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Looking for advice

NAS82394

HI 

Apologies if this is not the correct place to be looking for advice/support. My 2.5 year old son is currently non-verbal - he has said a few words ( when prompted) but lost them again shortly after, he shows no sign of understanding language. If I was to show him a biscuit he would be excited but I could say the word a million times over and he wouldn't ack me or turn/react. He doesn't know his own name yet and makes very little eye contact. I apologise if this sounds like i am making generalisations regarding autism, i am just trying to get an understanding of what we can do to support him.

He passed a hearing test a few months ago and we are on a waiting list for speech therapy but i feel it isnt just speech therapy as the understanding isn't there. He is a beautiful and happy little boy who is way ahead with his gross motor skills. He shakes his head quite rapidly at times and we have been told this could be stimming?  He reacts to music - so will dance and run from one room to another if he hears the theme tune of his favourite programme.

I just want to be sure I am giving my boy everything he needs, i have tried every possible route for support and just keep hitting a wall with " wait for your speech referral". I realised yesterday when talking to friends with children the same age about halloween that our little one has no idea - they had said there boys are excited and piclking outfits with them etc. . and it dawned on me that we are unable to have that communication with him ... he will love going to a party and knocking on doors to get chocolate but in general he will have no understanding of what this is ( i hope that makes sense) 

Just a parent desperate to make sure she is doing everything possible to support her little boy and would appreciate any guidance/advice/ words of wisdom :) . 

Parents

  • Does your little boy have a diagnosis yet? 

    It is difficult to know what to say at this point...Some autistic people never speak, and yet they are not necessarily intellectually impaired.  There maybe significant intelligence there.  Some, like me, were precociously verbal, and yet, even though perfectly capable of extensive conversation when I wanted to, my mother says she often tried to talk to me to get no response whatsoever or at best a simple "yes" or "no" without me even turning to look in her direction.  She says I'd look a million miles away, as though I just found all attempts to speak with me to be an intrusion into my thoughts. She was probably right.

    I hope you get the speech therapy soon.  They might be able to tell you more.  But in the meantime, I think what I am saying is I wouldn't assume he doesn't understand.  Try reading: 'I have been buried under dust for years" Emily Grondin.  Hers is not necessarily your lad's experience, but if he is autistic, he could be experiencing something like that.  Emily didn't communicate until she learned to type, then revealed just how bright she was and how much she'd been understanding all along.

    Maybe just keep holding up your end of the "conversation" and explaining things for now regardless of whether he appears to be reacting.

  • in reply to Dawn

    Thank you so much for taking the time to reply - we are on a waiting list for development review, unfortunately the wait time is 12-14 months at the moment. I will read Emily Grondin as you suggested. It really does help for someone who has more knowledge to pass on some advice. Thank you again .

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  • in reply to Dawn

    Thank you so much for taking the time to reply - we are on a waiting list for development review, unfortunately the wait time is 12-14 months at the moment. I will read Emily Grondin as you suggested. It really does help for someone who has more knowledge to pass on some advice. Thank you again .

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