This might become jumbled and long so apologies in advance if it does.
Ok, DS is 4, dx with autism nearly a year ago.
DD will be 2 next month. Her verbal communication is the concern. She really only has 3 words, "no", "more" and "bye". She will use these words daily and in the correct context. In terms of autism, I'm not concerned. Her non-verbal communication is very good, great eye contact and joint attention, pointed at the right age etc. She highlights just how little DS understood at the same age. After going through the whole process with DS, I'm much more clued up on the "red flags" and I don't see any of them.
There are lots of words that she has said at some point over the last year but she won't say them now. If you ask her to say something, she might attempt something (that sounds nothing like what you asked her to say) but she probably would just stay quiet. She'll sometimes make a throaty noise, like she's saying the word without opening her mouth. We did More Than Words with DS so we are using those strategies but it really is making no difference. Her speech is definitely not moving forward, if anything I feel like we're going backwards. She is now starting to make her own sign language. She'll tap her lips if she wants something to eat, for example.
We attended a triage appointment for nhs salt last week. The therapist was lovely and said she didn't see anything that concerned her, other than DDs lack of speech. She agreed non-verbal was good, and that we should look at ways of giving DD a form of communication. She suggested learning a few makaton signs, and hopefully DD might start to talk a bit more when the pressure for speech is gone.
So, my questions before you all fall asleep from my long post!
My gut feeling is that DD doesn't want to talk rather than can't. She is quite a shy girl, could it be some kind of anxiety thing? I have no experience of anxiety disorders but I would have thought she was too young?
Is there anywhere you can pick up some signs for free on the internet, rather than through the makaton charity? It is quite expensive and as she is only 2, we probably wouldn't need much of it.
, and to anyone that made it to the end!
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My 2yo DD, her lack of speech and teaching her to sign. Advice please.
11 replies
Lookslikerain · 29/01/2014 19:15
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