Anyone's DC start speech services later in life?

howleyshell

So... after 3 years of brining up Jace's inability to regularly form the "TH" blend my pedi finally said that we should look into speech services.Any words of wisdom or advice?Most of my friends' kids were referred thru the school district and I don't think that's an option for us any longer due to his age? 

rsd12

I would check with your towns school system. I brougt my middle son to a preschool/kindergarten readiness check that the town school holds 1 friday throughout the month (as long as your child is 3 by that date). My middle son qualifies for speech sevices with the town since right after his 3rd birthday. He most likely would not have qualified with early intervention because his speech issues between 2 to 3 were considered normal. But I know other kids that do qualify once they get to school. My oldest just phased out of speech after 5 years with a speech pathologist. Or you could consider going for a consult to a private speech too. Most likely it is just age appropriate ; )

daisyterp

It still should be through the school system. DD still "fronts" (switches T for C) and an SLP said that's normal for another few months, if it doesn't change by then we will make an appointment and she will start speech therapy at our local elementary school. I have a friend w/ a 3 yo who goes to their local elementary school for ongoing speech therapy. 

lite-bright

It's Early Intervention (where they send someone to your house) that he no longer qualifies for. That's from birth to age 3. The school district handles services from age 3 onward. 

Your school district will handle evaluating him and determining whether he qualifies for services. You should be able to find a Child Find number on your district's web site; talk to an intake coordinator to make an appointment. They'll probably do a vision and/or hearing test as well, to rule out any issues in those areas. He needs to have a certain % delay in order to qualify; I'm not sure what it is, maybe 25%? If your pedi makes a referral, the process tends to go a little quicker, IME. 

You could also schedule a private speech evaluation (which may or may not be covered by insurance) through some place like Children's or a private SLP (speech language pathologist). Shanbrite on the CO board is an SLP, and she may be able to offer more specific words of wisdom. You can look for private SLPs on the ASHA website (their professional organization). 

I'd only do the private eval, BTW, if it's covered by insurance and/or you're unsatisfied with the services from your district. Or if they evaluate him, decide he has an issue but not one major enough to qualify for services, then you'd pretty much have to stick to the private service route. 

HTH! 

macchiatto

lite-bright:

It's Early Intervention (where they send someone to your house) that he no longer qualifies for. That's from birth to age 3. The school district handles services from age 3 onward. 

Your school district will handle evaluating him and determining whether he qualifies for services.

You could also schedule a private speech evaluation (which may or may not be covered by insurance) through some place like Children's or a private SLP (speech language pathologist).

I'd only do the private eval, BTW, if it's covered by insurance and/or you're unsatisfied with the services from your district. Or if they evaluate him, decide he has an issue but not one major enough to qualify for services, then you'd pretty much have to stick to the private service route. 

HTH! 

Ditto these parts.

One of my boys was in EI just starting at 2y7m so he just went through the whole school system eval process. (He's in PT, OT and feeding therapy though, not speech.) My best friend's little boys was in speech for articulation starting around 3 and one of my nieces started speech close to 4. It can take a little longer to catch up if you start later but if his issues are more just with some specific articulation issues, hopefully progress will be quick!