OT: Speech delay w/ my son.

[perkinsrose]

He could just be a late talker. (If he's in speech therapy, I'm assuming they have done hearing tests?)

However, I believe early intervention is CRUCIAL when addressing autism and speech issues. There is an entire spectrum of degrees of autism.

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_home

I'm a teacher with experience with speech delayed kids and preschoolers and early elem. kids with autism.

If someone has mentioned the possiblity of autism and/or you gut keeps bringing it up, I would continue to explore the possibility.

Certainly not a singular way to diagnose--but the link below is a questionaire that can be printed out at the end to bring to professionals to list specific concerns.

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/autism/l/bl_autism.htm

 

[jodifla]

He could just be a late talker. (If he's in speech therapy, I'm assuming they have done hearing tests?)

However, I believe early intervention is CRUCIAL when addressing autism and speech issues. There is an entire spectrum of degrees of autism.

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_home

I'm a teacher with experience with speech delayed kids and preschoolers and early elem. kids with autism.

If someone has mentioned the possiblity of autism and/or you gut keeps bringing it up, I would continue to explore the possibility.

Certainly not a singular way to diagnose--but the link below is a questionaire that can be printed out at the end to bring to professionals to list specific concerns.

http://pediatrics.about.com/od/autism/l/bl_autism.htm

That's really not a great questionnaire. Any child with a number of other things going on will flag as "autistic."

 

[jodifla]

[QUOTE="Cinder" Ella's Mom;29622040]I have navigated the different services of Early Intervention with DD7 and can give a little advice. First of all, INSIST on a medical evaluation. EI will pay for this but they don't really tell you you are entitled to it. This is a several hour process at a hospital with professionals from each field: speech, OT, PT, etc.
Next, take all services that are offerred, but insist on taking your child to the professionals you want. Ask parents and doctors for recommendations and don't just accept who they give you. That can make a huge difference. Even if you are put on a waiting list, be patient until you get in with the best in your area. We did not like the Speech terapist we were assigned so we ended up paying OOP for the best in our town. DS7 is now doing great...just like all of his peers. Best of luck! I'm sure it will come.[/QUOTE]

Yes, this is good advice. The process should take HOURS. There are some neurologists and psychologists who will look at your child for 10 minutes and then decide their Dx. So be sure you go to a professional, with a PROVEN track record of being RIGHT.

 

[JKSWonder]

My DS has been receiving physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech, special education teacher for over a year now. He also attends a language and development class three days a week, 2 1/2 hours per day. He will be 3 in April.

There has been some improvement, but he still has difficulty communicating, both with adults and with kids his age. His actual age according to his last language assessment is about 1 1/2. I'm trying to be patient. His early intervention therapists are great and he made a lot more progress once he started the classroom based program.

I know its so frustrating. He still throws temper tantrums we I can't figure out what he wants. And his sister is bothered by his very existence because she says "he doesn't understand anything."

He is going to an integrated full day program in September, so I am hoping we will see much more improvement.

 

[perkinsrose]

That's really not a great questionnaire. Any child with a number of other things going on will flag as "autistic."

He could just be a late talker. (If he's in speech therapy, I'm assuming they have done hearing tests?)

However, I believe early intervention is CRUCIAL when addressing autism and speech issues. There is an entire spectrum of degrees of autism.

http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=about_home

I'm a teacher with experience with speech delayed kids and preschoolers and early elem. kids with autism.

If someone has mentioned the possiblity of autism and/or you gut keeps bringing it up, I would continue to explore the possibility.

Certainly not a singular way to diagnose--but the link below is a questionaire that can be printed out at the end to bring to professionals to list specific concerns.

I never said this questionaire will tell you if child has autism. By answers to questions--the end will list specifice behaviors that may be consistent with children who are on the autism spectrum or may lead professionals to other diagnosis. If you take any one or cluster of questions such as "does your child respond to his/her name?" "Is your child a toe walker?" could be indicative of autism or any other number of physical and/or developmental issues. The questionaire may be a tool to compile a list of warning signal /concerns. Sometimes its hard to organize thoughts when meeting with a doctor or other professional. I find written concerns/notes are helpful to have at hand so that you don't get home and realize you forgot to mention something.

introduction to quiz on website (link in this post):

"According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 'there are a number of things that parents, teachers, and others who care for children can look for to determine if a child needs to be evaluated for autism.' This autism quiz asks about 'red flags' that could be a sign that a Pediatrician or other health professional should evaluate a child for autism or a related communication disorder.
Keep in mind that other conditions can also cause these symptoms, that you have to consider what your child can do in an age appropriate manner (for example, a 6 month old likely won't respond to his name), and that normal children can have some of these symptoms and behaviors (like being independent, walking on her toes, or preferring to play alone).

