To wonder when my son may start understanding?

[L0ts]

I have a 3.5 year old with ASD who scripts all day long, repeats words you say but has next to no understanding. It’s never been too much of a problem as he will hand lead you to what he wants and where he wants to go, but recently even that isn’t cutting it for him.

The last week has been nothing short of hell on earth. He seems sad ALL the time. He hand leads us to the snack cupboard but refuses everything, takes us to his chair for dinner, eats five bites of his meal and he’s screaming again. Hand leads us to his shoes, the front door etc, yet wants to go nowhere, cries in the car, his pram, at the park, everywhere. He managed 20 minutes at soft play yesterday and then wanted to leave.

I feel like it’s all stemming from a lack of understanding and a lack of communication skills. Like I said, he isn’t non verbal, he sings, counts, knows the alphabet, shapes, animals, planets and can say phrases like ‘come on’ ‘bye bye’ but they all have no context behind them. For example whilst he’s been sad and crying he’s repeatedly been doing the days of the week in a very sad tone.

It’s breaking my heart that I can’t help him, we have tried PECS, sign language etc, nothing helps his understanding in regards to communication. Is anybody else’s ASD child like this? Or were they when they were young? I’m besides myself this week honestly 😔

Does DS receive SALT?

@Thatsnotmycar Yes but if truth be told they are useless. He had one session in June and that was it. She gave us no report back of any kind, didn’t book him in another session and failed to send us the recourses she said she was putting together for him.

We spent weeks in August/September chasing it up and she gave us countless excuses. She hasn’t even mention any new sessions, has rang his nursery and had a phone call with them, they are the only ones being proactive with us.

Does DS have an EHCP? If so, SALT can be included in there so it must be provided - this route can mean DC get more provision, more frequently than they otherwise would. If not, have you thought about applying for an EHCNA?

The nursery have mentioned getting an EHCP in place because they want it for him before he starts reception next September. They said they want to see how he goes by Christmas, if he can maybe miraculously start to follow their routine (they say he’s on a solo mission whenever he’s there) and if not then they’ll apply and get the ball rolling.

If DS starts school next September you need to be applying for an EHCNA now. The process takes 20 weeks if you don’t have to appeal, but many do have to appeal, some more than once, and appeals are currently taking around a year, so you need all the time you can get. You can apply yourself.