Speech delay and hearing tests please help!!

[Jaidy]

Zachary will be 2 in January and was referred for a hearing test because his speech is slightly delayed. The health visitor told me he should be saying 25-40 words now, and he doesnt say many at all that are clear!!! He does say some words, but they sound a bit slurred and sometimes he will say a word and wont say it again for days.

However, he understands me PERFECTLY, if I tell him to get me something or point to something then he can do it without fail.

He had the hearing test on Wednesday and he failed the left ear, the right passed but they said it wasnt good. However im sure he was hearing the noises he wasnt turning round like he was supposed to but he laughed whenever he heard them, the monkey.

He is being referred to ear, nose and throat specialist for further investigation. I just feel really upset by it all at the moment because I know he isnt backward but I really want him to hurry up and speak like other children are his age. I keep getting worried he is never going to communicate properly! Im not overly convinced he has hearing problems, but we will see.

Needed to rant, and anyone who has any experience of speech or hearing with their kids, would love to hear your views/stories.

 

[LucyBee]

I am in exactly the same boat as you with Tom.
His speech seems really slow. Most of his words only I can understand.
Have you made a list of all the words he says? It sounds stupid but you might be surprised at how many he does know.
I don't THINK it sounds like a hearing problem if he is understanding you so well. Tom's the same...he knows exactly what I'm saying and can follow instructions without any hand gestures.
I'm hoping we've just got lazy boys!
Keep me posted on what happens with the E.N.T. man.
Lxx

 

[Squiglet]

I was in a similar boat with Tia. Who current just got a B on her Valenciano test (another language) so she can communicate effectively in 3 languages...just to give you some vistage of hope in all this.

I remember being in the same position as you. The way you describe your fears...the same words were uttered from my mouth 7 years ago.

Tia had glue ear, very severe glue ear too...to the point she was virtually deaf. At the time the consultant explained to me that her hearing was the equivilent of holding your hands over your ears very tightly with big wet flannels. While you can hear the tone of the voice you cannot hear the complexity of language. Children don't actually understand language until they are around 5 years old. Until then, they go on other cues... such as inflections in your voice, facial expressions, hand gestures. This is why they can understand you but fail to speak.

Tia had her grommets fitted when she was 2.5 years old and she began to improve... I expected this instantaneous improvement, but it wasn't like that. Just to prepare you. There was lots of speech therapy involved too.

Tia has since had years of speech therapy. I won't lie to you, its been a long hard road for her, but kids take it in their stride. You will feel nothing but pride for your son. She had a specialist speech therapist in 2006 who she really improved with and was signed off from her care, and currently sees the ordinary school based one 3 times a week.

I can't really give you any advice as such but to just go with the flow and if you feel your kids not being seen to then push and fight for it. I understood what Tia was trying to say to me, and one of the tricks of speech therapy was to always repeat what your child said correctly after they say it...repeat in parrot fashion so that they always the correct version.

I hope you get the answers that you want and that your LO improves soon, but if you have any questions you can PM me...

 

[Jaidy]

Squiglet, thank you so so much for giving me such a detailed reply I really appreciate it.

Its good to know that someone else has felt the way im feeling at the moment, and its given me alot of hope, I cant believe your daughter has had so many hearing problems and now she can talk in different languages!!! Fantastic, obviously the speech therapy has done wonders.

I will defnately keep you informed of how it goes, its just waiting to see what the ENT says, and whether he does have a hearing problem or if he is just being lazy with his speech. In a way I hope it is hearing based, cos then hopefully it can be on the way to being fixed.

Thank you again so so much

 

[LucyBee]

Jaidy, out of interest did he have a hearing test when he was first born?

 

[Mik]

My youngest has a speech problem. She sounds vowels incorrectly which makes her hard to understand and is working with a speech therapist at school to help her but it is something she will grow out of eventually (I hope) she is 4 now. She has always been behind with her speech but has no hearing problems.

