3-4 month expressive speech delay
DS got evaluated on Friday for speech. He is 17 months. He scored 13 months for his expressive speech and 17 months for receptive language. Cognitive development was 21 months, socia/interaction was at 20 months and everything else was in the 19/20s. He didn't qualify for speech bc he's not 25% delayed. They suggested he start the Hanen Program at the end of January. Anyone know anything about the Hanen Program?
I'm just really upset with all this. It's hard hearing that your child is having difficulty or is delayed. DS has been seeing specialists for other medical issues since the 4th of July. First, we were sent to a infectious disease doctor and they thought he had Periodic Fever Syndrome. After two months they ruled it out. Then we were sent to a hematologist/oncologist to check for blood disorders or blood disease.So after 5 months of going to specialist after specialist and finding there is nothing medially wrong with DS, we find out that he is delayed in expressive language. He's also going to start OT to see if he has textural issues with food or if it's just a behavior thing and he is just REALLY picky eating. It just feels like there is one thing after another and I haven't had the best support group. People just don't get it unless they are going through something similar.... I'm just having a hard time coping with everything and needed to vent. Thanks!
Re: 3-4 month expressive speech delay
I see you are in Silver Spring. My good friend is in Rockville and she raves about the Hanen Program. She has had huge success with it with her 2 year old son who didn't speak at all at age 2 and now he speaks like a completely normal 3 year old. If you PM me, I can give you her information to contact about the program in your area.
And honestly, it sounds like your son is doing great if he's only slightly delayed in one area. I know it's hard when you were concerned about other issues, but try not to let it get you down. Receptive is much more important at 17 months than expressive.
From an SLP's standpoint, I can see how hearing that he's at a 13 month old's level for expressive language when his receptive language skills are right on target and his cognitive skills are a little ahead would be difficult for you to hear...I'm sorry to hear you're upset
A couple of the SLPs that I work with are trained in Hanen's It Takes Two To Talk program (the Hanen organization also offers a program called More Than Words, which is geared towards parents of older kids with autism spectrum disorders-ITTT is specifically geared towards parents of kids 3 and under with language delays) and offer the courses a few times a year with usually good results. The classes are intended to help parents and caregivers recognize the different ways in which their child may try to communicate different messages to them, how to respond to those attempts, and ways to help their child improve upon their current communication skills. My colleagues also do a couple videotaped sessions with each parent (or both parents, if they can both attend) and their child, so that they can observe how the parents and the child interact and then give them personalized suggestions to help the parents and their child communicate more effectively together. I've referred a couple of my families (one whose child was a late talker, one whose has Down Syndrome) to the course my colleagues offer and both had nothing but good feedback about the program and everything they learned.
One cautionary suggestion, though-if you do decide to do ITTT, make sure the instructor(s) are Hanen certified to teach the course. The ITTT book that is provided to families at the start of the course is also available on Amazon and through other sources, and I've heard of some SLP and others who read the book and then decide to start offering the course to parents. The process to become Hanen certified involves a weekendlong course and extensive training and videotaping of the attendees as they roleplay teaching the course themselves to ensure that they are doing things the way the Hanen Center intended them to be. I'd be Hanen certified myself by now except for the fact that the last time they did a therapist training course in Columbus, I was on my honeymoon
Let me know if you have any questions!
Ditto Duchess.
Our son's SLP uses techniques from Hanen and we're seeing immediate results. Dean's expressive speech is quite delayed, but receptive is pretty much on track.