 |
|
|
|
| Kids with speech delay |
| Public online group |
|
|
| |
|
|
So to summarize, I've been going around with this possible speech delay issue with Jake for months. He has made great progress lately, but he's still not talking in sentences on a regular basis. He says quite a few words, repeats a lot of words (some clear, some not so clear) and he has said a few "fluke" sentences like ... I got it, where are you, what doin, wanna bite (that was new this morning) it wasn't super clear, but it was easy for me to figure out, because he was putting the spoon of applesauce towards my mouth. So all good things... no more autism worries for me. I was fearful of that for a while ya know.
He has come out of his shell and is so social it's amazing. He pretends, jokes around and loves to copy Sammi and everything we do, or act out what he sees on TV. What a cutie! He recognizes letters that he sees individually as the alphabet, and tries to name the letters. Some he gets, some not, but it's a great start. He is a sponge right now.
Anway, I have looked into speech therapy for him, I found a group locally, his insurance got approved and all I need is a script from his doc. I got that yesterday with a bit of reluctance from the doc. She was kind of combative on it. She thinks Jake is fine. That he has words, he has even said a few sentences, although sporadic, she said it's all good. Boys are slower to talk, and she thinks Jake will catch up and start really yakking by 3 (or before). She has seen kids that said bits and pieces of words at 2 and 2 1/2, and were talking in complete sentence by 3 without therapy.. it's common. I am afraid to wait if he does have a speech problem, but I also don't want to label him either. (she mentioned that she didn't want to label him in his file, I am learning that can be a bad thing.)
So here's the deal, she said to get him into daycare. He needs structure, he needs other kids to mimic and learn from. He is freewheeling at home, with no structure and no "authority" and I totally understood what she meant, kids listen better to other adults, besides their parents and the comfort factor with Sammi doing for him is a hinderance.
I am so not ready for him to be in day care.. not to mention I really can't afford the extra expense right now. It's bad enough I have to prepare myself for Sammi to go to preK, I'm scared. Even though I really need the break, sending your kids to school for the first time, (or the 3rd and 4th time) never comes easy. I am in desperate need for a regularly scheduled mom's morning out program or part time daycare/preschool. Being at home so much is stifling him. When we go away on trips, he comes back a different kid.
I am just so torn up over this. I don't want to be a lax mom, and just wait it out and let Jake try to catch up, the doc doesn't even think he is really behind. She thinks my expectations are a bit too high. We work on words and communication constantly, it can be tiresome. I would love the outside help too.
There are 2 sides to this... If there is a problem, I don't want to regret not acting on it. If I go with the speech therapy, they may accept him just to get the insurance $$ and gain another success story, and then he will be labeled as delayed. Then, once in school, he could end up in special ed without need for it and resent me for the rest of his life! Speech therapy could only enhance his learning, but.. I am finding out in bits and pieces, that there is a big stigma attached to the "label" of being delayed. The doc used that word in such a derogatory way, "I don't want to label him just yet, I will just put in his file 'possibly speech delayed'. aaargh! What does this all mean??
What do I do?? I am so confused, my head hurts. I am literally bouncing off the walls trying to come up with something... I know he will excel with kids his own age, but there aren't many readily available on a daily basis. We desperately need structure, and I just don't have it in me or the resources to maintain that need here at home. I have so many other worries and issues, that it's hard enough to try and stay on a routine, it's too easy to have a lazy day, then another. Know what I mean? I don't think I would be a successful homeschooler.
Any suggestions? TIA! :o)
|
| Posted by Annette+4 on 05/14/2008 11:09 AM
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
First off Inhale..count to 10....exhale....ok now that you are calm. ;)
i totally understand where you are coming from. First off get him in speech therapy...if he is delayed in his speech and you wait until after he is 3 he will have to do special ed and all that! With austin he turned 2 in march. He'll do 6 months of speech therapy and then they'll reevaluate him! Feburary 29th is his last day of speech therapy because he turns 3 march 1st. Anyway i make the decision if he get's more therapy in school. They can't make you do something you don't want to do.
Even if he isn't majorly behind better safe that sorry..when your insurance will pay for it
the thing i don't understand is his doctor why is she so hesitant about it...Put it in his file...unless she goes to his school and screams it down the hall how is he going to labeled as speech delayed! Her comments were kind of uncalled for.
As for child enviroments...have you tried playdates! those are free. We thought about daycare and it's just to expensive and insurance doesn't pay for that!
Austin makes progress everyday and sounds very similar to your son...but when professionals came in and did his evals...he is 30% behind. He's 26 months old and at the speech level of a 21 month old.!!! i was so shocked because i thought he was doing so good!
My personal opinion. is do the evaluations see where he's at and go from there. NO ONE can make you do anything. If you do the evals and he's not that far behind then don't do the therapy. but every little bit helps and he will learn a lot more from a therapist than he would from mom. And i'm speaking from experience..not saying you aren't helping him. I can't get austin to sit down for 5 minutes to color on a peice of paper...well he had speech therapy monday and sat there for 45 minutes and did everything she asked!!!!! i about crapped my pants he was a totally different kid! and only because she wasn't mom!
if you need ne thing else just let me know! |
| posted by Brandi on 05/14/2008 11:58 AM
|
|
|
|
|
Wow. This is gonna be long, sorry!
I am of the opinion that there is no such thing as too much learning so, getting Jake speech therapy would, at worst, teach him a better way of learning and get him ahead of the game.
I can't understand the doctor's concern about a "label" in his file when, I am sure of it in my school district, that children get evaluated for kindergarten readiness so, any concern about a speech delay or possible special instruction would be revisited before he started school. If he is speaking according to their guidelines at that point, any "label" of speech delay would be ignored. Make sense?
I totally agree with you about getting the kids more structure and also playtime with other kids. I had my son (2 1/2) in gymnastics and swimming at the local YMCA. I am pulling him out for the summer because I want him to have more freedom to play with all that expensive outdoor play equipment I bought for him. He enjoyed the activities but, he took the same swim class twice and the next level is without parent and he isn't ready for that yet. The gymnastics class was not quite structured enough for my liking, it was a 45 min free for all. The Y's programs were by far the cheapest programs in our area for little ones. Our Y also offers drop in daycare for as long as 4 hrs a pop or as little as 1 hr. You could maybe even pay for an hour a week or an hour a day two days a week or something that way. I have never priced daycares but, paying for only 2 or 3 hrs a week maybe a perfect alternative. You can even join and exercise during that time and get a break that way.
As far as full time daycare, I had asked my son's speech pathologist about that and she said that she visits her clients at home and also at daycares and she has a much bigger percentage of her client roster actually in daycares. She actually believes that there is more occurrence of speech delay in children that go to daycare because they don't get the one-on-one attention that a child of a sahm would.
I would be a little concerned about the pediatrician's reaction to all of this. It seems that you are trying to be proactive and she is trying to "hold off." As long as she signed the referral, great but, you are his mom and I think we moms have pretty good instincts about our kids. You are around him 24/7, she sees him at check-ups. I think you are doing the right thing by getting Jake help.
I also know what you mean about lazy days. You are not alone. It's hard for anyone. Just remember, if you were working at a job outside the home, you would be off duty after 8 hrs a day. Being a full time mom means your job is a lot longer than that. Of course you need a day to veg out! |
| posted by Melissa on 05/14/2008 01:44 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Hey Annette,
BTW- a little off topic here but, thank you SO MUCH for your Baby Babble DVD recommendation. We received both DVDs on Monday and he has viewed the first one about 10 time already (as soon as it finishes he signs "more"). The teaching style of the creators is very similar to my son's speech therapist and it's like having her here everyday now. They are so engaging and he is mimicking sounds made on the DVD that he hasn't ever expressed interest in making. I have gotten him other speech inducing dvds and he walked away after 10 minutes but, with these, he dances and sings and giggles over and over.
Annette, I honestly can't thank you enough!
|
| posted by Melissa on 05/14/2008 01:46 PM
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks so much for your kind words and encouragement. I have been getting info from both sides of this coin. I am back to trying to decide what to do next.
I may proceed with the therapy, but first, I am going to get him involved with some structured activities. I realize my son has not been on the outside world much, and he really needs to expand his mind.
Melissa- I am so happy you are enjoying the DVD's! Aren't they fantastic?! Maybe you could add a review to my list over on the Lists/Resources portion of this site for everyone to see. I posted information on all of the DVD's we have used and gave the info from the websites where they are available.
Thanks again, and I will definitely keep everyone informed of how things are going here. It is so nice to be able to share our experiences and expectations. It can be so depressing and frustrating at times, and coming here really helps give the morale boost when needed.
A :o) |
| posted by Annette+4 on 05/15/2008 10:07 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| what dvd's r u talking about? my son loves tv but i'd like something more educational |
| posted by Brandi on 05/15/2008 10:51 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| I made a list with pictures, web sites and info on the Lists/Resources section. Look to the right of your screen under calendar/events, and click lists/resources. It will take to you my links. |
| posted by Annette+4 on 05/15/2008 11:21 PM
|
|
|
|
|
| alright cool thanks. i'm still gettin used to this website all i've mastered is posting and replying :P |
| posted by Brandi on 05/15/2008 11:25 PM
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |  |
| |
|
|
|