 

[kellie80]

I'm going through a similar thing with Nathan who's 2 on the 3rd of feb. He doesn't really speak at all and what he does say isn't clear and he might only say it once. He never had his ears checked at birth but he had it done when he was 12 months and they said he was fine. They do keep going on about his hearing but I know its fine, you can usually tell can't you at this age. I was sent on a course to help to get him to speak but it wasn't much good so I only went 6 times and I had had the HV out again and shes sending him for speech therapy. Not had my appointment through yet though. I would try to push for some speech therapy though. I know they are still only very young but HV said the earlier they start the better it is.

 

[Jaidy]

Hey Kellie,

Good to hear from you and again its reassuring to hear that someone is going through the same thing and that im not alone!

Nathan sounds quite a lot like Zachary, funny isnt it. He has also been referred to speech therapy, the hearing test was the first part to try and ascertain if the speech delay was hearing related, which we obviously dont know if it is yet until we see ENT. I just want the appointment to hurry up so that we can either get the hearing treated if it is a problem, or crack on with speech therapy if it isnt, or both! Its just the waiting and not knowing.

Kellie, does Nathan understand all that you say? This is a big reassurance I have in Zac is that I know, he knows exactly what I mean. How many words do you think Nathan says and are they all crystal clear?

Lucy, Zachary had a hearing test as a newborn and passed. He was supposed to have one at 9 months but didnt (the HV only told me this 2 months ago!!!!!!!)

How about Tom, how many words is he saying/is he saying them clearly?

 

[kellie80]

Nathan does understand what I say now but that's only really happened in the last couple of months. So I know his ears are fine. He doesn't say even 1 word clear, he says mama, car and some noises that mean he's saying body parts (eyes, nose ect) but its only me who knows what he's saying. He sort of mumbles them like he can't move his mouth propaly. He says c for drink and that's it really. The 1st course they sent us on Nathan had to go in a creche with a load of other kids that couldn't talk and I had to go and sit round a table with the other mums while they told us how to speak to our kids to encourage them to talk. I just found it all a bit patronizing. We are actually down for speech therapy now but will be in the new year when I get my appointment.

 

[Jaidy]

Kelly that group you went to sounds awful, I would of hated that too

Let me know how things go with Nathan; Zachary does say words clearly, but not always, its very touch and go. I know what you mean about saying the words and only you know what they mean though, me and my husband can tell what he is saying but a stranger wouldnt have a clue!

I will tell you how it goes at the ENT specialist and what they recommend. Let me know when you get your speech therapy appointment and il do the same to you with Zachary.

Im sure our boys will get there in the end

 

[LucyBee]

Lucy, Zachary had a hearing test as a newborn and passed. He was supposed to have one at 9 months but didnt (the HV only told me this 2 months ago!!!!!!!)

How about Tom, how many words is he saying/is he saying them clearly?

Tom had a newborn test and passed too but I didn't realise he was supposed to have a further test at 9 months either??!!!

Tom is saying quite a few words now but most of them only I would understand. He says book/duck/look/cook/dog but they all sound exactly the same. He says fish but only says the 'sssh' bit.

Words he says clearly are : yes, no, door, mama, dada, more, bupper (for supper), car, bubble, up, pull, apple, ball,

He has other words but only I would understand them: monkey, pinkyponk, chair, climb, train, push, dummy, gruffalo (!), rock, in there, down.

Maybe I will phone my HV tomorrow too and see if I can push for some speech therapy. What do you think? How does this compare to Zach?

 

[Squiglet]

Lucy, Zachary had a hearing test as a newborn and passed. He was supposed to have one at 9 months but didnt (the HV only told me this 2 months ago!!!!!!!)

How about Tom, how many words is he saying/is he saying them clearly?

Tom had a newborn test and passed too but I didn't realise he was supposed to have a further test at 9 months either??!!!

Tom is saying quite a few words now but most of them only I would understand. He says book/duck/look/cook/dog but they all sound exactly the same. He says fish but only says the 'sssh' bit.

Words he says clearly are : yes, no, door, mama, dada, more, bupper (for supper), car, bubble, up, pull, apple, ball,

He has other words but only I would understand them: monkey, pinkyponk, chair, climb, train, push, dummy, gruffalo (!), rock, in there, down.

