What do you think? Speech Therapy has been suggested for 17 mo DD?

My son was almost totally non-verbal at 18mos and he also did not respond to his name or understand simple commands. His hearing had been tested as normal while getting tubes in the ears. We got hooked up with the CDSA/ EI at that time. My son is 3.5 now and has a fairly large vocabulary but he still cannot really put all the words together to express his needs and wants. We were very thankful to have EI come in and help him out so much. He recvd Speech, OT, and play therepy weekly. This has made a world of difference since we started out 2 years ago. If you and your doctor think there is some concern I would start getting help early on it could make a world of difference if in fact there is some sort of concern.

 

I would go to the Dentist and Doctor first to make sure there are not unlying problems before you start speech therapy. You would be surprised what a dentist can tell just by looking inside your mouth.!



























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That is how I was back in the '60s before I started to school. Glad to hear the procedure has improved because mine was done in a Doctor's Office and I still remember the pain!! Because I was almost 6 when mine was done, I had to have speech therapy for 3 years. (My speech teacher was from Tennessee, that's why I sound like I'm from Knoxville, TN instead of Johnston County)

In a lot of ways, she was the most important person in my life. Because of her patience I was able to have my own radio show for a while and have done a lot of public speaking....which no one would have expected when I was starting to school!!!

 

I forgot about the tongue. Yes, when I was young my mother used to check young children to see if they were tongue tied. She just knew by the feel under the tongue.

Grace

 

ITA!

 

My brother (who is almost 21 now) went to speech therapy when he was about 3 1/2-4 years old and they found no good reason for why he said very few words. They said there was no physical or mental reason and he may just be a "quite type person". My mom was still very worried but about 6 months later he started talking in complete sentences with no issues and hasn't stopped since! Don't worry about it this soon.

 

I have a little hearing milestones magnet guide I got from Rex when DD1 was born and it states the following:

12-18 mos

Says first words "ma-ma", "da-da" and "bye-bye"
Responds to music or singing
Points to familiar objects when asked

18-24 mos

Says two words together
Asks for things by name
Matches sounds to objects (ex: meow to cat)

 

Funny this thread was just started this week, because my 2 and 4 yo were both screened in school last week for hearing and speech for the first time. They both passed hearing, and speech evaluation (more in depth I guess) was recommended for both of them. This is not a big surprise for me, just not sure where to go now.

My 2 yo hardly speaks at all, he's actually 2 1/2 and only says about 20 words. Can't put any together, and hardly ever says the 20 words he can say. I'm not too worried though, my 8 yo was the same way. However, when my 8 yo was 2, he started speaking after joining a MMO program, and I thought at the time just being around the other kids helped him. This hasn't worked for my 2 yo now though, who is in the same MMO program.

My 4 yo, though, does have problems with speech, and I've been noticing it more and more, now that he's older and not "outgrowing" these things. Can't say "th" and says "s" sounds a lot. He can't articulate, is how they described it at school.

Anyway, sorry this was so long, just wondering if anyone has any advice for me. They teacher at MMO did say she'd heard some other teacher had speech therapy for her son through Johnston County a couple years ago, so apparently there are programs out there, just not sure where to start?

 

DD will be 13 months tomorrow.

She says with regularity

Hey
Daddy
Hey Daddy
She barks like a dog (a small dog, but a dog none the less)

I've heard her say at least once

Up
Mama
Me (what she calls her sister)

But, she understands EVERYTHING.

Go get your blanket

Where's your baby?

Bring Mama the book

Just some examples. I wouldn't worry about it. As long as they seem to understand and grasp, I think it's okay.

BTW-She was an early walker too, 9 1/2 months.

 

DJ, like i said, have you looked under his tongue to be sure there is not extra skin. There are a lot of letters that can't be pronounced if you tongue can't move in and out of your mouth properly. Take him to the dentistand get a good dental checkup and have them check this also.

 

Robbie - this is something that I will have checked for my 4 yo. He's been to the dentist a couple times and they never mentioned it, but he's going again next month so will ask them. Also didn't mention before, but the 2 yo passed hearing, but failed articulation and language, and they couldn't test him for voice, fluency or oral motor because he didn't speak enough. My 4 yo passed hearing and everything except the articulation. So apparently hearing is not a problem.

