XP: Speech Therapy? PIP

DrRx · August 2013

We had our 18-month evaluation for Adalyn with her EI and we're being referred to Speech Therapy. She is actually at 8-10 month level as far as language. She is at 17-18 month for gross motor skills and self-help, 14-month for cognitive, and fine motor. The fact that she has no words, doesn't say mama or dada, imitate sounds, etc. She said that she recommends us to get it also privately since they usually can only offer it once a month and she would benefit from it being at least once week, if not twice a week at first.

She gave me 2 recommendations, and 1 is booked for about 4 to 5 months, but the other one we have an appointment with next week. It's going to cost $25 a session, with a max of 50 a year that the insurance will pay for. After that, we will see what it costs and what we're going to do. I am sure that the speech therapy, along with our EI, will be the extra help that she needs that will push her to finally speak! She understands some stuff, and will point like a champ, but she needs to verbalize!

I would love to hear some of you all's experiences with speech therapy. What did they do at the evaluation? What kinds of things do they look at and/or do to help the child talk? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Other than that, we have a very demanding diva on our hands.

Tantrums have fully started, and I can't help but laugh when she throws herself to the ground and does a seated forward fold or just full on laying on the ground. We're doing well with redirecting, but she sure is strong-willed!
Here's a pic of Adalyn from the other day. The look on her face seems to say "You expect me to wear this hat?"

mcgeeva · August 2013

Super cute!!! No experience here but I hope your first session goes well. Question for you: Does your lo go to daycare? I only ask because my son doesn't say as much as I hear other parents talking about their 16+ mo olds. I was wondering if our daycare has something to do with his speech. We have his 18 month apt in a month. So I am guessing at her last apt they evaluated her and decided to move forward with speech therapy?

TJ1979 · August 2013

I don't have any experience or advice for you. Although my brother did speech therapy when he was younger, and he's the most eloquent speaker I know now. I just wanted to say that I hope the speech therapy gets her verbalizing quickly, and I'm sure she'll be on track really soon with the EI and the speech therapy. She is just as precious as ever.
E is doing mini tantrums. She just sits on the floor and cries and cries. We tell her that we understand that she is upset, and if she will come over to us, we will give her a hug. She will usually stay on the floor crying for a minute or two, then decide it's worth getting up to come get a hug. After the hug, we redirect.

Ruthie04 · August 2013

No true experience, but I just wanted to comment on the adorable picture. She is just beautiful!! DH and my nephew were in speech therapy due to hearing issues (tubes helped, but speech needed work). My other nephew was in speech therapy due to cleft lip. The one thing they all said is that speech therapy was so fun. They absolutely loved the one on one attention and said the speech pathologist had fun games and activities. Hoping Adalyn has a wonderful experience!!

mdiblasi10 · August 2013

I don't have any experience with speech therapy, but just wanted to say good luck. She is so cute in her hat

DrRx · August 2013

Thanks all! @Mcgeeva--This wasn't from her pedi but from her EI. She gets an evaluation every 6 months from the EI therapist to see where she is and what we should be working on. She was a 26-weeker born at 1 pound 12 ounces and speech delay is somewhat common for micro-preemies.

My pedi is kind of a specialized pedi in that they deal mostly with children with special complex needs and/or are micro-preemies. At her 18-month pedi appt, they said that if EI thinks she needs speech, to let them know and they will send the prescription for evaluation and therapy if we need it.

imoverit · August 2013

"I would love to hear some of you all's experiences with speech therapy. What did they do at the evaluation? What kinds of things do they look at and/or do to help the child talk? Any info would be greatly appreciated."

Im a School Psych so I can offer a little bit of experience as far as the speech eval goes. Since she is still really young a lot of the information they will get is from interviewing you. They may ask her informal questions and have her point to pictures. Its so great that insurance will cover additional speech therapy. Take advantage of all the therapy you can get now because early intervention makes all the difference. She should make great gains given the fact that all her other skills were not too far behind at all. HTH.

phishgirl29 · August 2013

I'm a speech therapy grad from back in the day and I used to love it. I was a selective mute until I was in kindergarten and then dealt with stuttering until I was in 5th grade. I'm now a teacher to middle school students and also give technology workshops to fellow teachers regularly (when working) so I talk a lot to large groups of people. The therapy was awesome and I was lucky enough to attend my speech therapist's retirement party 5 years ago. Best wishes to your LO!

Mr. & Mrs. Woodtick · August 2013

I have no advice but I wanted to wish you good luck with therapy. Your LO is so cute!!!

Dragonfly1226 · August 2013

She is adorable and has come so far! I wonder if the fact that she struggles to or can't express herself is making the tantrums worse b/c she is getting frustrated. Maybe speech therapy will help with those too. When DS is in full out tantrum ode sometimes the only thing to do is sit back and chuckle.