Hello
Joined here looking for some advice and perhaps insight into other people’s experience. My son is 3 years, 8 months old and is non-verbal. We haven’t had an autism diagnosis, but it’s been suggested that this will come when we finally see the paediatrician. I first referred him when he was 18 months old, after noticing that he just changed like the flick of a switch. We have seen speech therapists, both private and NHS, but truthfully not found it to be that useful as we have just been given YouTube channels and print outs. My wife had attended a Hanen course, and we have implemented many of the techniques.
His communication has improved massively, we are unsure if this is something that would have happened or if this is down to the Hanen techniques. But, he still can’t say any words. He seems to receive information very well, understanding sometimes complex sentences and can “tell” us what he wants and needs by pointing, showing us pictures and by nodding or shaking his head.
I read books with him daily, and he seems to really enjoy it. He points to the images and looks at me with good eye contact and I slowly say the associated word and repeat it. Similarly, we do the playing and watching and waiting, all of that. He looks at us, his eye contact is good, but he just never repeats anything.
The reason I am posting is really to see if anyone else’s child has been in a similar situation, where their communication and eye contact is good, but the speech just doesn’t come. I’ve been looking at more speech therapy but it seems more suited to children who can say some words and then building on that. I’m just not sure what the next step is, to just keep on doing what we are doing, or try more therapy. We are very fortunate in that he doesn’t appear to have any sensory issues, and socially is he is happy enough. I guess I just don’t know what to do.
Any help or advice would be appreciated. Thank you
