My sons speech is delayed and I am banging head against wall!!

[yesmynameisigglepiggle]

My son is almost 2 and a half. He has a few clear words (bye bye, mama, dada0 , a few mispronounced words (car-tar/ca, tat ) etc and a few words that nobody would be able to tell what he is saying apart from me!! I have taken him to the health visitor a few times and each time they have said wait a few more months etc. I feel they are fobbing me off. But realistically I do not know how delayed he is or if this is normal or what, my head feels like it will pop!! On top of this he is painfully shy and refuses to wear anything apart from a nappy on his bum which is making toilet training difficult. i am sure he is not autistic- he communicates well, has a super imagination etc. I am just tearing my hair out thinking I am not doing enough for him.

Hi there, you can refer yourself to a speech therapist or go via your GP and ask for the referral. I wouldn't bother with the health visitor anymore as the wait and see approach can delay you receiving help. I referred ds at 2.0 when he had 20 words and wasn't stringing any together other than "oh dear" and "uh oh." How is your ds' non verbal communication, does he point and show you things? How does he request what he wants?

I wouldn't worry about toilet training, if he's not interested then leave it for a few months and try again. 2.5 is quite young for most boys, and if he has a language delay you're probably fighting a losing battle. I left ds until he was 3.0 and had it done within a few days, as he was properly ready by then.

Get him checked over by a speech therapist - she can give you some exercises to practise at home with him, which will make you feel as if you're doing more. There are lots of great books about if you want to start doing things with him asap.

What is his main means of communication ? Pointing? Gesturing ? Something else ? Sorry short answer but I think that's the area you need to focus on to judge his development.

Agree with the others. Don't leave it. He may be absolutely fine, but no point in waiting to see.

A lot of children with delayed speech have very good receptive skills, ie. can understand what you are saying. If thats the case with your DS, then thats a good sign.

Agree with the others. Don't leave it. He may be absolutely fine, but no point in waiting to see.

A lot of children with delayed speech have very good receptive skills, ie. can understand what you are saying. If thats the case with your DS, then thats a good sign.

His main way if communicating is pointing, dragging me to what he wants. He also communicates well using soft toys. At playgroup he will go up to a child and give them a toy then look down and walk of. He has started making an effort to use noises for what he wants and he will point and giggle if he is excited by something on the telly or a picture in a book or he will play with his baby and bring her to me and say cry when she has lost her dummy. I am babbling now, i could go on all day !!

Am wondering wether to take him to the Gp and ask for a referal of if he will think I am being too pushy?? I am so worried about him starting playgroup, he is painfully shy I just can;t imagine him in that setting. I have other children too and know by this age they were much more confident communicators.

His main way if communicating is pointing, dragging me to what he wants. He also communicates well using soft toys. At playgroup he will go up to a child and give them a toy then look down and walk of. He has started making an effort to use noises for what he wants and he will point and giggle if he is excited by something on the telly or a picture in a book or he will play with his baby and bring her to me and say cry when she has lost her dummy. I am babbling now, i could go on all day !!

Am wondering wether to take him to the Gp and ask for a referal of if he will think I am being too pushy?? I am so worried about him starting playgroup, he is painfully shy I just can;t imagine him in that setting. I have other children too and know by this age they were much more confident communicators.

oops we both posted twice! His receptive skills are excellent but i am all to aware our conversations are very one sided and usually end up with me grilling him and him replyiing Uh with a variety of facial expressions!!!

oh and there is no way he could string two words together no matter how much I help him!

Don't worry about being pushy, go to the GP and ask for the referral, it's worth it to have a professional set your mind at rest. If he's got good understanding, that's a really good sign. It might just be a delay that will suddenly resolve itself but better to have him in the system should you need the help.

definitely go to the GP. It's a good sign that you are confident he understands well, but still worth pushing. Also - before you go to GP, phone up SALT department - they may not need GP or HV to do the referral, but may be happy to refer just on the basis that you are concerned. Another SALT on here, Mogwai, says that the RCSLT (the salts professional body) states there should be an open door policy - if you have trouble getting a referral via GP/HV may be worth you looking into getting arsey using that argument.

Oh thankyou for the advice. I will take him to Gp first I think, he is usually good and I have to take DS2 for something too so will go. trouble is I sometimes get tangled up and don't say what I feel!!!

Write a list down of your concerns so you can either look at it yourself or just give to the GP. When my DS1 had his assessment I had a list with me and the Paed asked to see it in case I'd missed anything off. I was really as I'd written it at about 1am in the morning and my handwriting was shocking! Next time I will type the list

There are some positives in what you describe but I still think pushing to get a full paed assessment would be a good idea. At the very least, you will get some ideas on how to expand your DS's developing communication.

Our Paed loves it when i make a list - it gets the appt done quicker and everyone says what they want have to said. I agree with Cyber, take some time and put down EVERYTHING thats worrying you.