Hello! I am driving myself crazy here and would so appreciate any advice, thoughts or suggestions. My son will be 3 next month. He has around 800 words, answers to his name (unless he is deliberately ignoring me) points to things with index finger when referencing something,looks you in the eye, talks directly to me, if I point to something he will look what it is,he follows directions great, says up to 7 words sentences ("don't worry Mama,I'll find it", I want more blueberries please", "where is ____" "let's read this book" etc..), socializes great-he often becomes the "official greeter" of wherever we are saying "hi" to whomever walks in,plays with his toys in a correct way, knows his colors, shapes, letters, and numbers. When asking what something is in a book he knows what it is and if it is an animal will give the appropriate sound.
The problem is that his speech may not be as clear as it should be. Also, when he jumps up and down his arms go up and his hands flap; don't know what else they are supposed to do with their hands, but everything you read about flapping it concerns me. Also, sometimes during dinner he will flap a little bit He also likes to spin around sometimes. He doesn't do it in a spaced out kind of way and not repetitive, I think he just likes to do it and after a few spins says "whoa, whoa, whoa' and then moves on to whatever he wants to do next. He also will walk on tip toes sometimes when he is barefoot.
He had back to back ear infections from first of August last year till the end of November. Clear in December. He had freakishly large tonsils and adenoids and those came out in January. He has had two ear infections since then. Knock on wood his ears have been clear since May and I think the tube is starting to straighten out and hopefully the ear infection problem is worked out. I am wondering if since for so many months, especially crucial speech/;anguage months it was like he had cotton in his ear. Could he be behind speech wise because of that and presuming that the ear issue is taken care of will he catch up over the next 6 months to a year? I also wonder since his tonsils were so big for so long if that could have any effect on they way he speaks now or uses his tongue when speaking.
I am on information overload and I don't even know what is normal and what is not normal anymore. Our ped. thought he speech should probably be a little more clear and we are going to a speech therapist for a screening later this week. I am consumed with thoughts of autism and I am so scared what the speech therapist is going to say. I am so glad that information about autism is out there, but I feel so overwhelmed and it seems like every kid is going to do something on the "red flag" list from time to time.
Anything will be helpful and I thank you in advance.