DS was also quite slow on speech. He did speak, but it was delayed (but still in the bounds of 'normal'), less words than usual, and unclear. He was better and did understand instructions 1 on 1, but struggled when out and about or distracted by playing etc (basically most of the time)

By the time he was 3.5 the kinder brought up concerns, and i spoke to the GP. We were just going to go and do a hearing test and an auditory processing test through the audiologist (DS first cousins both have an auditiory processing disorder) and he hadn't had that many ear infections or anything, but the GP said go see and ENT and do the hearing test there, and get the other test done at the audiologist - that way you get a health care plan, and i wasn't going to be out of pocket $500 just for the testing alone.

So glad we did it that way - turns out DS ears were very blocked behind his ear drum (basically it is like a salad bowl with glad wrap, you need air in between to vibrate for the noise, his was filled with fluid right up the the brim which makes them appear dull, and hence he couldn't hear very well. They said he had up to 50% hearing loss in each ear - so he could hear, and understand instructions, but only in limited situations. It also delayed his speech, and because he also couldn't hear himself speak either, made his speak unclear (nilk instead of milk, as to him it sounded close enough, fruck intead of truck etc)

The ENT put in grommits, and his hearing is now normal.

The audiotory processing test (well a modified version, as they can't do the real one until age 5-6), also showed he was just above the threshold for an auditiory proceessing disorder, but they though he might improve as it was only done 1 week after the grommits were put in. He is having weekly speak therapy at school (we got 3 sessions basically for free last calender year on the health plan, and now 5 again this year before we have to pay), which is really helping.

I'm so glad we did it this way, the teachers were great about noticing a lot of things with his hearing and attention that didn't seem quite right to them, and they said rule out the easiest things first - do the hearing test and then take it from there.

So if i were you i would see and ENT to do a hearing test first, and then do speech therapy.

Also, they said that part of the reason why he would have been obessed with his dummy and sucking for so long was because it helped with the pressure in his ears.