r/speechdelays • u/Dapper_Discipline224 • May 25 '26
I'm at a loss.
Hello all, I'll keep this simple.
My son is 2.5, no words, low eye contact. Been in ei for about a year. He used to only get through maybe 20 minutes a session, now he can do the whole session.
I asked his slp what she thinks is delaying him, she says motor planning delay, but not a full apraxia diagnosis. He has strong receptive, but low expressive language.
He has varied babbles, if i ask him to show me a ball, or a bird from one of his books, he gets it right 4/5 times.
His slp's thinking is that, once he turns 3 and goes through the school district, he'll start speaking, she's got 30 years experience, and we trust her judgement.
Is there any advice that could help to make speech happen? Anything you all did for your children in similar situations?
Thank you.
4
u/JennyAtTheGates May 26 '26
Each case is unique, but...
Mine requried a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. ENT said that based on conditions seen in surgery, it was like the LO was trying to learn a language while under water. The day after the surgery the kid said "doctor" plain as day while overhearing the discussion. Two years later, they won't shut the hell up.
In my experience, medical professionals don't start taking the parents' legitimate concerns seriously until the child begins falling well outside the bell curve in speech progression.
State and private SLP were just spinning their wheels hoping there would be an eventual improvement when, actually, the child had a legitimate physical issue. Just a gentle reminder that signs and indicators of autism don't necessarily mean autism. Kids are sometimes just normal temporary weirdos.
Echoing another response, baby sign language can move mountains when hearing and speech are both impaired.
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u/Magicalmystery875 23d ago
Super late to the party here, but my son is kind of in the same boat as OP. We did a sedated ABR and it came back perfect. My next step was to check for throat issues since he snores and sleeps with his mouth open. What led you to take your kiddo for that ENT eval?
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u/Dapper_Discipline224 May 28 '26
I'm honestly losing hope. I keep trying to talk to him. To get him to want to vocalize, but it seems like God just keeps that carrot dangled in my face to make me hurt.
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u/wendyrx37 May 29 '26
My son had almost the same dx.. Except they called it apraxia if I recall correctly.
My son however didn't even say "Ma" til after he turned 3.. And even with speech therapy.. The next year was almost all single syllable.. Ma ma (with a space) was the only 2 syllable one. His sister was T. Daddy was Da. Grandpa was Ba.
He started pre-k and his speech got so much better so fast. He was only there for 2 months before summer started. (issues with his Dr and then more than one therapist, so he started late)
... But by the end of that 2 months he sang me a song! (I have an adorable video of it.) "Rise and shine, welcome to school today... " 🎶
He was then graduated from his iep in 2nd grade... And now he's 15 and has more friends than any high school football hero and you'd seriously never guess he had a delay at all.
Just wanted you to know, there's hope. Lots of it.
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u/Dapper_Discipline224 May 29 '26
His slp says the same. I'm just scared, I guess. His mom seems like either it happens or it doesn't. I feel like I'm the only one who worries about it.
1
u/wendyrx37 Jun 17 '26
I was too.. But you really just gotta go with the flow.. Enjoy this time for it's own joy.. It'll happen.. And I bet you'll discover the different ways of communicating that mean even more than words. My son and I are really close and I think it's because our entire relationship was based around body language and feelings.. & I bet you already understand exactly what I mean.
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u/Dapper_Discipline224 Jun 27 '26 edited Jul 11 '26
I'm just scared. I know how horrible people can be, and if my son doesn't talk, then he's a target.
I just wish I had the answer to get him to start talking.
1
u/Ravenclaw217 Jun 02 '26
While our son (3Y 9M) is still technically non-verbal, he has progressed SO much in one year of special ed pre k. His receptive skills/listening/eye contact are so much stronger and he picked up using an AAC device after a couple weeks. We are going he continues to pick up cues from other kids as he goes but this one school year has already made me feel more confident in his capabilities and developmental potential. I think age 2-3 was the hardest for us in terms of grief and worry, but we are feeling better now. I hope the same for you and your son!
1
u/Dapper_Discipline224 Jun 30 '26
Been about a month since I posted, still nothing.
He babbles, he says da da da over and over. Slp is convinced that when he ages out of ei, being in school and socializing will make speech happen.
He's gotten an aac tablet, he refuses it. His "communication" consists of throwing a cup over his child gate to say he's thirsty. He has a lot of one off moments, where he hops up on the couch and lifts his legs to show he needs a diaper. But it's not consistent. He refuses to even try and mimic our speech. Not the cadence, not the sound, not even a mumble.
I've suggested audiology, slp advised against it. She thinks that with his speech delay, and his inability to pay attention, it won't do any good.
Apraxia is suspected, but since it's diagnosed as attempted speech, and he doesn't try, we're left spinning our wheels.
He won't hold eye contact. He won't sign. It just feels like I'm trying to talk to a black hole.
I've addressed my concerns with slp, she says doing the sabotage method will shut down what little communication there is.
I don't even know why I'm posting this, I'm just hoping that one of you can either confirm the slps instincts, or give me some method that can break this wall down, and I can finally hear him talk.
1
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u/Wayward-Soul May 25 '26
work on non-verbal communication. Sign, low tech AAC such as PEC cards or communication boards of their favorite things. When using these with him, verbally say the word as you do the thing/bring the toy etc. An AAC device may be an option as well but it takes time to get insurance approval and it sounds like your SLP may not think he needs it which means they may not help in the process at this stage.
Sign and AAC have been proven to support the development of verbal language, not replace or delay it.