Hi
Not really sure if this belongs here or 'behaviour and development' section but just wanted to get some thoughts about my 2 yr old ds and thought people may be more knowledgeable over here.
This is my ds2, who is 2.4. He has very delayed speech, with not more than 10 words he uses and alot of them not pronounced properly eg 'ba' for bye, and half of them sound very similar to each other.
I have had him seen by a slt, just to be referred on not for any proper sessions as we are still waiting for the appointments to come, and also still waiting for the hearing test which is soon
But what i cant help keep worrying about with him is whether its just a speech and language delay or something more to it. He was also a late walker and late in his motor development like crawling and pulling to stand, but not extremely extremely late - crawling and pulling to stand at 1 yr, started walking at 18.5 months but not properly walking until 20 months, ie before that he would fall after however many steps and was not able to stand up again so he had to go back to crawling. I'm not sure if those are considered late or just at the late end of normal, so not important? He now does walk okay even though I thought he wouldnt be able to do it without help (he had a pshyio referal but it did not come through in time anyway) because he was not able to put his feet flat he used to cruise around on tiptoes, but he eventually got it.
Even with eating food he was late, at 7 months he still used to have the tongue thrust and gagging thing, but again after that he was fine and now he eats totally normal
Its just niggling in the back of my mind that with him developing slower in all these areas is there some reason for it.
I have had him seen informally by a couple of different special needs people, in childrens centre environments and the 1st one said his understanding and cognitive skills was all absolutely fine. 2nd one said she could not engage or connect with him at all and could not assertain whether he can understand anything or not, and that he had no concentration span and no ability to play. she basically ranked him right at the bottom of the pyramid thing she had.. the first one was done in a place he was very comfortable with and 2nd in a new environment with all staff and children he did not know, which maybe accounts for the differences but still confusing to be told very conflicting views like this, both by professionals
The 2nd one also refered him to the child development centre, im not exactly sure what that is for maybe to assess him more or just check him out? but there was info missing from referral so that was sent back, and i had to resubmit it so who knows how long that will take before he actually gets the appointment..
I have done the asd chat thing and that came back low and also professional that knows him really well has said its not likely to be asd as his personality does not show any signs, but i can't help think that there is something - but i just dont know what? then at other times i just say to myself maybe it will just be his hearing and once he has that test he might start to talk and then he will be fine.. i just dont know :( its possible i am just a bit neurotic and worry too much, like with the walking he sorted himself out eventually but i am worried so much about the speech that this will cause him to fall so behind his age group. he behaves overall like younger than his age and always has seemed like that, but i dont know if thats just an impression that comes from not being able to talk like others his age and previously not being able to walk and move like others of his age..
sorry this is really long! but any thoughts?? and thanks if anyone replies