My ds will be 2 this month and is not yet speaking any words. He has been in the early start program since birth from complications. He had seizures shortly after birth and was in the NICU for 10 days and they never could explain the seizures. I think it was caused from a lack of oxygen because his arm was wrapped around his neck which caused him to stop moving in utero. He was on phenabarbitol for the first 6 months he was alive.

So he has been right on track for all his development except for speech. He walked at 10 months and is very bright and interested in things. Lately things have been getting worse though. He understands most of words just does not say anything. Lately he has become very nervous and withdrawn whenever we leave the house. He puts his hands over his face and wont look at anyone. If I try and get him to play or do anything he throws himself on the floor and violently shakes his head back and forth. He does this if anyone touches him or gets too close to him as well.

I recently had a second child who is 6 weeks old and I didnt know if this had anything to do with his behavior. His speech therapist recently told me she thinks he has apraxia of speech but it is too early to officially diagnose it. After reading about apraxia I think he fits a lot of the characteristics. I just dont want to label him this if he is just a "late speaker". He has said s few words a couple of times, eg. Buba when we first brought his brother home, and doggy to our dog, but once he says it one time you dont hear it at all. I am just waiting for the day he calls me mama.

Everyone in my family says I am overreacting and he is just a late bloomer so to speak but I can tell something is going on there. The way he looks at me sometimes I can tell he wants to say something. He is really getting frusturated with everyday tasks now and seems to break down if something doest go his way immediatly. He also likes to organize things. He will sit for over an hour and take all the DVD's off the shelf and put them back on.

I have also noticed he doesnt like change, down to the smallest thing. He wants things to stay the way they were the first time he sees them, so if he sees a book sitting on top of a movie next to the moniter it has to stay that way or he will have a meltdown. I try to keep him happy and give into his awkward demands but now that I have a newborn I am finding it increasingly difficult to handle.

I guess I am just looking for advice or ideas. I am taking him to his first speech and language class tomorrow, up until now the therapists have all come to our house. I hate seeing my little guy so frusturated and scared.
He knows some sign language (eat, more, help, milk, sleep, drink) but he doesnt use them spontaneusly, only if we ask and even then it is only about half the time.

If anyone has ideas os suggestions I am lost. Thanks for reading this.

I forget to mention that he is an extremely picky eater, to the point he wont eat for days. I though for awhile he was just holding out for sweet stuff but most of the time he wont even eat that if I offer it to him. I started giving him carnation instant breakfasts to get some protein and calcium in him. He also cant drink out of a cup at all just sippy cups. I dont know if this has anything to do with it but thought I would mention it. he also used a pacifier until he was about 20 months old.

I think it sounds like Sensory Integration Disorder and not Autism. ;)
Which is what my grandson was diagnosed with at 10.5 months. (Sensory Defensiveness.)
Your son may refuse to eat because of the texture of the food item! My GS had a problem with textures of food and the feel of certain toys. Soft toys were a problem altho now he loves them.
thru therapy and normal maturing he is now ok with all textures of material but still doesn't like some foods, like pretzels or granola...


Surprisingly, my grandson would NOT use a sippy cup, he preferred a straw! The therapist said a straw was an excellent alternative because it strengthened the muscles around the mouth and tongue.
So, give your son a juice pak with a straw.

***Have you had your child's ears and hearing checked? If they cannot hear, they cannot talk--and don't wait. My grandson was not talking at 14 months. The ENT said to remove the adenoids and put in tubes (they were needed) and THAT DAY he started saying a few words, and then talking and hasn't stopped since. he is 4, now...and a big talker.

***Did you know that not being able to hear can make a child frightened of so many things in our world? Like loud noises, and strangers? If he cannot determine what he is hearing he can't understand the world around him. and may not be able to tell you what is wrong.
On the other hand, if he can hear properly the world will open up to him.

A lot of the issues you see could be traced to one thing, hearing and sensory defensiveness. I think you will be alright but check his ears. :wave: