Speech pathology tips?

[Srosch]

Hello,

My DS has been referred to the speech pathologist on Tuesday, ideas to help him talk?

We read, point out things, I make him look at my lips when I talk, I don't know what else to do.

Oh and he has the words jump when he jumps, ball, no, mom and dad, and "duh" for his sister.

He also signs pretty well (more, all done, please, etc)

Sigh, life :confused

Thanks!

[Emily]

Brady goes to Speech 4 days a week in school and the 5th day to a private SLP. Our behaviorlist comes twice a week also does speech.

How old is he? Has he been tested for speech apraxia? I order some great tools to help off www.talktools.net.

[Srosch]

2 and this is our first consult, thanks for the website!

[Emily]

Okay, then check out this book too - The Late Talker by Marilyn Agin, Lisa Geng and Malcolm Nicholl. Because of Brady's other issues, low tone and all sorts of stuff, this didn't really work for us, but it worked for a lot of people that our first SLP knew. Talks about the benefits of fish oil and has a ton of great advice.

[Srosch]

Thanks! We will skip fish oil what with allergies and all, but should het tomorrow from library :)

[Emily]

They will probably order a hearing test too, but you can always talk to Early Interventions with Child Find and they can do a hearing test rather than an expensive one at Children's. I can't tell you how many times they test Brady's hearing and then go, "Oh, wait, so he can hear fine?!" DUH! That's what I tell you. :doh

I have lots of resources and if Leia joins in, she has a ton of info/resources too. :grin If you ever have questions just hollar at me. With an average of 15 therapy sessions a week, I should have a doctorate in this by now. :giggle

[Momasita]

I don't have any personal experience but I do know a lot of boys that were referred for speech issues at that age. I don't know if it was because they were late talkers or had not so great pronunciation. I do know they didn't have therapy for too long.

[Katie]

Who referred him? I'm just curious, b/c 2 is pretty young to need speech therapy in a lot of cases. Does he not talk much at all? Or is it just hard to understand what he's trying to say?

That said, I think speech therapy can be helpful at any age and certainly won't hurt (unless it's stressful or made him clam up). Especially if you end up with an awesome SLP. She might do an evaluation, though, and say it's just developmental and to screen him in 6 months, or so. Still, it's good to be proactive.

I have two kids in speech therapy, one who is in his 3rd year of it. His issues are mainly articulation and he's probably in it long-term (though he has definitely made improvements). My youngest DS will probably only receive speech for a short period, as his issues are more developmental and habit and not near as severe.

There are a lot of resources and ways to work on speech at home (besides modeling, of course). The SLP will probably give you handouts and activities and such. Mine always does. Also, if you happen to have an iPad there are a lot of great apps available that are interactive, and I'd guess would work well with a 2 yr old. Some SLP's even use iPads during therapy sessions.

Let us know how the appointment goes. Is it through early intervention or child find?

[mom2twinboys]

I'm here

2 actually isnt that young to be referrred to speech..that is when both my boys got their referrels.

where are you guys going for it? We went to Children's in Westminster and they are great. We were able to do all therapies there and didnt have to go back to oue dr to get evals for OT and then was able to get the other one evaled for OT and PT therough our OT. (OT = Occupational Therapy and Occupational Therapist for those that dont know).
But oh yeah but a referral for Child Find from your dr would be even better since they come to your home for it and its free but onyl good till they reach the age of 3 which is why we didnt do it because I waited so long that he was only a couple months from being three when he got his eval at Childrens so we had to wait till he turned three and they placed him in a preschool program.
My now 6 year old son has speech apraxia and was diagnosed at age 3 after putting off that year between getting referral and finally the eval because I kept hoping he would catch up like his brother did. He had like 5 words when he started ( I know I have them written down somewhere but I beleive they were moon, blue, yes, , no, and maaaa) www.apraxia-kids.org (http://www.apraxia-kids.org) is a great website to learn about apraxia.

thsi link takes you to an article that will kinda tell you abotu the different kinds of speech disorders
http://www.apraxia-kids.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=chKMI0PIIsE&b=787891&ct=464133

not saying that it is apraxia but this link will take you to signs of CAS
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/ChildhoodApraxia.htm

so if you have any questions at all let me know.

[Hethyr]

Also - my speech therapist friend recommended to us that we not give the kiddo things unless they say the word (cup for cup) or at least attempt it. I don't know if that would help you, it's not something that we ended up trying but I know she recommends it for her patients.

[Luffy76]

Ah speech therapy...Hayden had words but didn't have conversation pragmatics. He also has a slight lisp. Besides all the good recommendations listed here maybe he has some issues with forming words. You may be able to notice if he has some texture avoidance or gags/gagged easily on food. He may need to work on strengthening some stuff before he can work on the actual words. So make sure he can eat stuff well :)