So, I'm feeling pretty shitty at the moment. The paediatrician has just told me that my daughter has a Severe Expressive Speech Delay. She's nearly 21 months old and we're about to get on the speech therapy/audologist and paediatrician merry-go-round! I know every child develops at their own pace and I hate comparing - but at this age my son could talk the leg off a table and my daughter says nothing! The paediatrician mentioned Glue Ear but the audiologist said her hearing is fine, all other milestones have been met. Paediatrician specifically said that there are no signs of autism at all.
Has anyone been in a similar situation and what was the outcome?
7 Replies
My daughter was like this she ended up being diagnosed with motor speech disorder at 3 she could only say around 20 words. She had intensive therapy for 4 years cost a fortune. She's now nearly 10 and besides a few words you would never know that she struggled so badly. My advice do your research go private the public wait list is terrible and if your in WA look up the language school. WA is the only state that has a specialist public language school if your child is lucky enough to be accepted it will really give them ahead start with school.
My little one had very few words, maybe ten but only really said four, more no mummy ball. Two years old now and just this week the words have come and they've come fast and is also putting three together.
Could always understand everything so I was never overly concerned.
Hopefully same happens for you.
I have 2 with speech delays one adhd and the other glue ear 4 years later and we are still have issues. Dont blame yourself it cant be helped
poster here... Have grommets been suggested for your child with glue ear? As a way to clear the ear and hopefully improve speech.
Hi, just wondering does your daughter say any words or talk at all. Like babble & talk but no one can understand?
I only ask as my nephew is 3.5yo & you can't understand anything he says. You can't communicate with him at all. He understands things you say generally but just babbles back. I'm hoping my family take him to get assessed soon as I'm really worried he is getting further behind in his development.
Was she assessed by a speech pathologist? A paediatrician can't diagnose without a speechy report.
My sons had severe language disorder/delay, they also have autism and dyslexia.
My son (17) when he was 3, we attempted a few speech therapy sessions but due to behavioural stuff he just refused. It was torture for him (and me trying to do 'homework') so I stopped. His speech developed as he attended kinder and then school. We attended early intervention groups which were more helpful than 1-1 sessions. He did see the school
speechy for a bit in prep (Vic) and would do that happily.
My other son (14) had cancer at 2 then the following year we went travelling (5 of us all together 24/7 certainly helped develop his language!)
My daughter (20) had a few 1-1 speechy sessions when she was about 4, as suggested by the kinder teacher because of her pronunciation of a few sounds. She has dyslexia and quite 'aspy' like. She is half way through a science degree at uni.
Try not to panic. There is so much more funding and support available these days, particularly targeting early intervention for the 0-6 year olds. Not all kids need long term therapy. In my case, I've learnt a lot and we do our own thing, occasionally seeing a therapist here n there for whatever might be the issue at the time. My kids are happy confident unique clever special people.
Evey child is different. And some are just stubborn. Maybe her brother does the talking for her? That's what happened with my older siblings.
Just take it one day at a time and hopefully your trips to the paediatricians are helpful (or not even needed 😉)