AboutErin E. Maio-Harrison, MA,CCC-SLP Expertise I am able to answer questions related to speech, language, cognitive, swallowing disorders in both children and adults. My focus area relates to disorders that are secondary to trauma (i.e., head injury) or disease, (i.e., Dementia) but I am able to answer basic questions (or find more info) about developmental disorders as well.
Experience I am a licensed Speech/Language Pathologist with 18 years experience primarily in acute care pediatrics and in-pt. rehab. I have also continuously moonlighted in geriatrics, primarily skilled nursing settings and have had private clients of all ages. My focus of practice is neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders.
Organizations American Speech & Hearing Association, (ASHA)
South Carolina Speech/Hearing Association(SCSHA)
Education/Credentials Masters Degree, Communication Disorders and Speech Science (CU Boulder)
Question my 3 year old girl can only say 5 words i have 2 other boys and they were talking by 2 out of nappies my son has just been told his might have adhd/autism so could my little girl have it to or can u start talking late she also bangs her head off walls screams
Answer Hello Eve-
I cannot say for sure what is causing your daughter's speech and language delay. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is often initially diagnosed after a language regression is noted, that is, the parents report the child appeared to be on the right track and suddenly (often around 19 months or so) they started "losing" words. Or the diagnosis might be made later when the language is present, but it and the child's behavior are noted to be "atypical" in certain ways.
There could be many other reasons why your daughter is not yet talking. Her frustration at not being able to control her environment thru language could certainly lead to head banging and screaming. Combine this with the normal challenges of "3" (which was WAY worse than "2" in my house) and the behaviors don't seem so unexpected. A typical 3 year old should be speaking in sentences (3-4 words) and have a considerable vocabulary.
I think the best thing to do at this time is to have her evaluated by a speech and langauge pathologist. (Ask her pediatrician for a referral). While a speech/language pathologist cannot make a diagnosis of ASD, if they don't see any of the 'warning signs" they can tell you so. If they are concened, they might recommend further assessment by a developmental child psychologist (might be a different discipline in the UK).
Either way, she needs speech therapy now.
Good Luck-
Erin E. Harrison, MA,CCC-SLP
Speech/Language Pathologist
