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.

[HHH3]

Someone has mentioned verbal dyspraxia and I had a look at some info but didn't really understand it So oversimplifying it is good!

So...

Receptive language - he definitely understands a lot of what I say.

Expressive language - can I assess that using his signing?

Speech production - how do I work out whether he can't form the right sounds? Or would the SALT do that?

With other things...

On the 2 year questionnaire he flies through fine motor skills (which doesn't surprise me). But 'fails' on gross motor skills. Would that work for general dyspraxia or would he have to be having trouble with both?

Re seeing a private therapist. I can afford this consultation and may be able to afford some private sessions but it's not something I can afford to do long term. So if we can get an NHS referral it'll be that plus as much as I can learn to do at home.

[Ahhhcantthinkofagoodname]

Speech production is relatively easy to assess, can your son say the single sounds, eg b,b,b, or d,d,d, or a a a or e e e or oooo or ahhhh. If he can do these can he copy one syllable words? You can see how you would extend that. For example some autistic children can say anything you ask them to but don't understnad it, for them speech production is fine but receptive langwuge a problem. My son didn't used to be able to say any single consonant sounds except d even though he understood hundreds of words.

Expressive language is harder to assess if speech production is limited. I guess signing might be a way of assessing it. With my son we could sometimes tell if he knew the word, for example he would say dees if shown a picture of keys and Doosh for shoes.

[Ahhhcantthinkofagoodname]

I'm afraid I don't really know about how what it means if his fine motor skills are ok but not gross motor skills aren't.

Re therapy, yes there's lots of work you ca do at home. Our NHS and privates therapists both gave us materials from the Nuffield programme to work with. And we get middle rate DLA which just about covered the cost of private therapy. That might be something you could look at...

[Ahhhcantthinkofagoodname]

Zzzzzzz I was saying MY son was a bit delayed in expressive language, not the OPs son.

[2boysnamedR]

Slt will assess all areas of language. My toddler can't mimic animal sounds so is severely delayed as most one year old can mimic sounds. Dyspraxia is fine and gross but again it's hard to judge yourself. Ds can do Lego so I never saw the problems

[HHH3]

Thanks 2boys.

You know what makes me really sad? He's never called me mummy. I know it sounds silly. He's a gorgeous, happy, confident little boy who's always smiling. I have so much to be thankful for. And yet my heart aches for him to look at me say 'mummy'.

[HHH3]

2 year check this morning. Really nervous and worried. Don't know why - I know what he's scored already. Probably because I'm worried about having to argue and push for things - I don't like arguing.

[2boysnamedR]

Ds is almost three and never said mummy. We are viewing a language unit today :0(

[HHH3]

Hope it goes well 2boys.

What exactly is a language unit?

[HHH3]

HV has been. She's suggested I take him to a SALT drop in to get the ball rolling. That's something I'm planning to do anyway once he's had the private assessment tomorrow.

She's also coming back in 2 weeks to do an extended questionnaire to see if he needs referring to a cdc. Although she said that, apart from speech, she thinks he's just at the late end of 'normal' with everything.

[2boysnamedR]

It's a pre school nursery but with a small extra class that focuses on language problems. My ds is going to a panel to get into this one.

[HHH3]

Have you had a look yet?

[Ahhhcantthinkofagoodname]

Speech and language drop in sounds like a sensible thing to do, that was our route into the speech and language service. The only thing is the speech therapist at the drop in wouldn't do the referral until we had ruled out hearing problems so we had to get referral to audiologist vfrom GP and jump through that hoop before returning to the drop in and (finally) getting the referral.

Also good to get the referral to CDC, make sure you answer the questions about your DS on a bad day if that makes sense.

I don't think my DS Could say mummy at the age your sons are (I remember being min for a long time!) I also remember he was only able to say no shortly after his 3rd bday.

I wish I had known about language units for pre school children when my son was little. We were lucky his mainstream nursery were (eventually) supportive and once his diagnoses were confirmed the nursery got extra funding from the LEA to give him extra support. Now DS is 4.5 and is in a wonderful primary school with a speech and langwuge unit.

A unit is basically a place where children can get specialist intervention and support for their needs. E.g. My sons class at his school is 20 kids of different ages who all have speech and langwuge problems as their primary need. The class is staffed by 2 teachers and 2 teaching assistants, so much better ratio than a typical mainstream class. There is a speech therapist based at the school who delivers individual and group therapy to DS. I'm guessing a pre school setting follows a similar model.

[2boysnamedR]

I had a look. It was a ratio of 7:2 with a slt coming in twice a week. Much better ratio than mainstream. Plus the staff are so clued up in this area. Amazing!

[HHH3]

2boys - so glad to hear that

Thank-you all for the amazing advice I've been given. Yesterday and today have been a bit of a roller coaster with DS's 2 year check yesterday and speech therapy assessment today. I'm going to start a new thread about it all later, along with some other things I've noticed, as it's going to be long! In all - I'm worried

[HHH3]

I have to ask...what does honk honk mean? I keep seeing it but don't understand it

[HHH3]

Love it So true!