speech and language delay

[tums]

My 2.8 year old can only say about 6 words. He makes lots of 'sounds' though. These are loud squaks (sp). We have been seen by speech therapy.

All the therapist has ever said is 'Let's wait and see'. Seen her since he turned 2.

He's getting close to nursery age and I'm petrified and generally frustrated with the SALT.

She is quite young and just seems so laid back. Maybe I'm stressing over nothing?

Should I ask to see someone else? She hasn't even been clear that he has a delay - I've come that conclusion myself.

Can anyone please please advise or let me know of your experiences.

Thanks in advance X

I would say it is a delay but how does he communicate otherwise - to get food or toys or your attention? Are his play skills appropriate for his age/similar to peers ?

Hi tums,

I think you feel rightly that you've waited long enough.
Time to take charge!

If he's not really speaking much at this age, then he has:

• problems finding and remembering the word to say ("expressive language" delay) and/or
• problems picking up the meaning of words ("receptive language delay") and/or
• problems pronouncing words.

possible all three!

Otherwise, at 2.8 he'd be talking.

Has your SALT identified whether there are problems understanding/pronouncing? She should have done by now.

He might be very late to mature. My son only really developed the ability to pick up meaning and talk from about 3.1, but now he's catching up fast. I started to work hard on understanding his problems and helping accelerate his progress when he was about 2.8. In hindsight, I could have started at 2.0. If you only really start talking at 3, then obviously it is going to affect your social life at nursery (as you have clearly identified).

The NHS often only gets interested in children with language delay once they turn 3, but 2 is a better age to start work. I'm sure your lad gets very frustrated.

If you feel overwhelmed and want to take things slowly, the best, most positive and reassuring book you can get is "It Takes Two to Talk" published by Hanen, available from Winslow, expensive but worth ten times the price. It will show you how to use optimum techniques to bring out his language. It's a good - and very gentle non-scary, first step. It has no jargon, milestone charts or other similar horrors. If I hadn't given mine away, I would send it to you

forgot to say - has he had a hearing test?

Thank you for replying.

He points and gestures a lot. I can always understand him. People have said that might not be a good thing?

He plays quite well, lots of eye contact and I think he has good understanding.

Very interesting about the oral motor skills. He has only ever put his lips on my cheek. Never puckered up. Haven't tried the licking lips thing but he can suck on a straw and eats well.

I will look into that book.

I just don't feel comfortable sending him to nursery alone until he can communicate. Would I be right to delay it?

Hasn't had hearing test since 8 mths. I feel he can hear intructions well.

Agree with 'It takes two to talk'. I think if he has good play skills and appears to enjoy the company of other children, and can communicate to an extent non-verbally, nursery could actually help.

Tums my DS is 2.10 months with speech and lang delay and general development delay social problems etc... He goes to a nursery 2 monrnings a week and while it took him longer than most children to get used to it he is now happy and settled there. After two months he now walks in and goes off to play.

Finding a really good kind and caring nursery is the key

agree with Kurly - a good nursery can be beneficial, and in some cases can really help bring on children's language. It's not a magic bullet in all cases, despite what even the professsionals say at times... DS had language delay at 3 - and his first nursery were crap quite frankly. I would start asking SALT some point blank questions - has he got a delay, has he got a receptive language delay, could there be a physical factor such as dyspraxia - of course SALT doesn't have a crystal ball, so can't answer what you really want to know, such as when this will all be resolved, but it's quite reasonable to want to know exactly what you are dealing with. It's really important to know bout any receptive language delay before he starts nursery - to avoid situations where nursery can't tell if he doesn't understand or is being naughty....

oh and take with a pinch of salt "people" who aren't professional qualified and experienced with kids with language delay or aren't parents to children with language delay. an awful lot of reassuring bull gets spouted, well meaning for the most part but still.....

The "It Takes Two" book will help with the expressive language problem and the receptive language problem but NOT if it's mainly prononciation problems (not being able to kiss).

ah right, sorry, absolutely, delighted to be corrected!

I love that book.

I'm sorry for doing a hijack here. I'm finding this thread very interesting and want to buy "It takes 2 to talk", on Amazon there are 2, 1 is 10 yrs older than the other however the newer one is £60 used, and the older is £13 used. I'm assuming the more expensive is the better one, but can I get away with buying the cheaper??

Sorry, hijack over

have used both, MGC, the older one is absolutely fine, the new one has v. similar content.

Thanks TC, I'll opt for the cheaper one. Thanks for all your PECS things by the way, they are very well used and much appreciated. x

Thanks again, I'm so glad I posted. I don't feel quite so alone.

Can I ask about makaton?

I would have to learn it first. How do I go about that?