Advice and help for toddler...

[enjoythemoment]

Hi All,

I'm new to this board, but really looking for some advice and a handhold. Sorry it's long.

I have a DS who is 2 and 4 months, he is behind on his speech, and only really says mum, dad, hiya, and a few noises for animals and cars.
He is a very busy boy and is always fiddling with things, and working out how things works, likes pressing buttons and shape sorters and puzzles.
I have always thought he was a bit more sensitive than other kids his age but just thought they're al different.
He recently started nursery and today they have advised that they believe he will benefit from additional support and needs one on one support, so he will be assessed to see if they can be put into place, their reasons were his behaviour and that he doesn't like loud noises.
I will phone the HV visitor tomorrow to push for speech therapy referral, but I feel a bit out of my depth and not sure how else to help and move forward.
Anyone who has any experiences or advice would be really appreciated.

Bump

Hello

Didn't want to read and run. Well done on contacting your health visitor and working with the nursery. Its always hard to hear thst your child may need a bit of help. But that is what it is. Help to help your child move forward with their language development. He sounds like he has a good problem solving head on him! :)

Have a look on your "local offer" website. Google your local authority name and local offer. There should be a whole section for under fives. Sometimes you don't need health visitor to refer to SALT but definately good to ring your health visitor.

I would ask the nursery what they plan to use the 1:1 support for as 1:1 doesn't always benefit the child unless it is to do some specific intervention rk e.g.. language games and activities rather than someone just being with him.

Have a look at hungry little minds and bbc tiny happy people websites

As well as ICAN and the communication Trust have lots of ideas and activities you can do at home. Just pick 1 activity and do it daily for 10 minds and hopefully you will see some progress in your sons language :)

@456789t thank you for the advice that is really helpful.
We have managed to get him a speech assessment with health visitor next week which means she can then refer him for speech therapy so keeping my fingers crossed this helps.

My little one had glue ear and didn't start talking or repeating words until he had grommets fitted. NHS Salt in my area are also useless as they don't do any 1:1 therapy for under 5's as they have a watch and wait policy for both speech therapy and glue ear. If you have the money go private and get assessed as my son has been waiting for a hearing test since October 2019 and we've gone private for speech therapy.

Hi @jasmine867 thanks for your reply. Did you go the gp to get referred for hearing test, or did you go straight and book privately?
My health visitor is coming next week, so will ask her as no one has suggested a hearing test.

My health visitor referred me for the nhs but I went private straight away when I heard the waiting list time. I went to see an ENT doctor he confirmed my son had glue ear and booked the hearing test. Find a good ENT in your area and they should be able to help with the rest.