Take advice of teacher or Speech therapist?

Carol*Brady

DD#1 is in Kindergarten--she can read but is in the lowest group in her class (she's the oldest kid).  I know she struggles more than most of the kids.  Her teacher says she's doing fine & progressing well.  She recently suggested I get her to get checked out by a Speech Therapist for her articulation of a few letters--she's just not speaking clearly as she should for 6.  She had an evaluation about 3yrs ago & was with in normal back then.  Anyway the ST picked up some other issues that she thinks might/could effect her literacy.  Potential dyslexia, lack of phonological memory & awareness, etc.  She wants her to be seen by a reading specialist.  So I mention to the teacher & she kind of dismisses it (I think most kids don't see the reading person until at least 1st grade as I guess K they are still "learning").  So do you push for her to see the reading specialist & if the school can't/won't do it there (she goes to a private school) would you find one on your own?  What would you do?  Right now I am making copies of the Speech report & giving them to the teacher--maybe I should call the Principal too?  I don't want to be the annoying Mom who has a normal child but is upset she's not above average--but on the other hand the ST says the reading people want to address these issues asap & waiting is not advantageous.  

neverblushed

The speech pathologist is in a much better position to make a recommendation than a teacher.  And I'm saying that as a teacher who worked p/t for a speech pathology practice for several years.

I have a kid in kindergarten as well.  If your DD's school is anything like my kids' school, the K teachers and the reading specialist administer reading tests to all the kids sometime in the fall.  At that time, reading groups are formed, and the teacher begins implementing strategies with the kids in each group that are appropriate for that group's reading level.  The teacher is not looking at WHY each kid is in a particular group.  The teacher's focus is on moving the kids forward as much as possible.

The speech language pathologist is probably administering tests that are more sensitive than the ones used at school.  The SLP's tests are not only attempting to determine a child's "reading level" but also attempting to determine how a given child processes the symbols, sounds, and meanings that make up written language.  

Kids have to be able to combine many different skills and brain functions to read.  If your daughter has a particular weakness in just ONE of these skills, it may be really difficult for her to learn to read, even with good instruction from the teacher. She'll fall farther and farther behind.  With intensive work from a speech therapist now, whatever particular weakness she has can be remedied and she can more easily catch up to others in her grade.

If the school won't work with her, I would see if the speech therapist will see your DD privately or ask her for a referral to a speech person who works with kids this age.

And, don't worry about being "that annoying mom."  The speech testing has confirmed that your daughter may be of normal intelligence, but something's most definitely NOT normal about her when it comes to her language processing!  You're not dealing with a situation where your daughter is "average" and you're kvetching because you want her to be seen by the teacher as "above average."  You already know there's something not right about this situation, and you've had that confirmed by the SLP.  You have a right to have this addressed, and I also think you have a responsibility to your DD to push forward and get it dealt with.

GL -- I have dealt with similar stuff from the school regarding my son's fine motor issues (for which he sees an occupational therapist weekly).  Like your DD, my son is one of the oldest kids in the class (turned 6 in August) but his handwriting is among the weakest of all the kids.  His teacher's point of view is kind of like, "eh -- they all learn at their own speed when it comes to handwriting."  Well, my kid is learning and improving a LOT faster with the help of an OT than he would be if he was just plugging along! 

sweetie0228

What's the worst that happens if you look into a reading specialist?  Either the specialist says she's not delayed enough to require help or she gets more practice reading. 

I have also heard good things about Handwriting Therapists...I know it sounds strange, but my sister has dyslexia and my mom wished there was a handwriting program for her at the crucial ages of 5-8, not that it cures by any means but it gives a better foundation.

neverblushed

sweetie0228:

What's the worst that happens if you look into a reading specialist?  Either the specialist says she's not delayed enough to require help or she gets more practice reading. 

I have also heard good things about Handwriting Therapists...I know it sounds strange, but my sister has dyslexia and my mom wished there was a handwriting program for her at the crucial ages of 5-8, not that it cures by any means but it gives a better foundation.

The program the OT is using with my son is called Handwriting Without Tears.  I have seen the materials that his OT uses teacher supply stores.  So far, I have been very impressed with the program.  Since May, my son has gone from barely legible, gigantic, spidery capital letters to pretty normal-looking kindergarten lower-case letters.  He will probably "graduate" from OT after the holidays.  I wish my DD's preschool teacher had picked up on this with her -- she had the same problems and her handwriting has been a nightmare!  Now, at age 10, it would be hard to deal with.

