Speech services question

goosh24

**I don't mean for this to be a controversial issue, just curious what others think**

Do you think that we're paying more attention to issues like speech delays than they did when we were all kids?  Does that mean there's more a problem or that we're just recognizing delays?  There's quite a few kids on this board who have had speech evals. or receive services, mine included, and my mom and MIL both thought I was crazy for thinking there was a delay.  Their response was that she'll talk when she's ready and that she's just busy with other things.  It is true that she is definitely motor skills driven, although she is gaining more language lately, I think receiving services clearly will help.  I know a lot of kids also receive PT but I think there are some causes to that, like the back to sleep campaign/torticolis link. 

I guess my take on it is that I do think we're being more proactive about stuff like speech issues.  I think before it would have been an issue that would have waited until school or if it was severe enough that there was no language, I assume the child would have received a diagnosis of mute or an incorrect disability.   I looked up when EI programs began and it listed 1990's which I think goes along with my thoughts of why things would have gone "unnoticed" when we were all kids. 

jewelsonu

I think we are more proactive now.  My parents say my sister didn't talk and that I did all of the talking. I don't know how much of that I believe. 

It's just like I never knew anyone with a nut allergy growing up and now you hear about it all the time.

missyjg

I agree with Jewels. I think it's also more socially acceptable as well. There is less of a stigma related to having a child receive "help". There has been a great deal of research proving how speech services are beneficial to children, so maybe this is why pediatricians are more on board with recommending evaluations earlier.

TinyPinkBug

I think it is a mix bag.  A quick google search shows early ed programs dating back to the mid1960s, I know Ty's early education program was started in 1980.  So it was around when we were kids.  I think more kids use it today and more parents are willing to admitt that their kids use it.

As for the long tern results, I am sure there are many adults who could have qualified for services as kids but didn't get them who turned out just fine.  But there are also a lot who have plenty of issues.  As for sensory processing dysfunction, it is well documented and accepted that adults that grew up with undiagnosed and untreated SPD often have drug and alcohol abuse problems, as well as trust and concentration issues.  I think speech issues have a snowball effect, they turn into learning problems in elementary school and lack of confidence as they become adults.  Individuals who are otherwise smart but are poor students and underachievers.  I know we never heard of the higher functioning forms of autism like Aspergers, but that isn't because it didn't exsist.  I look back and there was one kid from middle school who had textbook Aspergers, without a doubt in my mind.  But he was not diagnosed, I remember being a fly on the wall listening to teachers discuss him trying to figure out how he could excell in one subject but fail miserably in others.  There were a few others who weren't quite as obvious that I remember.

Plus, it all comes down to the parent's willingness to identify issues and seek help.  I think our group here on the bump tend to be educated and more attentative parents than a sampling of the general population.  There are plenty of kids out there still who probably need these services but don't get them for a variety of reasons.  Plus the amount of support here on the Bump.  I wouldn't be surprised if there were some of us here who wouldn't have sought out services if it wasn't for the support of our fellow bumpies, especially those who faced opposition from their DH and other family members.

jnk062602

I agree with pps - it's a combo of things. I think it is more recognized especially early on and action is recommended instead of a wait and see approach. And with the internet and even commercials out there on early education the info is easier for people to find out themselves instead of solely relying on a visit to the pediatririon where it might be hard to see the kid's whole picture anyway.

 

And I agree that the parents that are on message boards about kids in general are more proactive and involved on kids overall care and can't be compared to the general population.  For instance - take nutrition, you see debates on the bump about whether juice or watered down juice or no juice is the way to go. In real life, I see kids with bottles and sippies of soda. 

Telyco

I was just thinking about this yesterday while browsing 2yo preschool programs...when we were kids there weren't 2yo programs...but now it's like, expected for your kid to have a couple of years of preschool before K - not just one year of part time preschool. I'd LOVE to see the differences in K classes now vs 1980 or before...I think as time goes on kids are just expected to do more and more at a younger age and now we need services to help some "late bloomers" whereas back in the day they would just catch up naturally, on their own time.

battybtags

Telyco:

I was just thinking about this yesterday while browsing 2yo preschool programs...when we were kids there weren't 2yo programs...but now it's like, expected for your kid to have a couple of years of preschool before K - not just one year of part time preschool. I'd LOVE to see the differences in K classes now vs 1980 or before...I think as time goes on kids are just expected to do more and more at a younger age and now we need services to help some "late bloomers" whereas back in the day they would just catch up naturally, on their own time.

I agree. I hear K today is like 1st grade when we were in school. The amount of stuff they need to know before going into K is crazy. My nephew had to go through an interview and testing to make sure he could get in! They never did that when we were kids! I know they are trying to compete with other countries, but kids these days really don't have the time to be kids anymore and it's sad