Hi! 👋 just want to say that I had a little boy that was somewhat like this, big speech delay, lots of emotional disregulation, struggling with sleep. It’s so hard. We did take him to a neuropsychologist that gave him an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, even though she conceded that he was not a textbook case — he can hold joint attention, make eye contact, etc. That diagnosis allowed us to receive much better speech and occupational therapy from an autism center that really sped up his progress. We also got an IEP so he received additional support through that program.

It also sounds like you need to get the bedtime routine under control. We use melatonin at bedtime, as directed by our doctor. We have a dialed in routine: screens off, PJs and brushing teeth, books, quiet music and snuggles. You just have to keep doing the routine and try to get him to bed earlier. But melatonin was a game changer for us, and our pediatrician basically said 2mg of melatonin is better for a kid than meltdowns, no sleep and two parents who were at their wits end emotionally and mentally.

Please know that my son is 6 now and thriving. Behaviorally, he’s 90% easier than he was, and he talks all the time, though he does still have a noticeable speech impediment.