Almost three and still no words...

giftgrub

Looking for a little advice here.

We have a small fella who'll be three in February, he's as strong as an ox, runs around all day and breaks anything we're careless enough to leave lying around...you're average boy i guess.

However he doesnt have any words....nothing, other kids his age are able to string sentences together, he's still yabbering away in his own gibberish.

Thing is we know he understands us, if we tell him to close the door or ask if its time for bed he responds.

We had him checked up at the local clinic by a develomment doctor about a year ago and she said he was fine, and everyone who has kids says he'll talk when he's ready...

Its just becoming increasingly frustrating for me, my wife and him, he shouts out of frustration if he doesn't get something. and we get wound up.

Anyone here in a similar situation?

Moonbeam

Ask for him to be assessed again .
Is he in play school?
He might need speech therapy or there might be another cause.

giftgrub

Sorry i should have said he's an only child.
And due to the fact that my wife is out of work creche or playschool hasn't been an option, however thats something we want to get sorted, even for one day a week.

silja

Definitely time for a speech therapy assessement. We had the same issue with our boy, and ended up with an SPD diagnosis (sensory processing disorder). He now receives both speech and occupational therapy (the OT the hour before speech therapy, to get some of the activity level down) and it has really helped him. He is still behind, but catching up.

giftgrub

silja wrote: »

Definitely time for a speech therapy assessement. We had the same issue with our boy, and ended up with an SPD diagnosis (sensory processing disorder). He now receives both speech and occupational therapy (the OT the hour before speech therapy, to get some of the activity level down) and it has really helped him. He is still behind, but catching up.

Did you go private or through the HSE? I've heard theres a long wait for public therapists

friendlylady

Yes there is a very long wait for Speech Therapy, my little lad was the very same, understood everything but couldn't say it, he used to sign alot.
He was diagnosed with Dyspraxia and Severe Dylexia which accounted for his difficulties with speech. He is now 8 and in regular speech therapy and occupational therapy and though his speech isn't perfect he's getting there.

I would advise you to contact your local hospital/doctor and ask about the "Assessment of Needs" look it up on the web, and this process should help you get the best care for your child but do it now as every month is crucial in his development. Good luck:)

friendlylady

Oh sorry and also he should be entitled to his free Early Childcare Year in preschool before he attends Primary. It's 3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 1 year and is free and most of the creches/preschools participate in it. This would do him a power of good. Look up the DCYA (Dept of Children and Youth Affairs) website www.dcya.ie for more information on this ECCE (Early Childcare Education) scheme.

annieoburns

We had same experience with first born boy. Yes take further advice but take heart also.... I was once told this is quite normal for a boy and only child. Normal could be "two words at two years, three words at three years". It can be a result of strong bond with parent and no need to communicate with words and also a sign of intelligence! He started talking at over three and then his first words were a complete sentence

Molzer2

Hi Giftgrub,

Your situation sounds a lot like ours, except our fella is 6 months older. We've been working hard with speech therapy for the last 6 months. Our man has a very short attention span and usually resists all efforts we make to work with him. It's painstakingly slow and occasionally there are windows of oppurtunity where he seems more "open" and we have to try to make the most of these.
He's currently undergoing assessment with an early intervention (2 hours per week for about 6 weeks) service and we're hoping to have an update on that soon.
I got some good advice here; reach out for any help you can get (start with your GP) try to get him into situations where he can socialise with other kids, parent & toddler groups etc. People are good and will always try to reassure you that everything will be fine but you don't want to wait until he's starting school to do something about it.
Best of luck.

coolabula

Our son was the same at 2 and the baby nurse referred him to a speech therapist. We were lucky that we didn't have to wait to long and the best advice she gave us was to make him tell us what he wanted clearly. We could understand him as we were obviously with him all day, but other family members couldnt.
If he asks for something try to tell him to say " can I have milk" instead of pointing and just saying milk. It will take a while but patience is key.
Much better to try now than wait until he gets to school.
Out little lad is 6 now and can't stop talking
Best of luck.

snickerpuss

Just a note to say that he might not necessarily need speech therapy. My godson didn't have words until he was nearly 4. Like your son, he understood us and chatted away in his own language. By 4 he was only starting to say words and now just about to turn 5 he's much improved. It only took a few months to go from almost no words to talking very well. You should see about making an appointment with a speech therapist anyway.

silja

We are currently in the USA, so went private here- assessment happened in two weeks, then after a few months of that, they suggested an evaluation for SPD. Going public here has a waiting list of over a year, which was unacceptable to us at this crucial stage of development.

Snickerpuss is correct, your son may be just a later talker with no or only a few months therapy needed. But better find out now than later, so do get him assessed.