No speech

[Roar37]

I have 2 and a half year old little person and I feel lost! My eldest is met all milestones etc. My 2 years has not met any milestone (rolled and walked late) on time and has no speech. He babbles and makes happy or sad noises but 0 words in addition: he's clumsy and trips over nothing, when he's tired his legs go floppy, he doesn't play with toys (he doesn't seem to know how) but loves books and colouring, his eye contact is inconsistent, has a very high roof of mouth. He's incredibly cuddly and loving!
We've been to GP, health visitor, been referred to salt, had a physio assessment and a hearing test (physio said he was a little flexible and hearing was fine). Services don't speak to each other, health visitor has left etc so I'm a little lost.
Had anyone had a child with anything remotely similiar? Thanks if you have read this far!

This sounds tricky! Does he seem to understand what you're saying and can he follow basic instructions? Wondering whether it's a problem with comprehension or whether he understands perfectly but lacks the speech to respond.

Yes 2! One was diagnosed with autism but the other was absolutely fine, speech came in around 2 years 8 months. Both have dyslexia, dyspraxia and adhd, I was diagnosed with all 3 as an adult by their dr!

There some understanding of basic tasks ie let's get shoes on he will go to the door or let's brush teeth he heads to the bathroom and crucially snacks he will head in the kitchen but this is with cards etc he doesn't seem to pick things up easily

I could have written this. Exact same situation as you

That's is super interesting. What age were they tested for dyspraxia?

The services should all be feeding back to your GP who should, I would assume, be referring you on to a paediatrician. Does your child go to nursery, have they given any feedback?

Sounds like my 2.8 year old. Diagnosed with autism and having genetic testing, mainly to look for angelmans. I'm surprised you're not under peadiatrics. Can you ask nursery to refer or speak to gp?

Yes hes in childcare (a childminder). He's had 2 assessments with her council link worker who set out action plans (read to him, sing to him etc) and did a welcon assessment on him in which he obviously scored low. The link then told us 'he was probably referred a bit early by the childminder'. The health visitor wanted a three way meeting but as yet neither proffessional (not childcare) can agree when. GP sent a referral to paeds and it was rejected.

Some things sound similar to my DD when she was two. She’s now four and diagnosed with autism.

How does your DS non-verbally communicate his wants and needs at the moment? Does he point (my DD didn’t and still doesn’t)? But used to take us by the hand to whatever she wanted.

I was told children need to be 5/6 for a dyspraxia assessment, my DD is showing signs too.

My paeds referral was rejected twice and finally accepted the third time.

Non verbally he points to things, takes me by the hand or makes loud noises (I can work out what noise means what) so he does communicate.

He needs a referral to development paediatrician. And assessment like bayley scale etc to see what areas need support .Do you have child development centre locally? Go back to gp and ask gp to make referral again. Any drop in slt sessions ? Can you self refer to community physio for an evaluation?

I could have written this myself also. I have a 2.5 year old. We are on the waiting list for an autism assessment. Can't find a SALT (even private) who has availability. I feel so lost and helpless; I just want to access support for them but who knows how long the waiting list is, it's already been six months. Hugs in solidarity x

You need a development paediatrician involved. I would reengage GP & health visitor as either of them can make a referral and keep on about it as you are your child's advocate.

My son saw the paediatrician a whole year ago. He's on the list for follow up... told it's a very long list!
Salt seen him but as he's got some communication methods such as chucking his cup at you for a drink etc, they are waiting until his third birthday to see if he says 4/5 words. That's January. He has zero words still :(
Had hearing tests etc and all fine there. He was premature due to stopping growing so was induced at 36 weeks for him. He's tiny.
He's almost 3 and still find 18-24 trousers fall down on him.

In my area we can't self refer so I Def need to go back to the GP and be more insistent. It's such a ridiculously complex system it's so hard to navigate so this advice is invaluable

We are in the same position (slightly different as we know my little one has issues from medical issues at birth) but after he didn’t meat the goals at his 2 year dev review with hv he had an immediate referral to paediatrics. Not had the appointment yet so can’t say any more yet

Hi

you just described my son at that age

his first words was at 34month old(example of words he had: "O" - open, "M" - mama, "P" - papa, "Duck" - duck:) ) as you can see most of "words" was just first letters of words. Accept duck - that was his first full word.

we went tru SALT and OT

i was worrying to the roof (as result of googling "red flags" got into the state of severe depression with hospitalization)

even developmental pediatritian words of comfort - negative for asd- havent changed my mental state

At some point im even accept that my son is autistic and litteraly nothing was able to change my mind

Skipping to nowadays:

My son is 5y10month old he is at kindy ,no autistic traits ,HIS ENGLISH BETTER THEN MINE(who would think),spelling,writing,math
...and been nominated to do speech on behalf of his school

My daughter who is 3yo now first words was at 8month...
so yes boys developing way slower - when i was at SALT with my son 9 of 10 kids there was boys.

So thats our expirience (my sons and mine)

I'd second/third/fourth the need for a paeds referral. It does sound like there's a need for developmental and/or genetic testing.
My children are older but we could always book an appointment with the HV and she would also refer.

@artemru if you have one or two boys and one or two girls you can't say boys are slower!

I’m saying that based on what I saw at SALT group where I was taking my son to. And there was 9 of 10 kids boys. That’s what I noticed that time. And to be frank most of the posts with speech delay here refers to boys

My HV and paediatrician both told me that boys tend to be slower too...

More boys do tend to have difficulties but that doesn't mean that every boy is slower.