Having one or more of these signs, symptoms, and behaviors should prompt a discussion with your Pediatrician to see if further evaluation needs to be done.' "
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/autism/l/bl_autism.htm

Ofcourse everyone has own personal and theortical stances on the often sensitive subject of autism. I truly wish the best for OP's child and hope all issues are develomental and resolve completely in time.

 

[jll45]

This may seem like a strange question but have they ever checked under his tongue? My DD10 didn't speak an understandable word until she was well past 4. When she did speak she sounded like a Telletubby. It was very frustrating. It turned out she had a tongue tie. This is the little flap of skin underneath the tongue. The muscle is sometimes too tight and the tongue cannot be moved to speak or eat. The pediatrician completely missed it and it was picked up by an ENT specialist. A small day stay surgery and in a few weeks she started talking much better.

 

[DisneyKings]

asha.org is a great site for speech, language, & hearing disorders (it's the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association). The page specific to Apraxia is asha.org/public/speech/disorders/ChildhoodApraxia (Sorry, I can't post a clickable link since I haven't got 10 posts yet)

I would discuss your frustrations with your SLP, she might be able to give you a little more in depth diagnosis info & point out things she is working on that are precursers for speech. Ask her for things to work on at home. Not every therapist is right for every child, so if your child is not clicking with one of them, you may want to try another. Each child is different though & no one can say how long it will take them to progress. They do also go in spurts where they're not talking & then BOOM they won't be quiet!

Any kind of speech/language delay can be an extremely frustrating process for both the child & the parent. Try to be patient & have people you can vent to when you need to.

 

[jodifla]

Ofcourse everyone has own personal and theortical stances on the often sensitive subject of autism. I truly wish the best for OP's child and hope all issues are develomental and resolve completely in time.

Thanks, you make some great points.

My issues with these checklists is that it tends to lead too many laypeople off on to wrong conclusions. They don't have the backgrounds to really understand these symptoms and they immediately try to inaccurately label a child.

 

[mom2two]

Dx means diagnosis and here is a great link for childhood apraxia of speech
http://www.apraxia-kids.org/

I am a school-based SLP so if you would like to pm me I would be glad to answer any questions that I can.

 

[homedad]

you have already heard this a zillion times but our son also was a late talker, we had him evaluated and he was in speech therapy 3 times a week for 2 years(give or take). I can remember him pointing and grunting at thiings and then hitting his head on the floor because he was frustrated we couldn't understand him. He is now almost 8 now and talks up a storm. I won't say don't worry because as parents it our nature too, however I can say that it all worked out and hopefully it will for you to. Good luck.

 

[h518may]

I also have an apraxic DD. I was just feeling so down about her speech today. Mine just turned three in Nov. and is starting therapy with the public school. I hate changing therapist. It takes the new therapist a month or two to start realizing that she is talking, you just haven't understood her words.

When my last therapist left(DD aged out of EI) the therapist was hearing full sentences out of DD, hard to understand but definitely sentences. Now the new therapist has understood one word in two 30 min sessions. I know it is just a matter of learning to understand her.

Read the apraxia kids website, they have a forum to ask question. The website is great at explaining apraxia.

We went through speech therapy with our DS and didn't seem to be getting anywhere for so long. EI kept telling us to have his speech evaluated by the school system because he was still behind. Right at 3, as in the month of his birthday, he started talking more. By the time he started preschool in Aug.(birthday in May) he was talking up a storm. Now we just want him to stop once in a while, he is now 5.

Good luck. Some days we just feel frustrated by the whole thing.

 

[GPA1015]

ok I have not read all the posts- sorry! But I wanted to add in my little one was 2 and not saying a WORD! At birth they noticed he had a long frenulum(the thing under your tounge). I continued to mention it to my Dr and they would continue to say he is fine. Only after I continued to persist did they look into it. His frenulum was to the tip of his tounge to where he could not stick out his tounge- it looked like a heart. Once that was clipped we started Speech and are making strides to his speech.

So long story short- make sure you take a look at his tounge- this may be an issue- Good luck!

