Apples-- In your thread the other day I voiced my opinion that I did not believe your DD to necessarily be speech delayed, but I guess I was in the minority. I also believed that by its definition in the DSM IV a child with a speech delay could not be diagnosed with Asperger's. But, then I cam across this,
Asperger's and delayed speech which claims 50% of kids with Asperger's were speech delayed. So, now I'm just confused. I really thought Asperger's was characterized by advanced early speech.
Also in the article linked above they mentioned gestures. I thought that might interest you.
Between 12 and 24 months, reasons for concern include a youngster who:
• has difficulty understanding simple verbal requests
• has trouble imitating sounds by 18 months
• isn't using gestures, such as pointing or waving bye-bye by 12 months
• prefers gestures over vocalizations to communicate by 18 months
Of course, then there is the new DSM coming out next spring that is supposed to roll Aspergers into a general ASD diagnosis. FWIW I did not like the blog post. I just took it as one individual's account of living with Asperger's. It is not diagnostic criteria. I'd much prefer to read the DSM.
Hmm. Interesting. I feel it is kind of our fault she went with gestures, since I bought all 30+ Signing Time DVDs as she mastered them. But we haven't watched them in months.
A week ago she said "Daddy" pretty clearly. She also tried to say Elmo (elwo) and Barney (Bar-nee, Bardue) She's been making more sounds that sound like words - she's never "jabbered" before - but they don't really sound like words. She keeps saying "Bah-due" for mommy, but she says "Mo" for "No", and says M makes the Mmmm sound, so I'm not sure why she can't do the M in mommy. Maybe I need to check her hearing again.
We're getting her lip tie looked at this week and will probably get it fixed at the end of the month. She could also have posterior tongue tie. For all I know, she'll start talking after that.
I just spent some time looking at milestones on the PBS website, and she's a solid 3 year old - even doing some things 4 and 5 year olds typically do... but her speech seems to be very delayed. Her speech has been lagging since she was an infant, though.
I'm hoping I'm just worrying too much and she'll just start talking in the next 2-3 months.
The main red flags are some toe walking, sometimes seeming to ignore us or not pay attention to us when we call her name, and her speech. Her obsession with jigsaw puzzles right now is not age appropriate, but it's probably fine...
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