dyspraxia? help??

[Clarabumps]

My son's speech has always been quite slow. He is 27 months and can only say around 20 words. He can say a few sentences like "i go 'way" and "where are you?" and "whats that about?" but that is the extent of his speech. He doesnt really try to talk- he babbles on in his own language that seems like chinese. He also shrieks and screams as he is frustrated and cannot communicate with us properly. Im at my wits end, he does not attempt to do jigsaws or anything with construction really. He has no patience when it comes to problem solving skills..It just seems as though there is no real development with him from month to month..he seems the perpetual baby! I took him to the health visitor last week and they said they'd review him in six months and see where he was then. I just feel like there's something wrong with his development. I looked up developmental delay which then led on to verbal dyspraxia and quite a lot of the symptoms were consistent with my son.
I was wondering if anyone else had went through this and if anyone could offer some advice with dealing with the health visitors?I just feel in my gut that something is wrong.

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I agree with bdaonion!

Again, you sound like you have valid concerns and I wouldn't wait the 6 months. Bypass your HV, go straight to your GP and ask for a referral to a developmental Paed. Not to worry you unnecessarily, but your DS sounds a lot like my DS at the same age and he has a DX of ASD, which has many symptoms in common with dyspraxia. That may be completely inappropriate for your DS, but I wasn't pushy enough or concerned enough and my HV put me off for months. The earlier you can find out if there is any problem, the more you can do about it and early intervention is really useful.

You can refer your own child to speech and language unit if you want, or go via the gp, or contact the HV and ask them to do it now, and not wait. If you have a good GP I would go down that route and ask to see SALT and Community Paed at local hospital too!

my youngest girl has oral and verbal dyspraxia and both girls have dyspraxia. id push for a speech therapist if i were you. my DD had her from about 2yr old. certainly before nursery

I would second everything that has been suggested. My ds has severe verbal dyspraxia he is now 3.6 and has just got a dx. I knew something wasn't quite right by 18 months and went to a drop-in speech therapy sessions at the local childrens centre. We started seeing a salt from that and I am so glad I started the ball rolling early.

Janet - can I ask you how old your dd is now and how she is getting on. I don't really know anyone who dc has had a similar dx to ds

my DD is 7. she now attends a mainstream school with a language resource base attached so she gets 1-1 therapy 2 or 3 times a week plus accesses group sessions too. her speech can still be erm how do i put it - not understandable if she is speaking out of context. for instance, if she came up to you as a stranger and started telling you a random tale, you wouldnt understand much. but if you asked her what she had for tea, you would be able to work out what she was saying.
She was in the 'system' from birth really so had lots of input from lots of people from an early age. i was advised about the LRB school when she was about 4yr old but i didnt want to send her (selfish of me). i sent her when she was 6 and its the best move I have ever made

Thanks - it sounds like the school is offering her what she needs. We are visiting a mainstream sch with language resource unit tomorrow. Hopefully he will get a place there for next year.

i highly recommend it. DD moved there last june, so that she got to know people before the new school year. I cant believe i didnt do it when it was first suggested

Thanks everyone, i called my hv yesterday and pushed for a referral and she's sent one- thank the lord. I also contacted a private SALT who has experience in developmental delays and autism so she's coming for a consultation next tuesday. Its £50 I cant really afford but I feel at least i will know if i have valid reason to be concerned. My best friend tried to get a diagnosis for her eldest daughter who was profoundly deaf and she only ended up getting taken seriously when she was 4.6. So i'm just being cautious..my dp thinks i'm over-reacting as he thinks theres nothing wrong with him and i'm inventing something for him but I just want him to get the help he needs!argh! Stressed

its a man thing clara. my boyfriend was like that. ive been with him 3yrs and he doesnt have kids, so always assumed DD was just naughty etc. its only now that he is realising that shes not 'normal' and actually googles stuff for me and sends me links etc

Blokes always seem to want to play things down, while mums just worry all the time! You're doing the right thing, go with your gut instinct. If there's no problem, you've lost nothing.

thats what i think- at least then I can say i've done all i can instead of thinking.. i should of/ could of..done..insert here.. Im glad the ball is rolling at least. Thanks for all your comments..its a great help to know i'm not just being paranoid!