Stacy

 

[Tiffany_MommyOf3]

I agree with a PP, my DD is almost 4 and she speaks in full sentences but you just cannot understand them unless you are around her frequently. We understand her but others have a really hard time catching any words haha.

Like right now she is telling her brother something about a video game "Oh, ew ew ih ike ah." which translates to "No, you do it like that." We all understand it (including the 5 yr old and 2 yr old brothers) but strangers or even DH's parents have NO CLUE! My mom gets it because shes around my kids 24/7 and my dad understood her too.

 

[AmyBWV99]

We worried about our son not talking by age 2, he was signing and then began saying some words and signing others. They were concerned it was a hearing issue since we were told most kids will say what they are signing first.

So 9 months of speech therapy later he was discharged when he basically never shut up. Hearing was tested it was fine he was basically just using a free pass, if the people came running a produced he had no need to say and sign a word so he only did one over the other. We laugh saying he has no inner monoluoge everything he thinks he says, there's never a break. Sometimes when people haven't seen him in a while they ask now why did he need speech therapy?

 

[Disneyformykids]

Visit www .apraxia-kids .org and www .cherab. org Both are incredibly informative sites with regard to speech delays verbal apraxia/apraxia of speech.

I think it is very important to focus on getting to the bottom of what is happening. It is only then that you will be able to place yourself in a position of helping him and or getting him help, if necessary.

Your Pediatrician can point you in the direction of a Developmental Pediatrician who will be able to diagnose any other issues that may be present...

Would you consider taking him for another opinion regarding his speech and language therapy? Maybe the therapist is missing something...

Don't lose it now, he needs you and be strong. You will be surprised when faced with situations like these, a mother can tap reserves that she did not know she had.

Good luck.doid

 

[Leajess99]

Hi. This is actually the first time I am posting to the families board. so

I guess tonight is just a vent night. I am just getting more and more upset about my DS 2 1/2. I noticed when DS was 18 months that words were just not coming. I was an only child and first of my friends to have a baby so I didn't have any one to compare I spoke to DS dr at 20 months and they told me to go to early intervention for speech therapy. He has been doing speech therapy for like 8ish months. And I really haven't seen much progress. I am really worried. AND frustrated. He just points and screams when he wants something, mimicks words but says maybe only 5 unprompted. I don't know if I just thought that there would be more progress by now, is that stupid to think that there would be more unprompt words by now. He is not autisic serveral friends, his teachers, and drs say that he is not. He was just evaluated for sensory issues and he does not have a 25% delay. I am just so worried am i ever going to hear my little man talk. Now we have a DS 14months and he is talking up a storm (he is actually advanced for his age, how ironic I would have totally been fine w/ two average kids )

Is anyone going thru this? I just sometimes feel alone ya know. I just wish there was something that I could do to get more words out........Why is his therapy not working. Is maybe autistic? I really do not think that he is cause he does have words as few as they may be, he does not mind crowds/loudness etc, but when he was a baby he was just soooo serious. And I have heard that many autistic children are serious babies.

I don't know I guess I just needed to vent. Maybe if anyone is going thru the same situation could cheer me up? give me some inspirational stories.

Sorry if this is not in the right spot

For some children it does take more than a few months. My youngest DD was diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech at 2 years old. She was in speech therapy from 21 months until last year and now her speech is so much more understandable and she is where she is just about where she is supposed to be. One thing that can help is dvds called Signing Time. They will teach signs as well as many kids pick up their speech when watching it. You can check them out at Signingtime.com.

I so understand your worries and fears as I was there with my youngest. I had 2 doctors tell me she would grow into her speech but I knew that she was too far behind when she was not even saying "dada" by 18 months old. I called Early Intervention myself because I could not listen to the doctors. If you do not feel your child is progressing than try the dvds or talk to your therapist about it. Oh and I also fired our first speech therapist as she only showed up twice in 11 weeks and that was not doing anything for my dd. If you want to talk more feel free to PM me or email me at @ aol.

 

[Leajess99]

My daughter is 3. She has speech apraxia. She has been in speech therapy for about a year and still not much progress. The speech therapist said shes storing it. We know she understands it all and can sign a lot. But speaking she just can't seem to figure out. The therapist says that she is storing it for later use when she feels confident in it.

Does he use sign language? If nothing else, that will help cut down on the frustrations of communicating his needs.

