Hi,
Apologies as this may be a long post, but I'm not sure how concerned I should be about my LO. He's got a big brother & we're a bilingual family which are the reasons I thought he was a bit behind. He has always been a happy, smiley little boy who started walking at 10 months and has been extremely active ever since!
He's never really lets me read to him, just wants to turn the pages/do any actions in the book but has no interest in the content.
He has decent eye contact, but only when he wants. I find it impossible to catch his attention long enough to teach him face/body parts, so he still doesn't know any (used to point at eyes but no more).
He likes music but won't sit or pay any attention to nursery rhymes (does like row your boat/inch winch & wheels on the bus).
He likes animals & animal sound books & wants to touch them but has never made an animal sound (used to do chicken arms but no more).
He constantly does the things he's told not to do, looking straight at me & smiling. Sometimes he'll do it loudly then stop & run away when I come close.
His only word was 'mum' from around 18 months, but hasn't said it for ages. When he wants to says 'bye' with a wave and has very recently started saying 'ok', 'hiya' and possibly another couple of words but not clear enough to be sure.
He imitates 'shh' with finger on mouth, loves hiding & jumping out (doing it & being jumped out on), chase, cuddles, tickling, babbling to you, touching your face, watching the TV shows/movies he likes, playing with lots of toys, stacking, lining up & organising, marking with crayons & squishing playdoh, sand & water, but often seems to play a bit differently to other toddlers.
He rarely shows any response at all to his name being called or other noises, but does sometimes. We had his hearing checked a few months ago & it was fine.
We realised at around 18 months that although he seemed perfectly bright & well, he wasn't talking or listening as he possibly should be so took him to gp to be on safe side. Paediatrician visit, hearing test & speech therapist assessment later we're waiting on further appointments in april & he now goes to preschool couple of times a week to encourage speech. Preschool are concerned as he doesn't listen or have much eye contact with them at all, eats very little and climbs on tables/touches plug sockets/ does dangerous things. He shows interest in few of the things they try with him, as he's too busy running around doing what he wants.
When I say he shows little interest I don't mean he's lethargic & disinterested, but he's so busy doing his own thing he won't stop for you or pay you any attention.
He's also a very fussy eater (no fuss, just won't eat it) and alternately sleeps through or wakes up for hours in the middle of the night, full of beans.
It always takes him ages to fall asleep, after much kicking about, babbling & laughing in bed (luckily not often disturbing other son who shares room, poor little thing!).
As I said, we still have appointments with specialists but April seems a long way away. One minute I think he's fine, the next I'm worried about all sorts of issues.
Does this sound familiar to anyone who can advise me? Does it sound like there's something wrong, or will it just all fall into place soon?
Thank you for reading & any helpful advice you can give!
Xxxxx