DS's speech

[HHH3]

I started a thread on chat last night about DS2's speech and some people directed me over here. I can't link to the thread as I'm on the app but if anyone can then please feel free.

DS2 is 23 months and barely speaks. He has 3 words that other people understand and another 3 words that only I understand. That's it. He signs so is mostly able to make himself understood but the speech just isn't happening.

Every time I've raised a concern I've been told they don't start worrying until children are 2. That's fine but he's approaching 2 now and I'm still really worried (in fact I'm increasingly worried). If he were progressing, even if it was really slowly, I'd be happy with that. But nothing is changing at all. He babbles, follows instructions etc but speech just isn't happening.

I've made an appointment to see out very good GP next week who I know will listen and take me seriously. I've also made an appointment for a private speech therapy assessment for a couple of weeks time. I'm hoping that GP will refer him and that while we wait for that the private therapist can give me some pointers and things to work on. I've also (finally) managed to get hold of my HV and have arranged his 2 year check for the week after next.

I guess I'm just looking for a) some experiences and b) some reassurance that whatever the problem is, it's something that can be worked on and resolved.

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I Also wasn't saying intervention won't be required I was saying all will be ok. The end result will be ok

[chocismydrug]

bedsheets how do you know? how do you define 'ok'???

[Bedsheets4knickers]

No you define what is not ok??? Because I have an impediment and honest to god it's ok. I get along in life just fine

[chocismydrug]

good on you.my Dc will never really talk and will also have massive difficulties with understanding language all her life. it is hugely worrying for us and often just heartbreaking. but ok? not!

[Bedsheets4knickers]

I'm sorry for your dc choc

[Bedsheets4knickers]

Posted to soon , op opening already said that her dc had good understanding and could follow instruction . I really was only trying to reassure

[Bilberry]

False Reassurance does nothing but make people doubt themselves and delay seeking the help they need. It encourages people to deny or underplay real problems their dc are struggling with. Speech and language communication needs impact on all areas of a child's life and development. How can you make friends if you can't communicate? How can you learn to share, to express likes and dislikes, join in play? If you can't do this, who invites you to their parties that all the other kids go to? If you are upset or hurt how can you tell people this? If you have to throw a tantrum as your only means of communication will people understand thus or just judge and try to discipline? What about learning to read? This is a basic skill for ms education but what if you can't sound out phonics? No, false reassurance is not needed.

Op go with your gut, nothing bad will come of getting help now if it turns out he doesn't need it. Everything takes so long, for example if he needs a language unit when he starts school you need him to start being assessed a year before this. Always better to be on a waiting list and then find out it is no longer necessary than vice versa.

[HHH3]

Thank-you all for your input and advice. Sorry I haven't been around much - DS has been ill and we've spent another few hours at a&e this afternoon.

Drs appointment tomorrow so hoping for a SALT referral and I'll ask about a hearing test too.

He does have good understanding and as I said in my OP he's mostly able to make himself understood. But I've been keeping a close eye on things over the last few days and I'm definitely finding that it's becoming harder to understand what he's trying to tell me (presumably as his needs and wants become more complex). And while he does sign, he a) doesn't have signs for everything he needs/wants and b) his signs are often very inaccurate or similar/the same as other signs so it can be difficult to tell what he's trying to say.

[Bilberry]

Sorry to hear ds is poorly. Hope the trip to a&e wasn't too stressful and he is on the mend.

[HHH3]

He's asleep now although quite restless.

Every time he gets a cold recently he starts wheezing and has difficulty breathing. He has inhalers that help for a while and then seem to stop helping.

They basically said that the hospital that I'm not giving them to him properly. At hospital it took 3 of us to give him inhalers each time he had to have them - me holding him, a nurse holding his head and another nurse holding the spacer on his face and giving the inhaler. He fights...hard. At home it's just me. I do my best. And no-one could give me any better ideas on how to do it by myself

[HHH3]

That's pretty much what I do. It's got to the point where he's scared of the blanket I use

[HHH3]

Ok....went to see the GP.

Unfortunately a lot of the appt was taken up with discussing his breathing and getting a referral to paeds because of that. Which obviously needed doing/discussing but meant there wasn't much time for anything else.

As soon as I mentioned his lack of speech she shut me down. She said that he's had a lot of problems so to just give it time and that they won't see him til he's 3 anyway. She also said to go to a SALT drop in but that won't do anything.

She might well be right...but my instinct says not. Although I'd be very happy to be proved wrong.

So my plan is to have the private appt next week and if she flags anything up to then go along to a drop in with that.

[chocismydrug]

also, the paed my be able to refer you. GP/HV fobbed us off forever (and it was before I discovered MNSN and did not know about the option to self refer). We saw a paed for something unrelated but mentioned our concerns re speech and the paed referred ua.

[HHH3]

Don't worry - I won't be waiting. I'll be pushing hard for whatever he needs. Hopefully the private appt next week will be the start of that process. Then the drop in. I'm not prepared to wait another year. Because if in another year he hasn't progressed we'll be a year behind where we could've been.

It did cross my mind to mention it to the paed as well Can't hurt to try that way too!

[HHH3]

General paed. No idea on waiting times. Don't think it's too long though.

[HHH3]

I've just been thinking about DS in general. He has his 2 year check next week.

At his 1 year check he 'failed' to meet every criteria except one (can't remember which one but think it might have been fine motor skills). He didn't just miss them slightly, they were almost all 'cause for concern'.

The HV said not to worry and that she'd review him in a couple of months and that never happened. And to be fair I didn't chase it as life just got in the way iyswim.

When I spoke to her last week to arrange his 2 year check she joked about him missing all the targets again and that she'd just reassure me that he's fine. But with his speech as well now I'm starting to wonder if there's a bigger picture.

We have a good relationship and I can talk honestly with her so I'm wondering, if he missed targets again, should I ask for some sort of referral? I think I'm going to ask for a copy of his 1 year check as well so I can compare them.

I think the problem is that he's a happy, smiley, confident little boy who understands and awful lot and communicates in his own way. So on the face of it there's nothing glaringly obvious. But that doesn't reassure me and there's something niggling me (I just can't put my finger on it).

[HHH3]

Thanks zzzzz. I'm going to have to put my foot down, aren't I? If she tried to delay can I insist? Does she have to refer if I insist she does?

I'm seriously considering nursery on January (he qualifies for the 2 year old funding). If he goes then maybe they'll pick up on things as well. But my biggest worry is how he'll communicate with them. He does communicate really well considering he doesn't talk but that's with me - I spend 24/7 with him and understand him. Other people just don't understand what he's trying to tell them.

[naty1]

My DD has a loose ish lip tie and her pronunciation is almost perfect.
Is his really tight- ie can you brush his teeth etc
Apparently lip tie almost always has posterior tongue tie. (Im not sure she does but its never been checked)
She also was nightmare bf.
I think if he didnt meet 1st yr and may not meet 2nd yr they should refer him.
I take it he wasnt prem?
Kids can suddenly make huge progress with speech.
I found a picture book with DD saying the name really helped increase language (but sure youve tried this)
I also have lip tie (again loose) and Dmum always says my speech was good. You may find you or DH has one. It seems to go along with allergies/asthma.
Could he have reflux, maybe that would affect speech