Carol*Brady

Thanks so much for the advice!  I will definitely push for her to see a reading specialist.  If not through the school, then I will do it myself.  She started once a week ST (privately not through school) on Monday & the ST already has fine tuned what her problems area are by retesting her more in depth.  I struggled a lot in learning to read (1st & 2nd grade were very hard for me) & honestly I think I was probably dyslexic...at least reading up on it now, I had pretty much all the symptoms.  I think she is truly just like me--DH learned to read before K & I barely could in 2nd grade.  I don't think it was an "intelligence" issue for me (I went on to do very well in school & standardized tests, etc) & I don't think it is for her.  But I don't want her to struggle like I did & get very discouraged when it's not necessary.  My Mom & MIL are both teachers so I am paranoid about being the pain in the butt parent I think.  Thanks again!       

LilMaggs

neverblushed:

The speech pathologist is in a much better position to make a recommendation than a teacher. 

This! 

jlw2505

110% in favor of doing what the ST has recommened and if the school won't help you, go find a place privately.  I am speaking from experience.  My 4 year old was a very late talker, was evaluated by EI since birth due to a brain injury at birth.  Never qualified for speech but when she turned 3, she was still way behind her friends.  That fall we had her Early Childhood Screening done through the school district (IN MN all kids must get this screening done before Kindergarten and we just did it at the earilest age possible).  She ended up getting referred to the Early Childhood Special Ed Department for further eval and is now in speech.  Last year she had it 1 time a week for 2 hours in a group setting and this year, in a different school district goes 2 times a week, 90 mins each in a small group setting.  It is making a difference overall in every way and the guess from her current PreK teachers (part of the district) and the ST's involved in her case is that she has a few years of speech therapy min ahead of her.  I always wonder if I had pushed for the therapy at age 2, if she would have had these issues or if they would have been so severe.  Her speech issues are causing a lot of issues beyond just talking - she has a harder time socially and in many other areas because the kids can't understand her, she has a hard time hearing and repeating things and also learning basic things.  Speech and articulation or so fundamental that if there is any concern, push to get further testing and therapy as soon as possible.

britab

Most specialized things like special ed., enrichment services, speech, you can't just sign your child up or push for it, at a public school anyway. Data is required to qualify a student. It's frustrating sometimes that teachers have to wait so long to get the student the help he or she needs, but we can't always help it.

BeachTeach26

neverblushed:

The speech pathologist is in a much better position to make a recommendation than a teacher.  And I'm saying that as a teacher who worked p/t for a speech pathology practice for several years.

I have a kid in kindergarten as well.  If your DD's school is anything like my kids' school, the K teachers and the reading specialist administer reading tests to all the kids sometime in the fall.  At that time, reading groups are formed, and the teacher begins implementing strategies with the kids in each group that are appropriate for that group's reading level.  The teacher is not looking at WHY each kid is in a particular group.  The teacher's focus is on moving the kids forward as much as possible.

The speech language pathologist is probably administering tests that are more sensitive than the ones used at school.  The SLP's tests are not only attempting to determine a child's "reading level" but also attempting to determine how a given child processes the symbols, sounds, and meanings that make up written language.  

Kids have to be able to combine many different skills and brain functions to read.  If your daughter has a particular weakness in just ONE of these skills, it may be really difficult for her to learn to read, even with good instruction from the teacher. She'll fall farther and farther behind.  With intensive work from a speech therapist now, whatever particular weakness she has can be remedied and she can more easily catch up to others in her grade.

If the school won't work with her, I would see if the speech therapist will see your DD privately or ask her for a referral to a speech person who works with kids this age.

And, don't worry about being "that annoying mom."  The speech testing has confirmed that your daughter may be of normal intelligence, but something's most definitely NOT normal about her when it comes to her language processing!  You're not dealing with a situation where your daughter is "average" and you're kvetching because you want her to be seen by the teacher as "above average."  You already know there's something not right about this situation, and you've had that confirmed by the SLP.  You have a right to have this addressed, and I also think you have a responsibility to your DD to push forward and get it dealt with.

GL -- I have dealt with similar stuff from the school regarding my son's fine motor issues (for which he sees an occupational therapist weekly).  Like your DD, my son is one of the oldest kids in the class (turned 6 in August) but his handwriting is among the weakest of all the kids.  His teacher's point of view is kind of like, "eh -- they all learn at their own speed when it comes to handwriting."  Well, my kid is learning and improving a LOT faster with the help of an OT than he would be if he was just plugging along! 

Not necessarily true. Depends on the teacher I suppose. My colleague, a K teacher, definitely focuses on why her kids are in certain groups. She doesn't just try to push them as far as possible. Certain issues can be addressed at this age, but you have to remember that maturity and development play a huge role as well. Many CST groups won't evaluate a kid before grade 1 unless the problem is glaring. That being said, I would consider just how serious your concerns are and decide whether it is the right time to push forward with further evaluations based on what you are comfortable with. GL