix and banana), some toast/bread for lunch and no dinner. We did offer rice pudding, but that got emptied onto his highchair!

He points (actually has quite a commanding point). We think his behaviour is frustration. He's always been fussy with his eating and drinking.

if he's not responding to commands sounds like he's not always understanding you - so back up commands/explanations with visuals to help him along - gestures/pointing, use photos to say who he's going to see/where he's going to go.

simple short language exactly

visual clues too are good

if he's not responding to commands sounds like he's not always understanding you - so back up commands/explanations with visuals to help him along - gestures/pointing, use photos to say who he's going to see/where he's going to go.

Bexie, has your ds been referred for a slt assessment?

With lots of children, it is difficult to say how severe a sp/language delay is until they have had some therapy.

I worked with some quite delayed children who responded well to input and some seemingly much milder difficulties which were quite persistent.

Of course, some did also turn out to have life-long communication difficulties.

I think it is important to get into the system to begin with though.

If the slt is concerned, they will recommend a referral to a Paediatrician.

Sorry - Hijack - Desperate - I knew I'd find you here!

Happy New Year - hope you and the family had a good one.

Dishwasher broke today. Mustn't grumble...but I am grumbling massively. We were supposed to be getting new blinds in the lounge - grrrr.

Hello lovely

How are you?

Had bug-ridden xmas but everyone else better now. I've got ab's to get rid of mine.

Dishwasher much more important than blinds, lol.

Our oven in v poorly state. Dh was panicking today when it stopped in middle of cooking his lunch- he saw a hungry day ahead!

As you were....

It was the same for me Apollo. I paid DS2 little "talking" attention during most of his third year because of other commitments and then realised just how far behind he was. I started posting on here when he was about 2.8. As DS2 progresses, I can honestly say that it's fun helping him . It's boring at first but when something starts working and you get progress it's immensely satisfying. It's like he was in a tunnel and I'm gently leading him out of it.

We all have our own ways of dealing with these things. For me personally, the question "is it autistic spectrum disorder" is not a helpful question (though it's useful for other parents especially those who might otherwise blame themselves for underlying problems). For me, the right question is "are these the best techniques for his current communication problems? If not, what extra techniques do I need to find out about and use?".

By the way, re the books he looks at: he sounds like a visual learner. That's a great lead for you! You can stick photos of everything and everyone in his life all around the house. When someone's coming, point to that photo and say "harry's coming". When you're going to Harry's house, point to a photo of Harry's house and say "we're going to Harry's house". If you're going in the car, point to a photo of the car. If you're going in the buggy, point to a photo of the buggy.

You may have to involve older brother in the process to stop him being jealous. He could be the photographer, for instance.

I'm a salt and with regards to visual strategies, this book is one of my bibles (and very easy to read and dip in and out of)

Here

Oh, forgot to add: do whatever moondog advises because she is brilliant . I'm smiling but I'm serious.

V kind.
I don't feel need to add to this thread as advice is brilliant and am trying to have a holiday of sorts and not live breath and eat salt.

Interesting recommendation MD. Do you know if this one is any good:-

www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Visual-Supports-Work-Community/dp/096725146X/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Tis much cheaper than the one you recommend

I don't know that one TC, although that means nothing as now tonnes on market.

What is really gratifying is to see how so many more people take on board the visual message. Even 10 years ago it was really hard to get teachers aspecailly to see that talking alone wasn't good enough.

Internet and advances in graphics have made such a difference.I used to glue and paste and Tippex and cut for hours and hours. Now all avaialble at click of a switch.

DS's school seems very clued up about importance of visual supports for all kids, touch wood. It has a computer specialism so has very good computer and electronic whiteboard provisin. Seeing whether teachers etc knew about and used visual prompts was one of my "audition" questions for mainstream schools when I had to apply for DS last year .

Yes, essentail.No point having a salt who does it if noone else does.
I think every child with a comm. difficulty needs a visual/pictorial calendar and a visual system of time passing (ie minutes and hours).

When we got referred, it was to see the ENT, have a hearing test and see a speech therapist. We didn't see a speech therapist though. Now i'm thinking that we should see a SALT before Tom has his t&a removed.

hi my ds could barely say a word until he was just turned 2 (mummy and juice) was about it everything else was 'rara' but in the last 8 months he has developed his speech amazingly and can say full sentences and we can hold quite intelligent conversations with him! he has a bit of a lisp and not everyone can understand everything he sais but its amazing how fast he learnt! its only really been in the last 3 months or so hes got this good so i wouldnt worry too much as it can come on very suddenly them talking 'properly' and ds was a pusher and puller too and enjoyed his books and singing too! you're ds sounds like mine did a little while back and now hes fine (been to see health visitors) so dont get yourself too worried

I would definitely 'chase up' the slt referral if you did not get an assessment and you were supposed to.

Probably won't make too much difference if it is before or after t&a removal, except that if it is after, the slt should get more info on his hearing.

Will discuss it with DP. Maybe the ENT said that Tom can't see a SALT until hes had a more conclusive hearing test and I missed her saying that. Or she didn't say anything about seeing a SALT at all, or they mentioned it at the hearing test. DP took Tom in for the hearing test as only one of us could go in so I don't know what was said/done apart from hearing his account of it afterwards.

I will deffo mention seeing a SALT at his pre-op appointment though. I can't help thinking that they are only taking his t&as out as they don't really know whats wrong with him, iykwim. Especially as the ENT left it upto us rather than it seeming like it was a necessity medically. She did say she'd seen kids the same age or younger with larger tonsils!

Having enlarged tonsils and adenoids wouldn't really affect a child's language development per se, although having poor hearing could.

You might be able to refer to slt yourself (obviously, unless dp thinks slt appointment pending). You could call your local slt department and ask what the referral process and waiting lists are like.

Were you supposed to see a hospital-based slt rather than community? That would have been quite unusual for an initial assessment, where i was working.

I would guess we were supposed to see a hospital based one (thats where we went for the ENT and the ward we were on had a hearing test room). It was more of an afterthought by the dr who referred us, kinda like you may as well see the speech therapist as well whilst you're there type thing (i'm sure it wasn't like that but thats how I remember it 2.5 months on, lol).

Will have to look for phone numbers, might be worthwhile phoning the hospital and enquiring then. It will be at the childrens hospital in Yorkhill.

Toms behaviour is not good as well. Anyone know of a toddler bootcamp?

Yes, you could probably phone the doctor's secretary and ask if a referral was made to slt and if so, who to.

I would still pursue your local slt too as you may find that an easier service to access i.e. easier to get to.

Your gp, PCT or local Health Centre should be able to give you the contact number for local slt service.

Hope you get some answers.

I hope the SALT appointment gives you some answers. It does sound as if some further assessment might be needed but try not to see this in a negative light. Assessments can show you what you need to do to help him learn to communicate more effectively. I agree that some of the description might fit an ASD disorder, however online descriptions can be deceptive and are not a good indication of actual outcomes which is why it is so important that someone in real life assesses him.

hi! sorry so late.

stillnacht, yes he does all those things.

i have wondered about ASD but he is such an affectionate boy and loves hugs aand kisses, and i thought people on the autistic spectrum werent keen on touch?