Speech delay in 3 year old

[K2012]

Hello everyone

I’m writing here because I need some advice. I will start by saying this is stressing me a lot.

My first born son just turned 3 and still can’t talk. He can say words but not sentences. He understands everything you say to him but can’t talk. He was referred to SALT when he was 2 but wasn’t seen untill March this year. The SALT therapist gave us some exercises to do with him (mainly cutting down on iPad, start reading to him and talk to him in short sentences) which we do but there’s still no progress. We bought lots of books, puzzles etc. but he still can’t talk. He goes to nursery twice a week. The therapist said she wasn’t overly concerned and said she’ll see him again in September.

I also don’t know how to potty train him when he can’t talk. I bought a toilet seat and one of those small toilets and took him to the toilet many times and he understands a little that he needs to wee in the toilet but there was just wee everywhere which I expected and after a few days I gave up.

Speech delay in a 3 year old what can I do? Is it worth paying for a private SALT therapist? I think they’re at least £50 an hour.

It’s stressing me quite a lot especially when I see kids younger than him talking and he still can’t talk. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Thanks - I’d looked at these guys. We’re in Sheffield unfortunately! I’ll keep searching, thanks again 😊

I disagree with a pp, that private speech therapy is a waste of money. DD had a language disorder, but I don’t see why this wouldn’t apply equally well to children with significant verbal dyspraxia too?

DD was diagnosed at rising three with a significant language disorder. On the day, the NHS speech therapist was talking about how DD would need a statement (now EHC plan) and a language unit place. DD got no speech therapy on the NHS, until she was being assessed for the statement in her nursery year, before reception. We paid for weekly therapy from age 3 - 5.

The LA was talking about putting her in mainstream with speech therapy every 3 weeks to see how she got on. Both the NHS and private speech therapist said “She’s been having weekly therapy for 2 years and this is where she is. She’s not going to be able to cope in mainstream!”

The LA had no further argument to support their view. DD needed to be in specialist speech and language provision upto age 16, during which time she got intensive speech therapy. She was never going to pick up language naturally like most children. She was in school with children with verbal dyspraxia also up to age 16.

Children with significant verbal dyspraxia need direct therapy from a therapist. A program for a TA to carry out with the child doesn’t cut it.

Nobody can diagnose over the internet where on the scale of speech delay/disorder OP’s DC is - they may only need some intervention or maybe more? Only a speech and language therapist can tell OP that - and an independent therapist is better, because the NHS may tell parents what resources allow, rather than what DC needs?

Can you not get SALT through the nursery or through your local service? That's what we did. DS sees someone once every few months but it was more to give us everyday strategies.

Any SALT that doesn't start with an audiology referral is wasting your money though and I'm v surprised your nursery haven't raised it.

Thank you everyone for the replies.

I have contacted paediatric audiology today and they’ll send me an appointment for a hearing test, they said it’ll hopefully be end of the month.

SALT has never mentioned hearing test. Nursery just said contact SALT again for the assessment and haven’t said anything since. He started preschool just over a month ago and they haven’t said anything. I’m assuming they’re busy with 30 kids in there.

I will wait for the hearing test and then consider private SALT. Thank you once again.

@K2012 Hello, some update with speech?

@Dadofboy842 hello, since he started preschool and we increased his days from 2 to 4 in nursery it’s a little bit better. He’s had some therapy in the nursery with SALT and awaiting more. He still can’t say any sentences but it’s a little bit better than before.

Did he get a hearing test @K2012 ? I know you were waiting for an appointment.

@ToDuk yes he went a few weeks after I started this thread but they said he might have some fluids in his ears that day as they couldn’t complete the test so told us to wait 3 months for another test so we are going again next week.

That sounds like glue ear. Did they suggest grommets if it persists?

@ToDuk they didn’t mention anything yet. They asked if he’d had a cold recently and I said no and then they said they’ll repeat the test in 3 months. They said a cold could be the reason for the fluids in the ears.

Given his severe speech delay you do not want to wait three months.
Get hin seen sooner maybe privately and grommets. You cannot afford to wait.

@cestlavielife where do I even start to go privately? Can you recommend any in the UK?

@K2012 given that your appointment is next week I wouldn't worry about going privately just yet. I think the pp missed that you have an upcoming appointment. See what they say first. He may not need grommets at the moment.

You can ask at your appt if the ent sees kids privately or can recommend
But please do not wait if ypur kid has speech issues and fluid as it will not be helping him at all

@cestlavielife Okay I will
ask.

@ToDuk I had the dates mixed up! The appointment is this week so I will update here after.

Update:

The result is back. He has glue ear in both ears!

He has been referred to ENT but I think we will go private. I don’t even know where to start now. Any suggestions?

The options for glue ear are grommits (surgery, long long wait times) or often now they give you hearing aids until the glue ear resolves. Did audiology not offer this? I would push for something, as it is clear that it is impacting your child’s ability to understand and communicate.

Where we are there is a 14 month wait list for paediatric ENT

See if the nhs ent does private.
Otherwise look up private paediatric ent and your area

I'd strongly advise going private if possible to cut the wait. Grommets are a very straightforward operation.

DS had two lots. One at 2 and a half and one at 3 and 3/4 (also adenoids out). He didn't really start speaking until the Christmas he was 3.5 and now, a year later he is saying loads just some of his sounds aren't quite there. He's even got his phonics sounds and he's been fine at school.

We had insurance but I think it's just a case of goggling a local private ent and going from there.

So glad you know!
Some places do offer hearing aids instead of grommets. There are pros and cons of either but definitely worth looking at private surgery if you can afford it.

If he has Glue Ear, you can join the NDCS for support and it’s free I think or at least used to be.

Thank you everyone for all the replies @lanzlucy @cestlavielife @Allswellthatendswelll @ToDuk @SleafordSods

We got private healthcare so I will look into it. How much is private surgery and how long does it take? How long do I need to take off work for his recovery etc.?

@lanzlucy audiology has not offered anything but a referral to ENT on the NHS.

Ask your private healthcare provider which ent they work with.
Depending on ypur plan you shpukd not have to pay yourself Is quick surgery day case