Unusual speech in 2 year old

[speechworries23]

My DD is 25 months old. She was a bit late to speak her first words but now she has a pretty big vocabulary (although you wouldn’t necessarily know it as her pronunciation is still very poor). Her functional speech isn’t the best, in that she can’t always tell me what she wants even though she has the words to do so.
Lately I’m concerned with the way she speaks. It’s hard to describe but she says words and phrases exactly the same way every time (similar to echolalia I think) and with unusual intonation. For example if she wants down out her high chair she will say ‘ha, cha-dun’ (‘high-chair down’ to me and you), always pronounced with the same sing-song intonation and wrong spacing between the syllables. She also repeats words and phrases several times, like ‘shoes on, shoes on, shoes on’ when we are getting dressed.
I’ve had other niggles re. possible ASD but it can be hard to always put a finger on exactly what my concerns are, she’s just not ‘typical’ in many ways.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Would a SLT take me seriously with these concerns?

Hi speechworries23,
Alot of what you are saying sounds very similar to my son. He is now 3 years and 4 months and whilst his speech has come on well I still have my concerns. He has been referred for ASD assessment. I had him seen by a SALT around 33months and she said he had quite a sing song voice at that time but he might grow out of it. She said his was ahead for his receptive language and that his expressive would also catch up. She was right but I still see differences in his language development and others. I have a feeling he is a gestalt language processor. He picked up songs and rhymes so quickly when he was younger, was singing before he could talk properly. Whilst he didn't ever repeat phrases from the TV he would use alot of what we said, always in the correct context, back to us. He also repeated/echoed alot, he still does this but not in a way to communicate, more in a confirmation kind of way.
I felt exactly like you, and still do actually, I just have niggles that he isn't typical even though he's doing amazingly well. He was assessed by developmental paediatrician in October who said he had no learning delays, was age appropriate but could hear the difference in his speech. His words were, that may just be him! And that we shouldn't be rushing to liable him. Honestly found that strange considering it's a diagnosis not a label but anyways, he is going to see him again in a years time and we will take it from there.
What other niggles do you have? I think a SALT would absolutely take you seriously, that's their job, the lady I went to see was lovely, I actually might take my son back again soon to see what she thinks of his language development now.

Arrgghhh the amount of spelling and grammar mistakes in my post....please ignore lol

That sounds really similar @Brolly28 glad to hear your son is doing well!
Other things that make me suspect ASD include limited imaginative play. Eg she will play with her tea set with me but only in the exact way I’ve shown her and it’s as if she’s just going through the motions while she’s doing it rather than enjoying and pretending if that makes sense? She knows to pour the tea, then pass the cup to me then we drink the tea and say yum yum and repeat. But it doesn’t feel like she’s ‘playing’ but just doing what she knows she’s supposed to do…..
She’s also disinterested in other children and prefers to play on her own. I feel guilty as I probably don’t spend enough time engaging with her while she plays during the day but she is just happy doing her own thing with no input from me? Other people say they can’t get 2 minutes peace from their toddler!
On the other hand she eats and sleeps well, no obsessive behaviours or lining up toys, no meltdowns or sensory issues, quite affectionate with hugs and kisses, etc etc, which I find all quite reassuring. Even if she is diagnosed with ASD one day I’m sure she’ll be at the high functioning end of the spectrum.
Do you have any other concerns about your son or is it just the speech?

Hi OP, can you provide an update on your little one? Going through something similar and worried sick. Thank you.