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Parenting

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Speech delay in 3 year old

54 replies

K2012 · 08/07/2025 18:03

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.

OP posts:
Onceuponatimethen · 06/12/2025 16:39

I can recommend a private ENT and will pm you.

ToDuk · 06/12/2025 19:08

K2012 · 06/12/2025 15:33

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.

The referral to ENT is the chance for you to talk about grommet surgery or hearing aids really and to get the pros and cons.

Recovery takes a couple of days really.

Periperi2025 · 06/12/2025 19:14

My dd was under SALT from 2.5 to 5.5, she was potty trained before two, there is no reason he can't potty train, especially as he understands everything you're saying and can get some words out.

My DD is 7 now and bilingual and the strongest reader in her year.

If he can understand everything and the SALT isn't particularly concerned and has advised to give him more time, i don't think you need to be overly worried, he'll get there with time.

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Pryceosh1987 · 07/12/2025 02:14

My mother did this for me. She said i kept moaning and not speaking. So she took me to a speech therapist. It worked wonders for me.

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