SPEECH DIFFICULTIES

[spursmum]

DOES ANYONE HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THEIR DS/DD? MY DS IS 3YRS OLD AND ONLY SAYS 8 WORDS. HE CAN COUNT TO 6 CLEARLY, JUICE AND NO! I'VE YET TO TALK TO SOMEONE WHO'S CHILD HAS SUCH SEVERE DELAYS AS HIS. ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO GET HIM TO SPEAK?

Hi Spursmum. Have you spoken to your Health Visitor or doctor about your concerns? It might be worth asking for a referral to a speech and language therapist (SALT). Does your ds seem to understand when you speak to him?

Hi spursmum,

Have you spoken to your HV about this. It would be worth getting your DS's hearing checked. Sometimes children don't hear a full range of sounds - especially if they have glue ear etc which isn't always apparent and can be picked up with special testing. Your HV can refer you. At the same time ask her to refer your DS to a Speech and Language Therapist for further advice regarding encouraging speech. Do this as soon as possible so that any problems can be sorted out before he goes to school.

On encouraging speech:

Lots of play and include reading to him, singing songs with him etc.

Have a special "quiet time" each day when the TV etc is off and spend some time on an activity such as reading, point things out in the books and ask him to show you where things are.

If he has a dummy get him to take it out when speaking.

If he says anything give praise.

If he mispronounces anything just repeat it back to him so he can hear how it sounds(don't make him repeat it).

I am sure there are some SALT's who post here and might see this. Am sure they'll have advice too.

Lastly, don't worry - it'll get sorted but definitely get his hearing checked.

hi, we had a problem similar to this with my now 3 yr old and was referred to the hospital for hearing tests and speech therapy, we were also referred to a special toddler group which combined speech therapy with play and song, which ds2 loved.

did you not mention this to your health visitor at his 2 year check? even so if you are worried i would definatley give them a call and arrange a home visit to talk it over. i hope that your health visitor is as helpful as mine.

HE STARTED SEEING HIS HV OVER 18 MONTHS AGO AND SALT A YEAR AGO. HE NOW GOES TO A SPECIALIST NURSERY WHERE HE GETS ONE TO ONE EVERY DAY. HE UNDERSTANDS ME PERFECTLY AND I JUST GET SO FRUSTRATED AS I HAVEN'T GOT A DIAGNOSIS.

Hi spursmum,

I found this link a while ago when I was searching for some stuff about speech and language. There's also another website which was really good and applied well to children. I'll try and find that too and post it.
It's really frustrating when awaiting a diagnosis - especially if nothing is really obvious.

THANKS FOR THAT SITE ARAGON IT'S GOT SOME FLASH CARDS THAT I CAN PRINT OUT TO EASE THE TATRUMS(I HOPE!)

hi spursmum, my ds2 sees a speech therapist but biggest break through was when dp started playing nonsense word games with him and he seemed to enjoy speaking for the first time. just silly things like getting him to say wibble, or fetang eckie (monty python i think)

re tantrums: have you thought about baby sign language just to ease things whilst you are waiting? everything i have read says it encourages speech and might help clarify how much he understands. born2sign is quite a good site tho some have expressed concerns that it is american sign language. wasnt a problem for me cos we dont use sign language with anyone but ds3! good luck, hth

For some reason he doesn't respond to sign. he's just not interested in watching,copying etc probably why his SALT recommened using PECS system

Well Spursmum here I am!! pleased to finally find someone in the same position too!!
My ds is 4 years old and has a very limited vocab, he knows his abc, can count to ten, his colours and shapes (though not as clearly as his peers). He attends mainstream nursery where he receives one to one attention and is also having speech therapy. I have two older children all of whom have had a delay but it has got longer down the line. His dx is severe speech and language delay and I am now in the process of having him statemented for school - fingers crossed.

I'd suggest you post this on the special needs board, you'll get more responses. Although I'm one of the two SLTs that posts here, you'll find that mumnetters are just as willing to give you their advice/opinion on the problem.

Its far too frustrating to post professional opinions - I know other people who feel the same way - and it sometimes opens up a forum for NHS bashing so I have decided not to post as an SLT anymore, but hope one of the mums can help you, good luck