Hi, I was hoping to get some input.
I have a nearly 3-year-old son who has a speech delay. He currently says around 25 words, mostly when prompted. I do feel that he may be autistic, but I would really appreciate hearing other perspectives as well.
A bit of background: he is very social and loves being around other children. He’s less focused on adults but is happy to include them in his world. He has good understanding, is potty trained, and babbles a lot, using a wide range of sounds. When he babbles, it often feels like he’s trying to communicate, but the words don’t quite come out. He also sleeps well.
He met all of his developmental milestones as a baby. At his 2-year check, the only areas of concern were speech and the fact that he couldn’t jump yet.
Around the age of 2, I had his hearing and mouth checked. His hearing was fine, but they did identify a tongue tie and a high-arched palate. I’m not convinced these are significantly affecting his speech, but I am seeing another consultant for a second opinion, as the first felt it wasn’t a major concern and wouldn’t recommend intervention at this stage.
I should also mention that he occasionally toe walks, but only about 5% of the time.
In terms of his environment, he has very limited screen time, attends childcare four days a week (which he really enjoys), and we spend weekends out and about in a variety of settings. I’ve always narrated daily activities to him and read to him frequently. As far as I can tell, he doesn’t have any notable sensory sensitivities.
Any thoughts or advice would be greatly appreciated—thank you.