3 year old constantly screaming

[Keytochebakia]

Does anyone have experience with a 3 year old screeching? He is 3 in May and he will screech like this from the moment he wakes up to the moment he goes to sleep. He doesn't talk yet.

He will do it when we say no, when we take something away, when ESPECIALLY his 11 month old sister cries, when there's too many people outside, when someone gets on the train and walks into the coffeeshop we are sitting at, when he is tired, etc...
It's constant.

Is this normal?

How do I stop it? I've tried time out, "cooling time" in his room, firmly telling him no, but nothing seems to work.

Thank you

Really? He doesn’t talk yet and does nothing but screech? Ok, I’ll bite. Have you seen a professional?

How do you stand it? For your own sanity, see your GP!

If he’s non verbal at 3 presumably you and he are getting support,

are you working on makaton?

what is his level of understanding?

I’d try to work out the triggers and keep him away from st least some of them

I have two children both who both have had severe speech delays, my eldest didn’t speak until she was three , she exhibited behaviours such as screeching, head banging and slapping herself in the face. These behaviour stopped once she spoke and when she started speaking she spoke in full sentences.

My youngest didn’t speak in sentences or conversationally until she was four but not speaking didn’t seem to bother her. She caught up with four years speech in 6 months, she has speech therapy for certain sounds and pronunciation but is doing great and has an ASD diagnosis. Your child is screeching because they are frustrated and can’t express themselves. Please seek some professional help and assessments. I understand the worry .

Sorry, I'm probably very slow, but do you mean it's obvious that he screeches because he can't talk yet, or are you suggesting he is neurodivergent?

He has started seeing a speech therapist for now. I am also seeking help to get him assessed for autism potentially.
He is my first, so I don't know what is normal young child behaviour, what is linked to his lack of speech and what might be linked to potential neurodivergence

No I don't think it's normal for a 3 year old to screech from the moment they wake to the moment they fall asleep, how long has this been happening?

It has started about two or three months ago

He knows a couple makaton signs, "more", "eat", and "drink".

His understand is at the level of a child who has only just turned two, I would say, in some aspects. In other aspects, he is on par or even a little bit ahead, he knows his colours, shapes, alphabet, knows that 3 means 3 objects, and can recognise a card with 4 dots as 4 for instance. He also knows his letter sounds/phonics, and can "read" simple three letter words (he will point to them if you ask him).
He can't draw anything (just scribbles, not even circles), can't do playdough or more complicated puzzles (he can only do the baby ones with pegs)

I have three year old twins. They are verbal and communicate what they want, but still scream a lot! Usually due to frustration or them feeling I’m not responding to what they want within a nano second!

So I’d say your child is probably getting doubly frustrated as he cannot verbalise his wants and needs, added to the fact they’re 3 and 3 year olds are renowned for being highly strung!

You've kind of answered your own question there really, OP, by saying he is more like a 2 year old than an almost 3 year old, so that suggests a bit of developmental delay.

Thank you!

@Keytochebakia sorry, that was unnecessary and rude of me. I thought for a minute your post wasn’t genuine.
yes I would imagine he feels very frustrated at not being able to verbalise his needs, I suspect from what you’re saying he may be neurodiverse (you do too I think?)
I hope you and him get the help and support you need from professionals. 💐
In the meantime, support transitions with a visual timetable, encouraging signing, maybe headphones for noisy times to lessen the sensory overwhelm.

Ok.

no it’s not normal but it’s also not normal to not be verbal at three.

are you getting support from a speech and language therapist? If not then you need to seek this urgently.

from what you say it sounds like the screeching is in response to unpleasant sounds. Try ear defenders.

can you set up a safe noiseless space for him and sort out a makaton sign for it so he can request it? I’d think he’s responding to noise overload.

he will also be getting frustrated at not being able to communicated. Have you tried pecs?

Thank you everyone for your help and insight.

He has the first part of his official autism assessment tomorrow morning. They are going to observe him first and I will then get a second appointment (an interview with myself). I am so nervous.

That’s great news, I hope it goes well and you can get some answers and support 🩷