speech delay

A question about : speech delay

Does anyone have any experience of a child with a speech delay? My daughter is 28 months and only says around 15 words. She is under speech therapy and is possibly being referred to a paediatrician

She has recently started nursery although only goes for 4 hours a week (we don't need the childcare this was a measure suggested that may help and with limited funds we can only afford so many hours at 4.60 an hour- we are increasing this to 5 hours next week).

Could really used some encouragement and support.

Best answers:

• I haven't got any experience of speech delay, but I did find that my daughter's vocabulary improved rapidly with increased attendance at nursery. My sister found the same when her son started nursery at 3 (15 hours a week) after being looked after by his grandma full time. Nursery was, for both of us, a tremendous catalyst for improved speech even though both children had been attending various group activities on an almost daily basis.
  I would accept all the help that you are offered - and her funded nursery hours will start before too long as well.
• Have a look at https://www.ican.org.uk/ for lots of ideas and also reassurance.
  Plenty of one to one books, rhymes, singing, chat about everything and anything, you are her best teacher and everyone learns at different rates.
  Have they sent her for audiology?
  Try not to panic, just have fun together
• My second son was 3 before he said more than two words in total ('dinner' and 'Thomas' when he saw his birthday cake), and he only said those once.
  He was perfectly capable of understanding and communicating - for example, pointing at the toaster and the bread until we said 'oh you would like toast?' at which he would nod and smile.
  He got to 3 and there was no stopping him! With him, he seemed to wait until he could do something properly before letting anyone catch him doing it, if you see what I mean. He was a week over 1 before he took his first step - but when he did, he didn't wobble or fall over. We took it that his speech was similar (there was no guaranteed nursery then (20 years ago), but we did do playgroup etc).
  I am sure your LO will be fine
• Does your daughter seem to understand what you are saying? If you ask her to do something/point to something can she do it? Comprehension is mentioned in all concerns about late speech.
  My son didn't walk until he was nearly 18 months old. I wasn't concerned as my mum was 4 before she walked and hypermobility runs in the family. I knew he would get there. He talked with an extensive vocabulary from much earlier. My friend's son on the other hand walked early and could use a screwdriver by the age of 2 but wouldn't speak and at the age of 3 began every word with the "d" sound. They are both 10 now and there's no difference between them. They both talk non stop.
• Has she met her other milestones? And as cranky says, does she understand what is being said to her?
• Thank you for the replies. In answer to the questions she has met all other milestones- she did most things on the early side but was a late walker (18 months) due to hypermobility. She is a little behind socially according to speech therapy but not according to nursery. However she has not mixed much over the last year other than odd play dates (very good reasons for this). So we are ensuring this is also a key area- apparently its common for speech delayed children to be a little behind here also.
  She does get a huge number of ear infections and often both ears at once. She has been referred as a result to ENT specialist who we see tomorrow.
  Her hearing has been tested and is fine but it is agreed the ear infections could make her hearing muffled whilst present.
  She is generally a very happy and content little girl.
  She does seem to understand but it is hard to judge properly when she is unable to speak we have been given some exercises to do to help both increase her words and understanding as well as ability to follow instructions.
  Her nursery hours will increase to 5 hours next week and we will continue to increase whilst funds allow although realistically can probably only commit to 6 hours as a maximum at the moment. Although we will do our best to get this higher if we can.
  She swims every week and has done since 5 months and can do a length with just armbands and no help. She understands and follows instructions relating to swimming very well eg kick... splash etc. She also goes to a ballet class and I am arranging more play dates when I can as well.
  We have a speech and language 2 session workshop to go to teaching us some ideas to try with her as well as a chatterbox group I start with her at the end of the month.
• Both my sons were slow to talk with the oldest son attending speech therapy. Both improved hugely once they started nursery when they turned 4.
  Could the swimming be the cause of the ear infections? My ears play up sometimes after swimming.
• The best hearing test I knew of was trying to open the fridge door or a packet of chocolate biscuits when DD was in the other room.
  She usually beat the cats and dog into the kitchen.
• My son didn't start talking until he was 2 and a half. I found that nursery was the best place for him. He thrived! I'm sure your daughter will to. He's now 4 and started school in September...he's very bright and articulate. I'm always being told how polite he is!
• 4 hours a week of speech therapy at barely 2 years old, when there's no other developmental delay seems...massive! Or is it just me? :/
• I think it is 4 hours of nursery. The Speech Therapy is the parent workshop and chatterbox group. Sounds like you are doing all the right things OP and it sounds like perhaps some glue ear has slowed her down a bit. Im sure with the nursery sessions and the strategies the SALT show you, your little one will start to make good progress.
• Our Son is 5 Yrs old and is only just starting to babble. saying this we do know what he is communicating. He tends to use object of reference.
  Albeit he does have severe developmental delay, deafness and autism (apparently so unique he is only one of two in the UK with this combined condition) he has no problems in expressing himself and getting what he wants.
• Thanks for all replies.
  ENT specialist today she has some evidence of glue ear- and certainly her hearing is muffled at present as a result... She is once again recovering from an ear infection (both ears).
  Have to got back for review in 4 months and see how the glue ear is then.
• My son has just turned four and he had/has a speech delay. He hit all of his milestones, and said his first words at around 18 months. By his second birthday he only said about 20 words and there no two word combinations.
  By 26 months he had about 80 words but still spoke only in single words. He went through a stage of repeating things, but didn't really use his own words to try to form sentences. He was referred for speech therapy which consisted of Parentcraft sessions - where I was taught different ways of helping his language to develop, talking to him (not at him) for example, commentating, special time etc. I also took him to toddler groups, especially those which involved singing and musical activities as that was when he was his most vocal.
  There was a definite improvement by his third birthday, and since he started nursery last year, his speech has really developed. He is now within normal range, although his speech is slightly slower and less fluent than his peers. It isn't really noticeable to other people.