Non-verbal child

[July27]

Hi everyone. Just needed a bit of advice. My son is 3 years and 9 months so nearly 4. He doesn’t say a single word or even copy. Sometimes I notice it as if he can’t get the words out or make certain sounds for example the p, s, n etc sounds. I sometimes suspect that he could have speech dyspraxia or some kind of issue other than just speech delay. I don’t know how to go about this. He doesn’t get a salt appointment often maybe every 5 months and he’s only had one so far. He’s started nursery and I really want to help him so he’s able to communicate at school as well as home. Tia.

Also to add, he pointed late, waved late, makes humming sounds. Can understand questions/commands but sometimes understanding is not there for example if I say 'if you go to the toilet I’ll give you a sticker'. He’ll just understand the part where he gets a sticker 😅.

Does DS have an EHCP?

Has he seen/been referred to any other HCPs?

So he’s part of a group of health care professionals called the early years forum in which he sees a community paediatrician which is every few months. Also has had appointments with the health visitor and is going to have a plan made for him at school according to his needs.

Hello there, have you ever tried to use a different type of communication with him? Using a visual tool for communication could help.

It is brilliant DS is already under the community paeds team.

If you are in England, you should request an EHCNA yourself. On their website, IPSEA has a model letter you can use. An EHCP is the route to secure more SALT provision than DS will get on the NHS.

Hi, I’ve tried using pecs but he doesn’t cooperate.

Which website do I request this on sorry? I have no clue what an EHCNA & EHCP is. Thanks for mentioning them I will look into it.

An EHCP is an Education, Health and Care Plan. It is a legal document that sets out a child or young person’s needs and the provision they require to meet those needs.

An EHCNA is an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment. It is the needs assessment you first request from the Local Authority (LA) as part of the process of getting an EHCP.

IPSEA is a charity who supports parents of DC with Special Educational Needs (SEN). On their website, they have a model letter you can use to send to the LA to request an EHCNA.

Thank you so much for this info! Will look into it.

@July27 there are many more tools if he's not responding to PECS (e.g. emotional regulation charts, behaviour reinforcement & reduction, Colour-coded emotion chart, colourful semantics, social stories). I don't know if it's allowed to share links. In case you're interested, I guess you can always PM me. Hope you'll find the right tools for your child to find his voice.

Thank you. I will PM you cause I’d love to know more.