34month old - a world of problems

[Ahmediapm]

Hello all.

My wife and I have a very special little boy but every month that passes we get more worried about his developement.

He doesn’t speak apart from “oh no” which we have had since he was probably 18 months. He knows what is going on and has his father’s mischievous humour but can’t express himself. The NHS Speech people said because he understands, they’re not too worried, but we worry!

He’s been in nursery since Feb but seems to have made no progress whatsoever.

He also has a bad habit of smacking both of us as well as other children and adults. We think this is out of fraustration but we don’t know how to stop it. It’s difficult to send him to a naughty corner because he can’t respond.

It got a bit much today when we put up the Christmas tree and got no response. He barely looked at the tree and was more interested in the TV being on.

Are we right to be really worried, what can we do to stop the smacking and get him to talk?

TIA

so hes almost 3?

What has the health visitor suggested? Are they thinking he might have autism?

I think you can encourage speech by talking to him, and talking around him. Singing songs etc. All the usual things, and if he has some words and understanding then the likelihood is he will start talking soon. When you say hes made no progress whatsoever, what do you mean?

We’ve not seen the health visitor in a couple of years - not since he was about 12 months.

When I say there has been no progress, we have seen no signs of any development in his speech and my wife is a former nursery nurse - she’s the one looking at his progress.

We feel we don’t know which way to turn for advice.

I think id go to the GP and ask for a referral to their specialist health visitor if they have one.

Does he make eye contact normally. Does he engage with you or want to show you things? Whats his playing like. What sort of things is he interested in?

He might just be a late talker, but if you suspect something like autism then the earlier you can get support in place before he starts school the easier it will be later.