Speech therapy & interesting day....

FmrAFBrat · April 2013

DS started his speech therapy 2 weeks ago. Today was his third session. So far things have seemed pretty good. He has several new words and has been more vocal. When he started he only had 4 words he was using on a regular basis. I've also been working with him at home. I get updates with what they worked on...so I work off of that.

Anyways....I get a call from the director at the daycare today. She was very concerned. DS is generally a pretty easy going happy guy. He cried through most of the session. Another therapist who works there was watching the incident & was really upset that she let him cry so long. He was upset when he returned to his class-but after nap time DS was back to himself. The therapist informed me that today he was really quiet & fussy to start...maybe hungry. It didn't give me good vibes. I'm debating on what to do. I've got a lot going on right now, but I really worry about someone being mean to DS and this is really bothering me. My question is would you go ahead & request someone new.....or would you give it another week?

FWIW...I'm afraid that I might be overreacting. I had some cruel teachers in grade school & I'd always promised myself that I wouldn't let anything like that happen to my kids.

butterflynola · May 2013

Hmm, I would probably ask the lady that he met with exactly what happened and why he was crying, and for how long, and how she handled it.

Question, I've been curious about ST, my ds has roughly 30 words, but only uses maybe 7 on a regular basis and is generally pretty quiet. My ped said it was normal and just likely part of his personality, but I see more and more bumpies oing to ST it makes me wonder if I should. What made you go, did you ped suggest it? Don't mean to pry

ellebelle2384 · May 2013

I'm a pediatric SLP and no matter how hard we try to make the kids happy, sometimes they do cry during the sessions, particularly if we are trying to get them to use words to request and they would rather just have that toy right now. I would try and get more details about it rather than immediately jumping the gun and asking for someone new. It could be that she's not a good fit for him, but if he's already had a couple sessions and they are going well and he is showing progress then I wouldn't worry too much. If you don't want her to work on goals in a certain way (like withholding toys until he asks for them) then just let her know.

orangegoggles · May 2013

Keep in mind that I do not have a child this age but I think you have to give it some more time. Your son is awfully young and I imagine a new face asking him to do new tasks/work with new words is daunting. It doesn't meant that the therapist is necessarily being "mean" to him but she is putting him in a new situation he hasn't been in.

I'm curious about what prompted the daycare provider to call you. Specifically what was she concerned about? The crying? Have they had other students receiving speech or is it fairly new to the center?

I know this isn't quite the same thing but I am a teacher and youngest kids cry a lot, especially in the beginning. It doesn't mean we haven't "clicked" yet or I am being too rough on them but rather the fact that its a new situation and it can be scary.

I might ask some more questions to the daycare provider as well as the SLP and reevaluate after a few more sessions. Its important to follow your gut but I think you need some more info.

:::Hugs:::

Junebug060609 · May 2013

OP, I'd give it a little longer. D hasn't seen a SLP [yet], but when he had PT he'd sometimes cry. She wasn't hurting him, just pushing him, and I'd imagine the speech would push his limits as well.

Butterfly Nola, If your pedi isn't worried about N I wouldn't be. FWIW, D is the same age and has zero words. I'm trying to get ST rolling with him. His pedi recommended a full developmental assessment at his 18m appt. :[

melly918 · May 2013

Before I saw his age in your ticker, I half expected a three year old or older. He's still very young and could have been crying for a multitude of reasons. I would give the therapist a few more sessions so he can get used to her. I know it's not the same thing, but my three year old still has a hard time listening to his swim teacher after four lessons!

FmrAFBrat · May 2013

pangnl79:
Keep in mind that I do not have a child this age but I think you have to give it some more time. Your son is awfully young and I imagine a new face asking him to do new tasks/work with new words is daunting. It doesn't meant that the therapist is necessarily being "mean" to him but she is putting him in a new situation he hasn't been in.
I'm curious about what prompted the daycare provider to call you. Specifically what was she concerned about? The crying? Have they had other students receiving speech or is it fairly new to the center?
I know this isn't quite the same thing but I am a teacher and youngest kids cry a lot, especially in the beginning. It doesn't mean we haven't "clicked" yet or I am being too rough on them but rather the fact that its a new situation and it can be scary.
I might ask some more questions to the daycare provider as well as the SLP and reevaluate after a few more sessions. Its important to follow your gut but I think you need some more info.
:::Hugs:::

The daycare that DS goes to has a Montessori School for Preschool & kindergarten, as well as a program that allows children with severe disabilities to be mainstreamed into the program. It's kinda a neat program. So they have experience with a lot of therapists....not just SLP. They take all kids and all levels. Anyways, I worked with the pedi and the daycare both when concerns were brought up (he only had 5 words) to get him an assessment. As far as other skills (fine motor, social) he is fine. However, he was able to qualify for speech services until he is 3 (then he gets reevaluated).

I did find out he was putting his hands & toys in his mouth. At his 18 month visit I was told he's already getting his 2 year old molars which could have been part of the issue. He's also sometimes shy & doesn't like his routine changed. I think the director at the daycare would like to see the therapy more incorporated with his regular daily activities. I think the big concern is he is generally a very happy guy-he's not fussy & he cried for awhile.

I really want more of a plan to improve his speech and his communication skills.....activities we can do at the house. From what I'm getting-it really isn't any different than what we have been trying since his 1st birthday. That may be something I do when I'm off work here shortly.

orangegoggles · May 2013

bethanyreese:
pangnl79:
Keep in mind that I do not have a child this age but I think you have to give it some more time. Your son is awfully young and I imagine a new face asking him to do new tasks/work with new words is daunting. It doesn't meant that the therapist is necessarily being "mean" to him but she is putting him in a new situation he hasn't been in.
I'm curious about what prompted the daycare provider to call you. Specifically what was she concerned about? The crying? Have they had other students receiving speech or is it fairly new to the center?
I know this isn't quite the same thing but I am a teacher and youngest kids cry a lot, especially in the beginning. It doesn't mean we haven't "clicked" yet or I am being too rough on them but rather the fact that its a new situation and it can be scary.
I might ask some more questions to the daycare provider as well as the SLP and reevaluate after a few more sessions. Its important to follow your gut but I think you need some more info.
:::Hugs:::

The daycare that DS goes to has a Montessori School for Preschool & kindergarten, as well as a program that allows children with severe disabilities to be mainstreamed into the program. It's kinda a neat program. So they have experience with a lot of therapists....not just SLP. They take all kids and all levels. Anyways, I worked with the pedi and the daycare both when concerns were brought up (he only had 5 words) to get him an assessment. As far as other skills (fine motor, social) he is fine. However, he was able to qualify for speech services until he is 3 (then he gets reevaluated).
I did find out he was putting his hands & toys in his mouth. At his 18 month visit I was told he's already getting his 2 year old molars which could have been part of the issue. He's also sometimes shy & doesn't like his routine changed. I think the director at the daycare would like to see the therapy more incorporated with his regular daily activities. I think the big concern is he is generally a very happy guy-he's not fussy & he cried for awhile.
I really want more of a plan to improve his speech and his communication skills.....activities we can do at the house. From what I'm getting-it really isn't any different than what we have been trying since his 1st birthday. That may be something I do when I'm off work here shortly.

Ah, I see. I might ask if you can observe a session if its possible for you to get off of work. You could always say that you want to use the same language as the SLP . That way you can see if you are comfortable with her practices and if not I wouldn't be afraid to ask for a different SLP. Good luck!

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