3yo with speech delay and sensory issues - how to handle my feelings?

[PeonyBlushSuede]

Hi, I'm really hoping for a little help and support.

I have a lovely 3 year old son, who has a speech delay. We are on the waitlist for NHS speech therapy, and also on a private waitlist as NHS is around 2 years in my area. We also had the community nurse visit and do the ASQ-SE questionnaire where he scored around 125, whereas expected was 58/59 for his age so referring to the SEND services. I don't really know what they potentially see - I was almost too scared to ask.

He is such a lovely boy, all I hear from nursery is how sweet he is and they have a soft spot for him, despite his struggles with emotional regulation. He loves adults and would take your hand from meeting you to drag you off to play! He's so funny and playful.

But I'm really struggling with my feelings as well. I seem to cry all the time, which is frustrating! I just worry so much about how he is going to be and will he be ok in the future, how will he cope at school etc.

How do you get past this, I feel so helpless and in limbo as we have all these referrals but don't really know what's going on.

Apologies if this feels a bit rambling, I hope you understand my feeling/sentiments and I am not alone! x

I too have cried so much over potty training.
How are nursery supporting you ?
I wanted to share some positive news, the nursery let me know today that he did a wee on their toilet today! I don’t think it’s fully clicked just yet but to get something on the toilet makes me happy

@Melody98
That's brilliant news well done to your little boy!

@PeonyBlushSuede how are things now?

It's very true that this is very natural feeling that you are experiencing at the moment. My daughter was diagnosed at 2.5 and she's only just four now. She didn't have any sensory issues but she is speech delayed and stims a lot. And I worried incessantly for her future crying all the time. I must have cried for 2 years straight. But what changed things me pursuing different therapies over the past couple of years. I started Qigong massage on my daughter almost 6 months ago and she has changed remarkably. She is now potty trained when I never imagined a nonverbal child ever being potty trained. She sleeps through the night. She has no more meltdowns and I think we are on the path to her not having many issues in the near future when she starts school.

@PeonyBlushSuede how are things going now for you and your little one?

Thank you for asking.

He’s actually progressed so much in the last 12 months.

We have got in with a private speech therapist twice a month which has helped massively, and I think the increased speech has in turn helped the emotions.

he has also moves to a bigger room at nursery, so there are quiet corners he can escape to when it gets too much.

We have got potty training done, which never thought we would get there!

he still struggles with emotional regulation and sensory stuff at times but I feel we now know more what to look for so can help him before it’s as bad x

Aw that is lovely to hear he is progressing well. I was reading your posts and you were so worried 12 months ago. It sounds like you are in a much better place.
How does he mix with other children?

@PeonyBlushSuede your original post is where I am now. My lovely little 3 year old boy can only do single syllables and I am very worried about what the future holds ♥️