Can you tell me about it?
Did you do private therapy or go through a program like Babies Can't Wait?
How often did you see the therapist and how long did the session last?
How long before you saw some improvement?
Did you work with dc during the session or just the therapist?
How long did they see the therapist before their services weren't needed?
How old was your dc when they started therapy?
Anything else I need to know?
Re: If you've done speech therapy....
How often did you see the therapist and how long did the session last?
When we started, we went twice a week. I think our sessions were 45 minutes each. One of those was a co-treatment with an occupational therapist. So in that session, Kate was with an OT and an ST.
How long before you saw some improvement?
Pretty quickly. I was very proactive and asked for ANYTHING I could do at home to work with her between appointments. And I did it.
Did you work with dc during the session or just the therapist?
Both. I was sure to ask and follow their lead. But I was usually always present during our sessions. I think I only left the room one time and not for very long.
How long did they see the therapist before their services weren't needed?
We started in January and had our last session in April, I think. We scaled it back before we stopped altogether.
How old was your dc when they started therapy?
18 months
Anything else I need to know?
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I also have written about some of our experiences with a speech delay on my blog. Here is a link to the related posts, if you are interested:
https://33foramoment.blogspot.com/search/label/Speech%20Delay
Photo by Everything Nice Photography
My blog
Can you tell me about it? SC wasn't talking much at age 2, less than normal vocabulary and while my doc wasn't concerned as she is a quiet one, told us why not go for eval.
Did you do private therapy or go through a program like Babies Can't Wait?
We went through a program at Scottish Rite- Children's Healthcare of Atlatna. It was fantastic. Our doctor told us nothing against BCW but in his opinion the hospital program was a little more thorough. Our appts were in building next to hospital. Love love love our speech Therapist.
How often did you see the therapist and how long did the session last?
We went weekly for like 2 months. I believe for an hour each. The first sessions SC just grunted, but by the last she was using words. She loved Miss Karen so much, it was sad when they told us we didn't need to come anymore. :-)
How long before you saw some improvement?
I think about a month into it, she started talking more. Maybe with me witnessing the therapist I learned some tricks to help get her to use her words more. They also gave me some suggested books for reading - SC not me - to help build words. Mr Brown can moo, was a big hit with SC to get her talking the book back as is Brown Bear. When they dismissed us they said we could come back for another eval should we feel SC wasn't progressing, but she has been doing great.
Did you work with dc during the session or just the therapist?
Just therapist, but I was in the room to help encourage and let her feel comfy. Also able to learn what to do at home.
How long did they see the therapist before their services weren't needed?
We only went 2 months.
How old was your dc when they started therapy?
Right after she turned 2.
Anything else I need to know? Highly recomend the program at CHOA! If you are the least bit concerned just do it now. Better to rule it out and not get further behind is my feeling on this....You don't want to be at age 4 and saying "why didn't I do this earlier". Since you are thinking about it, talk with your doc and see what they say. I would wait until the 2 year appt though as things could progress quickly before then.
Thanks for your responses! Our doctor has already agreed to refer him. We'll be going the private route, probably through Speech Therapy of Forsyth at first. He's never had more than 2 words at a time because he keeps dropping words that he would say. He's never even said "mama". Currently he will only say "dada" and "shoes".
We had him evaluated by BCW when he was 13 months but because he was a preemie they adjusted his age and then said he had to have a 30% delay from his adjusted age so we didn't qualify.
I work full time and so does dh so our nanny will have to take him to most sessions. However, I'm sure she'll pick up a few things she can work with him on. She speaks to him only in spanish so the SLP has agreed to work with him on both spanish and english words.
We go for our eval with them next week but I KNOW that he's going to qualify and I'm really anxious for him to get started. He has a great understanding of things being said to him in both english and spanish, he just doesn't have the speech part down yet.