Case for concern?

[Paribus]

We have just met with our friends DS and I need the advice of someone experienced please. He is 2,3, almost non- verbal (3 languages- 2 at home plus English at nursery), lost his words at around 2 (had a few before that), now has around 15 words including sound imitations, no phrases obviously.

High pitched screams, lines up cars at home (as if he is parking them one after another), loves to look at the wheels. However he has eye contact (not great, but still does), follows simple instructions, imitates actions, cuddles and kisses.

Would you be concerned or am I imagining things? I told them that it's worthwhile to get him seen by SALT re speech regress.

Unlikely to get slt referral without paed, tbh. Waiting lists usually a mile long.

Paribus - it was our HV and GP (a couple of them at our surgery) that kept giving us the "all kids develop differently" thing for ages. We finally had to get a referral through the school nurse to see a paediatrician and the paed listened to us and agreed that DS2 needed assessment.

I think the main reason people are asking further questions about the parents is that often there are posters (on this board and others) that are NOT the child's parent that practically steamroll into the child's life insisting they have SNs (ASD, ADHD, etc) based on a couple snapshots of the child's life and can be rather aggressive about it, without regard to the parent at all. That kind of thing really frustrates me. We actually had someone like that when DD was young that was very pushy insisting DD had SNs (and DD is NT, so they were completely incorrect in their assumption), and it can be (from a parent's perspective) very irritating.

It's a bit of a touchy thing sometimes.

Madwoman- we have private SALT, so our friends will come to her, she doesn't need any referral.
Triggles- thanks, I know gps can be very dismissive :(.
To all- thanks, guys, I will talk to our SALT this week and will take it from there. I hope it is indeed all developmental and nothing serious.

I has a private salt first and she was happy to write a letter supporting my concerns as were DS's pre school. TBH I feel that we were fortunate we didn';t have tp push to hard for referal and the paed took our concerns seriously even though I wouldn't class ds as a severe case.

It may also have helped that there is asd in our family so they saw that as a red flag. Plus ds was always pleasingly "difficult" at every appointment and I may a point of sitting in silence when any proffesional tried to interact with so as not to help them out!

We still see our private salt by the way 18 months on so I didn't mean to dismiss the idea of seeing one just that you perhaps won't get answers as to a diagnosis from one. If that makes sense?

Cats, it's not my DC, it's my friends, but I agree re SALT ;)

I think if your friend is open to the idea of seeing a private salt that is a step in the right direction

Sounds very like my ds of the same age
Do you have any speech assessment drop in at childrens centres near you or anything like that? could be a good route to get the slt referral and thats also where I got my dses cdc referral from, so if gp is not too good then suggest her to try that if it is available?

Thank you,cats and firawla. I will talk to our SALT this week and ask her what she would do, would she want to see our friends son herself or may be she would refer him to the developmental paed. Thanks again.

Yep, let them see SLT, brief her first though. If they deny the problem but feel a messenger needs shooting, the professional is a better target than you. Cos professionals come & go, but if their DS has long term major issues, friends who stay around are like gold dust.