Speech Delay & other "red flags"

[Timepasses]

I am desperatly worried about my ds, he was 2 in February and only has 3 words. We have just had out first appointment with a speech therapist.

We have been told to work on eye contact, interaction through play and monitor how ds initiates play with us and keep words simple as possible.

DS will look at things I point a but he has never pointed or waved bye-bye but will clap along with other children at playgroup.

I have convinced myself he is autisitc, I have been in tears since for three days and am thinking the worse.

Any advice would be truly appreciated.

Really feel for youtime. Try to remember he is still your lovely little boy.

You have come to the right place for support, there are loads of people on here with loads of knowledge to share.

Do you use signs with you little one to support speech and communication? I have used MAKATON with a few children with delayed speech at work and they have got on quite well with it.

Be kind to yourself and take each day as it comes.

Oh and wecome to the board.

Welcome, it sounds like a really anxious time, DS2 was the same.

I found the only thing to do was to channel my (overwhelming) anxiety into action. You'll no doubt be scared of (i) doing the wrong thing (ii) reading books that make you even more scared. A really great and very very safe non-scary book to start with is "It Takes Two to Talk" which is published by Hanen for lots and lots of money but available most cheaply from Winslow publications for about £32. I have lost count of the number of times I wish I could pass my copy of this book to someone in your position. Mention it to your speech therapist, she will be happy for you to work from it. It won't work miracles but it will make all your usual playing/loving/fun/discipline/daily routine stuff with your little one a more effective way to help his communication.

the book is also extremely clear and can be shown to other family members without provoking debates along the "he'll be fine it's just you worrying" theme with mothers in law/other helpful characters.

for helpful I should have written "helpful" :)

PS my little boy is doing great now.

Have you looked at the CHAT questionnaire? I'll look for a link.

www.autism.org.uk/working-with/health/screening-and-diagnosis/checklist-for-autism-in-toddlers-chat.aspx It's four pages long. Worth a look even if only to set your mind at rest. If it does throw up concerns, you have some evidence to go to your GP at least.

Thank you so much, I have looked at the CHAT questionnaire, I answered yes more than no so that has made me feel a touch better.

I will check out the takes two to talk book.

Thanks again

I would like to second the recommendation of It Takes 2 to Talk. My DD has global developmental delays, so not just speech and language, but I also decided she was autistic at one stage because she was not reaching milestones like her little friends.

She has improved (or I have at least seen more of the communication she is doing with me - not all of it words) and I am doing something which really helps.

Try to think about something fun you did with your little one today, some giggles or a game you both enjoyed, rather than focusing on the potential diagnosis you are worried about. I find that also helps when I get upset about her being different to the other 18 month olds.

These boards are very good for both practical and emotional support.

my ds was at that exact same stage at 2 years, 2 words and not clear ones, mamam for dummy and mama for mummy and rarely gestured (cant remember the age he mastered it but it was late)... ds loves books and cars and we would read the same books over and over the repetition helped loads and it was something he enjoyed, match and stretch really worked with my ds too when he gained a few more words where you epeat the word back and add a describing word i.e ds said "mama" i would say "mummy cleaning" ect.

i am still worried about autism, it runs in my family and my ds does have some quirky behaviour that can't be purely down to his language problems but ds's speech is taking on a strange pronunciation and after leaving his SALT session something she said it got me looking at apraxia and dyspraxia, my brother has dyspraxia and dyslexia and he had so many problems with speech and ds has loads of the symptoms just like he does autism... im only mentioning that because i was sure ds had autism until i read about apraxia and now im not so sure.