Hello
I posted a while back under in the development forum as I had concerns re my DS's development.
Finally had referral appt today, and we have been referred to speeach therapist (I think she said it was a programme called 'Talk to me' or something, but was all bit in shock and didn't write it down, won't make that mistake again).
Plus also an early intevention team,she referred to as 'portal'.
Although I sort of expected this, its still all a bit of a shock.
I thought DS had made some good progress recently - he finally started to wave, point etc last month (21 months), and also make a few non-babbbling words (eg mow for mouse).
But she did lots of observations and said his development in some areas was very good (eg putting different shapes into their corresponding holes), and the fact that his communication is so far behind was her main worry (eg where one area of development is ahead and the other behind, rather than it all being ahead or behind).
His eye contact is good, but she was concerned he didn't acknowledge (eg look at) her or the junior doc when he went into the room, just went straight to the toys. He did engage when she sat next to him though.
This is consistant with his behaviour - eg take him to a puppet show and he doesn't look at the puppets, just does his own thing, which is often collecting the same sort of objects together, or posting them into a box or something.
He doesn't do imaginiative play - I've taught him to put his cars in his little garage, but he'd just as happily send a crayon down the shoot. It's like he doesn't realise it's cars - they're just objects. He did pass me some Mr Potato Head glasses the other week which I got very excited about (I wear glasses sometimes), but that's about as far as its gone.
Also he's very aggressive towards other children when they crowd his space which is v stressful, and again she said this would be linked to delayed communication as he doesn't really understand empathy (eg sometimes other children offer him a toy but he just thinks they're trying to ruin what he's doing and scratches them).
His tantrums are also terrible and he often injures his head as he throws himself back. Linked to not being able to communicate I suppose.
I'm rabbling on here and I'm no even sure why. I suppose I'm wondering what to expect.
She said he mainly had to work on Shared... something. She lost me a bit, something about a triangle of communication??
Thought I'd feel relieved, but just feel sad really as I guess deep down I hoped she'd say no he's completely fine and developing normally. Still, he's only 23 months so lots of time ahead.
Plus he can be so loving when he's in the mood, and does have plenty of smiles, his eye contact is really good generally, and despite the aggression he does like other children - eg when they chase him around.
She did say she'd seen loads of positive things.