I just went on the Johnston County website, but couldn't find anything on this subject. If anyone knows of anyone to call at the county regarding this, I'd love any info you have! I'm supposed to be registering my 4 yo for Kindergarten next week, I'd like to know which directions I"m going in by then if at all possible.

 

:iagree:

Out of my 4, two talked early and two were very quiet. Now, they all talk too much.:lol:
I think much of it is personality.

 

OK, I got the proper spelling for this condition. It is called a Lingual frenectomy If you google those two words together you will get all the websites you care to click on. Hope all goes well for your children DJ.

 

OK. For those of us who were looking for info, I got a little bit today. I emailed West View yesterday, they told me to mention the fact that my son needs an evaluation when I register him and they'll set something up for him.

I also spoke with a mom I know through my sons preschool who has a 4 yo also and he is getting speech therapy. I don't know her well so I didn't get too personal with what exactly he's doing. But she told me to call the Johnston County Schools district office, and there is a preschool department. She said talk to them and they can also help. She said her son got about a month of free therapy through them, but after that she (I am not sure, but I think) has to pay. I know he's still going through them for therapy now. Anyway, don't know if this helps anyone, but thought I'd share. BTW, last year he would have been 3, so I don't know if there's an age requirement for this or not.

 

Okay, here goes. I always seem to get short changed on services based on my kids' ages when they arrive so I've learned a lot over the years. Kids can qualify for EI services up to age 3 years old. IF they are already enrolled in EI(early intervention), they usually will let them go just a tad bit longer after the age of 4 but not for long. However, there is a HUGE gap between 4yo and when the child is enrolled in school at age 5 or 6yo. Even the county admitted there is a huge gap during that time frame w/ absolutely nothing available. Hence, children losing ground during htat time. Now, I was also told IF there is a sibling in EI services, then the older children might be able to get in. Might. I was told this just a few months ago when trying to get help for my youngest son. They said to me "well, if you have any younger ones coming home soon, then we might be able to qualify him." Urghh!!! What?! --bring another one home and then you'll qualify him. I was shocked but that is what I was told.

Now, as far as speech therapy goes for the schools, it is NOT like it is if you get it in private practice. I met a lady at Pediatric Therapy Associates while one of mine was going to therapy there. Talked to her at length. She used to be a teacher in this area for speech for the schools. She told me if you can to not put them in speech at the school as it really is limited into what they can provide. She said they(the speech teachers) really need more time w/ the kids but won't give it to them. She told me to enroll in private therapy if at all possible to see the results you'll need. This was coming from a speech teacher FOR the schools.

The person in charge of the Johnston COunty preschool stuff for speech and HOH is Gail. For those of you who will need help w/ therapies during the school if they are going to kindergarten this coming year, please, please by all means put it in writing. Write the request out for an eval. They have 90 days to comply w/ a written request. I had another IEP meeting yesterday and was told I couldn't request another eval so soon for learning disabilities. I said if it is put into a written request I can. Everything needs to be in writing especially this time of the year. Otherwise, your request will be lost in the cracks. There are alot of requests this time of year and towards the end of the year. They are the busiest it seems around April and May and can rarely ever get the meetings together then. So, the earlier you know you need help, the better. Make your requests known now so that services for speech, OT or whatever are in place for your child at the beginning of the year. Good luck with everything.

I have dealt w/ Cooper, Riverwood, Riverdell, Polenta, Cleveland, and Westview. Just a note, some schools are much more cooperative than others. So far, we've been pleased w/ how things are done at Westview in regards to IEP's and such. They listen there and I think that is imperative for a parent dealing w/ such issues. Thumbs up Westview for listening to parents!

Good luck,

Stephanie--mom to 7

 

Below is the person to contact and their department. Exceptional Children Wilma Bisesi 934-4361 x 341. I spoke with Wilma regarding my son. I do recommend noting your request when you register, but that my not get handled until school starts. And, they have 90 days when school starts to do the testing. I would recommend starting on this testing now, so when school starts, you are ahead of the game. I hope this helps.