DS3 is 22mo, mostly non-verbal after a regression 4 months ago, wasn't particularly verbal before that point, but regression is still obvious.
He has about 3/4 words, after I have worked intensely with him (been through SALT with 2 of my older DC's, but quite a while ago now). "Ball" is pretty clear, then we get "Arrr" for anything pirate related, "Rrrrr" for anything dinosaur related, "Mmmmm" for Mickey Mouse, and "plass" for splash.
He has FINALLY started pointing this week.
He also has a couple of signs that he has made up himself - one for milk that mimics me shaking the powder into the water in his bottle (on hypoallergenic formula due to severe allergies), and one that looks like the shape of glasses that he uses whenever he sees somebody wearing glasses.
He also started two weeks ago bringing things to me and putting them in my hands when he wants me to do something with them, like dragging his car mat over to me when he wants me to lay it flat on the floor for him.
He puts the item in my hand then waits with an expectant look on his face until I do what he wants. If I don't do what he wants, he moves my hand to try to get me to do it, then looks expectantly at me.
Now, I didn't get much support from SALT with my older two DC's that had speech delay, because the waiting list was far longer then, and appointments were much further apart than they seem to be now.
DD used mostly signs that she had made up (as we were never taught signing), until she started talking at 3yo, and then it was just working on her pronunciation and syntax. Discovered when she was 8yo (after discharge from SALT at 3.5yo when she still wasn't properly verbal, only 2-word sentences...) that glue ear had been masking Auditory Processing Disorder.
DS2 was totally non-verbal till 3.7yo, but first SALT appt. was not till he was 4.9yo and they discharged him straight away because I was apparently doing more myself than they had the time or budget to do, so I could cope without the appointments. He is now 9yo, was dxd with APD by school Paed at 7yo. His syntax is still horrendous (he talks like Yoda), but I have ironed out most of his mispronunciations.
My current questions are :
Does DS3 have Auditory Processing Disorder?
Should I do signing, PECS, objects of reference or just try to make him communicate with speech alone?
If signing alongside talking would be best (it has been IME), would it be possible to somehow get taught Makaton PROPERLY this time?
If PECS would be best, how would you go about it? PECS is one that I know WHAT it is, but not the theory or methods.
I would like his receptive speech and his expressive speech assessed to find out his current delay. IMO his receptive speech is at about the 15 month level, and expressive at around the 11 month level - I want to see where he is for two reasons, one for a base level to work from and see progress, and two to see how far off I am with my guesses!
I forgot to say that until 3 weeks ago, at 21 months, he had NO receptive speech at all, understood nothing of what was said to him really, well, no more than a 10/11 month old.
After working intensively with him, he can now follow simple instructions, and (of a manner, often non-verbally) 'answer' simple questions.
If I ask him to get me his dinosaur, he will go and get it if it is in his eyesight. If I ask him "where does your sock go", he will lift his foot up.
He hasn't said mum or dad for 4 months though.
Ugh! I don't know what to ask or say tomorrow - it's been over 5 years since I last saw a SALT for a first assessment, and that was at about the sane time as DD GOT her dx of APD, and BEFORE DS2 got his.
It almost feels like a new situation, as I'm going into it knowing things I didn't know about then, but not knowing everything I WANT to know IYSWIM!