Maybe I will phone my HV tomorrow too and see if I can push for some speech therapy. What do you think? How does this compare to Zach?

I think hes doing really really well tbh...

At that age Tia could say Mum, dadda, diss (this) daa (that), no, ssss (yes) and that was it really... she made a lot of noises but most weren't recognisable...she had loads of signs though which is how we communicated. Even then the docs etc said she could still communicate so there wasn't an urgent need for speech therapy

Your LO has got around 30 words which he can use and you understand...Although nowadays it seems the norm to give speech therapy earlier...so speak with your HV.... but don't fret too much hes doing really well

 

[LucyBee]

That's really reassuring Squiglet...thanks so much. xx

 

[lozzi]

My sister is going through the testing lark wtih Leo.

Leo doenst speak, hardly at all, and also he doenst listen to you. He doesnt really understand what your sayin either.

He had his hearing test the other week and thats come back as he can hear, just chooses what to hear..

But his speech is still a major concern he is over 2 now..

But there is also other issues, which the nursery and the HV have said point towards something a bit different (autism) so he is now being referred for that.


he's got speech therapy on the 5th Jan so i'll let you know what htey do

 

[Jaidy]

Hey Lozzi,

Well Zachary understands everything I say, and I did mention autism to the HV cos id read that speech delay could point to autism, and she said there was NO WAY he was autistic because he understands perfectly and is very loving, affectionate, which autistic kids arent.

So im not too worried about him having autism.

Lucy this is what Zac says in comparision:-

CLEAR WORDS:- No, Up, Car, Dada, Mama, Baby, Bob-Bob (which is his name for dummy) Orange, there are prob a couple more which im forgetting, so about 8 words.

WORDS THAT I WOULD UNDERSTAND, BUT OTHERS MAY NOT:- Fishes (Sisses), Cat (Tat), Thomas (Tas) Percy (PC) Ball (Bor) Apple (papple) Train (Tain) and some more but the list would go on. He actually says alot of words, but they are mispronounced.

What do you think of this honestly, do you think its really little?

Lucy, I dont think Tom needs speech therapy, it seems he is saying more than Zac?

 

[kellie80]

He seems to be saying a lot more than Nathan, worrying again now!
On a good note the HV phoned the other day and said she had spoken to speech therapy and I'm still on their books from the last time when they sent me on the horrible course so it shouldn't take long to get seen now.

 

[LucyBee]

Hey Lozzi,

Well Zachary understands everything I say, and I did mention autism to the HV cos id read that speech delay could point to autism, and she said there was NO WAY he was autistic because he understands perfectly and is very loving, affectionate, which autistic kids arent.

So im not too worried about him having autism.

Lucy this is what Zac says in comparision:-

CLEAR WORDS:- No, Up, Car, Dada, Mama, Baby, Bob-Bob (which is his name for dummy) Orange, there are prob a couple more which im forgetting, so about 8 words.

WORDS THAT I WOULD UNDERSTAND, BUT OTHERS MAY NOT:- Fishes (Sisses), Cat (Tat), Thomas (Tas) Percy (PC) Ball (Bor) Apple (papple) Train (Tain) and some more but the list would go on. He actually says alot of words, but they are mispronounced.

What do you think of this honestly, do you think its really little?

Lucy, I dont think Tom needs speech therapy, it seems he is saying more than Zac?

I think Zac and Tom sound really similar Jaidy. Different words but about the same amount. Squiglet's reply was reassuring I thought.

I had the same autism concerns as you but my HV said the same thing. Tom totally understands everything I say even when he has his back to me and can't see my face.

In all honesty, it sounds like Zac is doing OK. I think our boys are just a bit slower than others. Let's keep each other posted though.

xxxx

 

[Jaidy]

Thanks Lucy....think you could be right. Hopefully this time next year we will look back and think we have worried for nothing!

Do keep me informed of how its going! All of you ladies. Zachary has his ENT appt on 16th December so thats the next step really. Fingers crossed.

 

[LucyBee]

Everything crossed for you Jaidy. Will you update on this thread when you get back???
Lxxx

 

[Jaidy]

Of course...il find this one and add to it!