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Hello, My 3.5 Year Old Doesn’t Speak. He Doesn’t Even
Question: Hello,
My 3.5 year old doesn’t speak. He doesn’t even really try. When he does it’s finally coming out repetitive noises at least. He is a great boy. Happy all the time. Loves kids. Makes eye contact with most people. Plays normally with others.
Loves to jump on his trampoline on and off during the day. Doesn’t usually wave hello or goodbye. Is somewhat shy too and quiet at home for the most part. A very good kid.
We’ve had him tested for autism but the paediatrician doctor and family doctor both don’t think he has it. We do speech therapy weekly with a speech therapist at a centre. He seems to understand what you’re saying half of the time but cannot complete tasks usually. “Can you pass me the Kleenex. Can you pass me the ball”. Knows his colours, letters, shapes and body parts etc. Seems like he has good skills for a lot of things. Seems like speech delay and some communication delay. Any other suggestions ??
I want to get his hearing retested in case he hears muffled words but he seems to hear fine.
He puts his hand on his ears when it’s a show he doesn’t like, instead of saying No. Or when it’s something he doesn’t like he does that as well.
He also never answers questions like “are you hungry?” Etc.
My 3.5 year old doesn’t speak. He doesn’t even really try. When he does it’s finally coming out repetitive noises at least. He is a great boy. Happy all the time. Loves kids. Makes eye contact with most people. Plays normally with others.
Loves to jump on his trampoline on and off during the day. Doesn’t usually wave hello or goodbye. Is somewhat shy too and quiet at home for the most part. A very good kid.
We’ve had him tested for autism but the paediatrician doctor and family doctor both don’t think he has it. We do speech therapy weekly with a speech therapist at a centre. He seems to understand what you’re saying half of the time but cannot complete tasks usually. “Can you pass me the Kleenex. Can you pass me the ball”. Knows his colours, letters, shapes and body parts etc. Seems like he has good skills for a lot of things. Seems like speech delay and some communication delay. Any other suggestions ??
I want to get his hearing retested in case he hears muffled words but he seems to hear fine.
He puts his hand on his ears when it’s a show he doesn’t like, instead of saying No. Or when it’s something he doesn’t like he does that as well.
He also never answers questions like “are you hungry?” Etc.
Brief Answer:
Hearing assessment is indeed the first step
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the Ask a Doctor service.
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. Indeed it would be worthwhile to proceed with a hearing screening first. But there are other evauations that need to be done and you need to visit a developmental pediatrician for the same. As such, autism spectrum features do not seem to be present and your child seems cognitively stable. Further evaluation will indicate the direction to proceed. Speech therapy plans can be designed accordingly.
Regards
Hearing assessment is indeed the first step
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for using the Ask a Doctor service.
I have gone through your query and understand your concern. Indeed it would be worthwhile to proceed with a hearing screening first. But there are other evauations that need to be done and you need to visit a developmental pediatrician for the same. As such, autism spectrum features do not seem to be present and your child seems cognitively stable. Further evaluation will indicate the direction to proceed. Speech therapy plans can be designed accordingly.
Regards
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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