I have been where you are and I can say that your dd will one day have speech. My dd is now 6 and thanks to her wonderful Speech therapists (second one through EIP and school one) she is no longer delayed much or qualified for services. Do not get frustrated on her reading abilities or spelling either as they are just as delayed. One thing I never realized is just how your speech affects your ability to read and spell. My dd is catching up and while she works harder than many she is getting there. My older kids were both reading when they entered Kindergarten and my yougest is now starting to read. She is still not real confident on speech so she is quiet around most strangers until she really gets to know them. My most recent proud moment was listening to her read to me. I cried when she read to me because it was something she worked so hard at.

A great website to check out is www.apraxia-kids.org. Our 2nd ST gave us all the information and then linked us to this site. I so miss our ST as she moved after my dd started Preschool at the public school.

 

[Leajess99]

Yes my therapist is not the greatest, speech therapist is EXCELLENT, teacher not so much, but all she does is helps him w/ playing which I don't think he really needs help with but whatever. I never knew that it takes 18mos see that is what I mean i feel like the speech therapists and teachers are kind of leaving me in the dark. early intervention here is free.
if you don't mind me asking approximately how much is the private speech therapist?

Also for those of you that have a child with speech delay were they in day care? I sometimes blame myself because my children weren't in day care that they didn't get the child to child interaction? Just wondering thoughts on that.

I hope this multi quoting worked I never did it before

again I really appreciate everyone's feedback.

If anyone has more info on apraxia I would really appreciate it!

My dd was not in daycare and that is not the reason for a speech delay or apraxia. Apraxia is basically a mix up between the brain and the mouth. Your child probably thinks he is saying things correctly even though they do not come out that way. My dd's preschool teachers said that when she started preschool it was as if she had her own little language.

If you are not satisfied with the St I would advise looking for a new one. With my dd her ST that first caught the apraxia had special training in it and she started off by teaching her the proper sounds of each letter. A book was made and my dd got to paint or color or watever the picture and then they would practice the sounds. Amazing how you never realize just how hard learning the letter pronunciations is. My email is same as here only at aol or yahoo so please feel free to emailo me if you would like. Also here is the link to the Apraxia website. www.apraxia-kids.org

 

[bookwormde]

It may just be a simple “delay”, but it is time to start educating yourself about the Autism spectrum so you can monitor your child to see how many characteristics he might have (a large percentage of the population have at least a few). Since the most highly experienced clinicians now recognize that there are close to 100 characteristics and typically when a child reaches 70-80 they would likely get a formal clinical diagnosis. If your child appears to be otherwise cogitatively average or above reading “The complete Guide to Aspergers” by Tony Attwood C2007 (available on Amazon for about $25) will give you the knowledge you need not be just “guessing” and will make you more informed than most educators and clinicians. If you start to recognize a significant number of additional characteristics, that is the time to get serious about an evaluation from a major medical group or medical center which specializes in the Autism spectrum. Until then just continue to supply the supports that his differences dictate. Even if he is on the spectrum it is common not to get a diagnosis until 5 or 6 when the challenges of the social world become more demanding.

While there are challenges that children with spectrum characteristics face there are also tremendous gifts that come along with it in many cases and remember that this comes from a neurovariation, not a disease or genetic defect. There is really no difference in the support that someone should get for the characteristics between those who have a formal diagnosis and just have some characteristics which have an impact on their lives so at this point unless it becomes an insurance issue your best route is just to educate yourself and deal with the issues at hand based on that education. If there are any signs of cognitive impairment they an evaluation should be immediate.

If you are looking for an appropriate additional test, an auditory processing evaluation is a good one since it eliminates a lot of possible hearing issues and can when administered by an experience clinician can give indications of neurovariation in auditory information processing.

There is a very active community on the disabilities section of this board so please come over and read and ask question since your situation is not unique.

To some of your questions PDD (pervasive development disorder) is just a category for individuals with autism spectrum characteristic individuals who do not meet the formal diagnosis but for whom the characteristics have a significant impact on development.

It is funny I have a niece who spoke almost not at all until about 3.5 and they when she did start speaking it was the full vocabulary and high school level grammar and complexity. She is now a double major at college, oh and she is also an Aspie who self adapted with virtually so support. So what is “normal” has a wide variance.


bookwormde

 

[mjkacmom]

Follow your instincts, and have him evaluated by a pediatric neurologist. My nephew's EI ST actually gave up on him a few weeks ago, because he wasn't making any progress! He's 2 and they think apraxia, which is a tough one, requiring years of therapy.