Has anyones late talker not received ST? and other speech delay mom questions.

bebemama

I am just curious.  The past 10 months of my DS's life I have been consumed with his language development.  He has made progress with speech therapy which he has received for 1 hour a week for about 8 months.  Therapy doesn't seem to be anything ground breaking but it is definitely a good source of support for both of us and a great resource.  I am just wondering if anyone didn't get their child speech and how the progress went as well.   

He has gone from about 10 words at 20 months to probably 100 and starting to combine words.  He picks up about 5 or so words a day now. But, he is 2.5 and probably would be at this point even without speech therapy.  

Also if you have a child with a speech delay what was/ is your childs experience?  How are they/did they progress. What worked well for your child? When did you see a big improvement.

DS has been home with me since birth.  I am going to be putting him into preschool in the fall and am hoping this will help as well. 

shouldbworkin

DS was never a big talker/communicator.  He always said the bare minimum amount of words, so didn't need ST.  At 3 y/o we put him in preschool and he *had* to talk.  Within 2 months he was speaking and communicating clearly. 

stillhoping

All three of mine received speech services. It was slow going at first but when they start to get it they really start to get it. The thing that I found that worked the most was doing the homework, have your st give you homework, things you can do the rest of the week to reinforce what was done at st.

also at first if you are on a walk and see a cat simply say cat

count to five say cat again

once he says cat you then say cat runs

 

etc

stillhoping

also remember the more you say to him the less he hears and understands at this point. Keep your directions and sentences short and to the point. Do not say do you want something to eat. in stead say eat or drink.

bebemama

Belle4KP:

also remember the more you say to him the less he hears and understands at this point. Keep your directions and sentences short and to the point. Do not say do you want something to eat. in stead say eat or drink.

Thank you for the reminder.  I am running into people asking him tons of questions now that he doesn't have the ability to answer.  He looks older then 2.5 as well so people are always asking him things like, what do you like best about being a big brother....He just stares at them blankly or ignores them.  I am just starting to get him to answer questions like apple juice,or orange.  It makes me feel aweful when people talk to him like that because it's awkward and it is just a reminder that he can't answer properly to him and me.  I finally asked my sister to stop doing that to him yesterday.

RCH151

My DS was a late talker and I even had him evaluated through EI when he turned 2 but even though he was a preemie he didn't qualify.  He's now 2.5 and he is no longer delayed at all...I swear his speech just took off the week after I had him evalauated.

I'm not sure what helped him along but I think that all in all, he was just a little later than most. 

bebemama

Not that I thought she was "doing" it to him.  Just isn't the best way to communicate with him.

mommynow

At DS's 2 year appt, he only had a handful of words.  The pedi was not concerned and said that he would recheck him 6 months later if it did not improve.  Probably two weeks after his appt, he started talking more and is now a little chatterbox learning new words every day.  IMO, a lot of people jump the gun on speech therapy.  Of course there are some who really do need it, I just think that a lot of times they need some time and the chance to do things at their own pace. 

Jodi&Joe

Joey started talking at 2yrs, 10mo --- the same month we enrolled him in preschool.    Prior to that, he had in between 30-50 words (and those didn't start until 2.5 really.

The pedi told me at his 2 year appt that as long as the # of words he was saying were INCREASING, that he wasn't concerned.  Some kids just take longer.

And Joey's gross motor skills were crazy --- he scaled a chain link fence at 18 months old.  He is just better with his hands than with words -- same with his dad! 

Marce921

My DS had maybe 5 words until he turned two. After that, he's done great and talks non-stop now at 3. He quickly picked up words after his second birthday and my ped was never worried. She said that sometimes boys are just slower.

Heidisean

What you have to remember is that EI is not to only directly work with your child it is to show you what to do. The BIG premise of EI is that they are they to teach YOU and other caregivers techniques on what to do. You are def right one hour of ST a week will NOT do much and that is why you have to do what they show you the other 6 days a week 24 hours of the day. A ST is not a miracle worker and the family is the ones with the biggest job.

Suggestions I give to all my patients. Speak slowly and clearly using single words. When you give him things don't say "here is your drink" just use single words and label it drink, milk, cup, etc whatever you want but only single words. Read books then go back and point to pictures using single words and matching sounds to animals. Slow down your words and articulate your speach as much as you can. GL

bebemama

Agreed.  I always say that it is the support that she gives me that has been the most helpful.  We definitely have learned how to better communicate with him and ways to teach him.  I am not knocking ST at all.

Thank you for the advice.  

Heidisean

Has everything anatomically been looked at too. Such as has he been looked at for having a tight frenulum/being tongue tied? It is very common and the signs for it are that he can not stick his tongue out past his lips or if he does it forms a heart in the front of his tongue or dips in. You wouldn't believe how many kids have this. It is the piece of the skin under the tongue that is attached too far to the front and the kid has limited amt of movement with his tongue which then also interferes with speech because it is difficult to move his tongue to produce sounds. Just a thought. GL again!

triplea1819

DS has been in speech therapy for 14 months now.  the first 6 months were waisted on a horrible therapist.  At 2 he has 1-2 words, and a few sounds and grunts.  no babbling, nothing.

 

we received a new therapist beginning of August.  In 3 months, he had 50 words and was combining words.  We are in about 6 months, and he combines 3-4 words at a time, and has 200-300 words.  hard to count at this point.

He picks up about 3-4 a day still.  and repeats everything, no matter what you say!!  

 I feel if we did not switch therapist, my son would be silent today.  she figured out what was wrong, and how to teach him to talk.  Which is what he needed.  He needed face queues, lip queues, and sound queues as well.  Once we figured that out, teaching him how to talk has been getting easier.