Is there any way I can assess how "behind" my DS's speech is (he is 2.8)?

[crokky]

My DS is 2.8 and I think that his speech is behind. I am a SAHM and he does not yet attend nursery or preschool (he will be going 3 mornings a week when he is 3 in a few months). Therefore, he isn't really in a setting with professionals and children of the same age and it is hard for me to judge.

When my DD was born (8 months ago) and the HV came round to see her, she was not pleased with my DS's speech (he was 2.0). She didn't like his pronounciation or his level of vocabulary. She didn't suggest doing anything about it and only saw him once. I didn't think much of it because he was so young and I just wanted to let him develop at his own pace. I do see similar aged children at softplays etc and usually I find that their speech is better than DS's.

Anyway, I have moved away from my NCT group so I don't really know how they are doing that specifically with their speech.

Is there anything I can read/do in order to find out if I need to get him some help (and find out who/what that help might be)?

What is your DS's speech like? Is he putting 2 words together?

I would strongly recommend the book "the parents' guide to speech and language problems" by debbie feit. It has got a couple of chapters at the start about early problems and whether or not to just wait and see.

Also - call up your local SALT department and find out if you can 1)refer yourself if needs be or go through HV/GP, and what likely waiting time is for an appointment, 2)if they have any drop in SALT clinics (a few areas do).

some websites:-

www.ican.org.uk
www.hanen.org

Also some useful books:-

Baby Talk by Sally Ward
You Make the Difference by Ayola ~Manolson
It Takes Two to Talk by Manolson.

Thanks very much, I will look at the things you suggested.

He can sometimes put 2 words together. The words will be quite simple and he has just started to do it. He won't always do it, for example he hasn't said 2 words together today yet, but he can sometimes say something like:

"Hello Granny" with a big pause between the 2 words. (Granny will be pronounced Franny though!)

I would go to your HV and get a SALT referral in the pipeline. The waiting list tends to be very long (I think DS2 waited up to a year) so it's worth getting it started now. you can always cancel.

DS2s speech improved dramatically when he started at nursery for 2 full days a week so there is the chance your DS will improve in his preschool.

Do you think his hearing is Ok? Have you had that checked and check for glue ear?

Hi, my dd2 is the same age as your lo, she is non-verbal, we got a referal to SALT when she was 2.2. I would talk to your HV and see if you can get refered to SALT as this can take a while, we waited 6 months to see SALT.

Thanks everyone. In answer to your question SoupDragon, I think his hearing is excellent so I don't think that's what it is. I am hoping that he will improve when he goes to his preschool/nursery.

Most 2.8 year olds I know can talk in sentances- or at least string a few words together, This is only in my very limited experience so not trying to me smug or anything

so bless him, he may just need a little help.

I would def ask for referral to speech therapist through the health visitor

Does he mix with any other children his age, such as at toddler group or play dates?

lilymolly - that's what I've seen, they string a few words together and he can't. He does mix with children his own age and older/younger. All preschool children really.

DS is the same age as yours, our HV came round to do a check on newborn DD and did his 2 year check at the same time, he got referred to a SALT, took about 4 months to be seen and has only been twice since.

His speech has come on lots, he went from using made up words to two to three word sentances, though like your DS he wont use them all the time. I don't worry about it too much, he isnt at pre school until March when he turns 3 and i expect when hes around more children he'll pick it up.

He does see a few children, not many as were quite far away from toddler groups and my friends havent got DC yet, but he seems to be catching them up.

So i would get yourself to a SALT, atleast in 3 months down the line if there is a problem, you're likely to be seen quicker.

SmallShips - could you tell me exactly what the SALT did for your DS? Is is something I could do myself seeing as there is such a long wait to see one?

She didnt do anything, she assesed him, said he was still little and not too panic, she said she would keep seeing him though.

She told me to keep doing what i'm doing... reading to him, pointing everything and anything out to him and just encourage him.

She told me she doesnt really worry until they reach 4 anyway and by then pre-school has usually sorted the problem out.

It is shocking how quick they start to pick it up, DS went from saying nothing you could make out and then yesterday yelled at the top of his voice "oh for Gods sake" (i dont know where he got this from)

My DS's speech is not great, but it was absolutely perfect when DH was playing a computer game and said "shit shit shit". Naughty words are very easy to say, it seems!

hi my ds is 2.6 and has struggled with speech. He hardly said anything you could understand. HV did suggest seeing someone, but I decided it wasn't an issue until he was nearer 3. He's been going to pre school since sept and his speech has improved so much it's truly amazing. He can have a proper conversation now. I think it has alot to do with keeping up withthe other kids in his group as he is the youngest. So it might not be something to be too worried about. Give it a bit of time, and keep reading to him etc...

bumping for the evening ladies.

Croky, to answer the "is there something I could do myself" question, I second the recommendation of the book called "It takes two to talk".
It's a practical manual that shows the parent how to gently improve the child's speech by guiding the parent towards good techniques. It helps you avoid counterproductive techniques like too many questions/too much coaching.
It's lovely and completely friendly and non-scary. Expensive but worth it.

oh, by the way, I think he's doing pretty well if he's cottoned on to the two-words-together thing.

My daughter's SALT said that they do not work with individual children under the age of four as they can't concentrate and they can't hear the difference between what you are saying and what they are saying (assuming it is a speech problem rather than a language problem). They did do a group 'play' assessment when she was between 2 and 3 with a pep talk for parents (I can't remeber exactly at what age because she is now nearly 10!). I asked the HV to refer us to SALT because I was concerned that she wasn't making any 'new' sounds during a 6-9 month period.

Hope this helps.

I've heard of kids under 4 getting NHS SALT for pronunciation problems, so I don't think that's a blanket policy.

Whilst doing as the other ladies have said and looking for a SALT referral, advice I have found useful is:
1- build up verbs and verb phrases as a building block to sentences - e.g. eat/ then mummy eat/eat chocolate/want cup/DS want cup etc

2 - do a word wheel around one word that your child already knows - so if your DS knows the word dog, think of other words that would go with it to build up to 2 word phrases - e.g.
dog sleep/dog walk/dog woof/naughty dog/ dog gone/hello dog!/white dog and try and get them into your daily convo.

1. build vocab into your daily routines - so use the same sowrds when washing hands/ dressing/ brushing teeth- and start to leave gaps in what you do /say and see if he will fill them in.

My ds2 didn't put two words together until he was three. He had speech therapy which was helpful.
The earlier you flag up the problem, the better.

Ds2 is now 7 and speaking brilliantly btw

How is his comprehension? Eg, if you said to him, "Please go upstairs and get your blue jacket and bring it down here" would he understand and do it?