Toddlers with Speech Delayed

Pasco county has a great program for kids with expressive speech and language problems called the TALK program. It's a preschool class for kids with speech delays where kids go all day 2 or 3 days per week (depending on how severe their problems are) during the school year. I know that there is at least one TALK classroom in Port Richey (I dont' know what school it's at), there is one at Lake Myrtle Elementary in Land O Lakes, and another one is opening up at New River Elementary in Wesley Chapel. (I think that there are a few more, but those are the only ones that I know for sure about). It's an amazing program - my son has been in a TALk classroom for 1 1/2 years and has made tremendous progress (he has a rare nerve problem where he has trouble controlling his facial muscles so he has extreme articulation problems). Unfortunately, the program doesn't start until age 3 when children stop receiving benefits from Early Steps and get them from the school system instead.
How is your son during speech therapy? Does he respond well to the therapist? Sometimes the therapist themselves can be a problem - not that they aren't any good but if your child just doesn't gel with them then they won't make as much progress as they would otherwise. Also, it can take months after starting with a new therapist before you start to see any change, just because it can take that long for your child to bond with them and want to work with them, so don't give up hope yet. Has your therapist given you advice and activities to do in between sessions? If so, I know that it's hard but you've got to do them, and if not ask for some.
Remember that you know your child better than anyone in the world. If the doctors are talking about autism and you don't buy into it, get another opinion from another doctor, or ask what else they think that it might be and do some research of your own. Unfortunately, I have found that doctors are human, too, and they often don't know as much as they claim to. At the same time, you can't afford to ignore any possibility, no matter how scary, because early detection and treatment can make a huge difference with most disorders.
You said that your son was premature - does he have any other problems besides speech? You may want to have him evaluated by at OT and maybe a PT as well - we thought that my son was fine but he was compensating for some low muscle tone issues and developing some really bad (developmentally inappropriate) habits. Plus, a lot of kids respond better to speech therapy when they are receiving OT as well... A lot of therapy centers will give free evaluations, and the more information and opinions on your sons condition you have the better.

I think you really need to open yourself to the possiblity that something more IS going on--such as high-functioning autism. Also, there are many many options for you. Number one, you need to contact FDLRS and their Child Find program. They can screen/evaluate him for free. Just google them for info or ask your ped. They should know what FDLRS is.

Next, if you aren't satisfied with his speech progressing...which it sounds like it hasn't, then try All Children's Hospital. They usually have quite a long wait to be evaulated, but they are awesome. They have several locations. I took my son to be evaluated at one location, then had his speech therapy at the Bruce B Downs location near our house. They have a special program for finanical help called Scottish Rites, a masonic group that donates money. They have a website called www.helpforkidspeech.org. Basically since speech isn't covered by health insurance, they help cover the cost. Our $85 sessions became $12 sessions through Scottish Rite. My son went twice a week, 1/2 hour sessions. I was in the room each time so I knew exactly what sound his therapist was working on. I watched how she taught him to make each sound, then I worked on it at home with him, when he was relaxed, like in the bathtub. My son's speech was so delayed, they initially said it would be at least 2 years to get him to a 4 year old speech level (At which time he would be 5 1/2.) But he progressed so quickly that he was re-evaluated 4 months into therapy. He was finished after only 8 months of therapy-a 4 year old at a 6 year old speech level.

I don't see why you have stopped talking to him in different languages. Every ped. and article I've ever seen encourages you to talk in whatever language your family uses so your child will become fluent. They won't become confused. My friend and her husband speak both English and Spanish to their 20 month old daugther. She understands both. I'm "Aunt C." but recently, she started calling me "Ti Ti" (Spanish for aunt being Tia, and all her Spanish aunts are TiTi this or that). My friend was so excited because it showed she was becoming bilingual. She was using the Spanish word for aunt to her totally English-speaking "aunt".

I don't know where you live, but my son went to a preschool called Noah's Ark at the United Methodist church on Busch Blvd. They had a 2 or 3 day a week program for 2 year olds. Moms can stay or leave, their choice. I believe it was like $45 a month or something. I think your son will progress much faster if he is socialized more.

Finally, I believe you should take him to see a developmental psychologist. Ask your ped for a recommendation. They can give a full evaluation on whether or not he is on the Autistic spectrum. The earlier you accept and get help for him if he is, the better chance he'll have to lead a normal enough life. No one that meets my son now ever would guess he was more than a bit quirky--he was diagnosed at 4 with having Autistic spectrum behaviors. I didn't ignore it, but did all I could to put him into social situations and make sure he had an IEP for when he started kindergarten. I don't know if your son has fears, but mine has terrible anxieties that has lessened over the years because we've acknowledged that we understood he was scared or uncomfortable, but we just kept introducing the situations over and over anyway, such as parades or fireworks (fear of loud noises) by helping him help himself (getting him earphones, letting him watch from a further distance, etc). I really think my dogged insistance that he get used to the world around him helped him come out of his autistic shell instead of him hiding away in it.
Good luck with your son! Hope you find what helps him best.

My doctor gsve me these places for Speech Delay:

All Children's - ###-###-####
St. joseph's - ###-###-####
Dr. Ingram - 653- 1149

My son is 18 month's and I need to bring him somewhere also. If you go to any of these, please let me know how it is. Thank you.

P.
____@____.com

HI Sarah
I am a SPeech Therapist (currently on bed rest with my first pregnancy) in the Brandon area. I hear your concerns and I believe that the best approach is the cautious one not the "wait and see" approach. If your Pediatrician is concerned about autism, I would recommend seeing a Developmental Pediatrician who is experienced with children with developmental disorders/delays. THey are excellent at recommending the most appropriate treatment options. THere are 2 great ones in Tampa- Eric Tridas, Nancy Carnivale at the Tridas Center (you can search them online at www.thetridascenter.com ). Also, one of the other comments was right on target about the therapist your child is seeing. Not everyone clicks! I have had it happen a time or two in the 12 years i have been practicing. Are you in the session? Do you get feedback on what to carryover at home? Are you part of the Early Steps program? THis program manages children birth to age 3 and can be a great resource to find things for you to do with your child. Also, the program helps with transitioning to the CHild Find program (ages 3-5 in the school system...you can still do private speech therapy if they are in a school based program). It sounds like you are in a music program already but there is a group in Brandon called Delightful Sounds that is fun to go to as well.....Gymboree is another thought. If you really are looking for a preschool group you may luck out with finding a place part time class for him to go to...like at churches, etc. If you live in Valrico/Brandon area, the Baylife Church has a great program. TO touch on the autism concern, there is not a set type or personality that goes with the diagnosis. I have worked with children that are loving, friendly etc but still have autism. I would also look into Occupational THerapy as well...ask your SPeech therapist to refer you. OT's work on development, sensory difficulties, and social aspects as well. A child's "job" is to play, explore, etc and that is what an OT works on. Good luck! Let me know if you need anything else...I would love to help!!!!!!
L.

Hi Sarah. I had this with my son who is almost 3 1/2. He was a late talker because we spoke english and I taught him sign language and our nany spoke spanish to him. He could communicate his needs fine he just wasn't speaking. I asked my pediatrician, after my MIL got me so scared there was something wrong with him, whether he needed speech therapy and if there was something wrong and he just smiled at me and said, speech is the last part to develop and sometimes with children who have learned multiple languages, sign language, etc they may take up to 3 to sort out everything they want to say. Using multiple languages, I was also told is a wonderful thing because you get multiple facets of their brain working and "firing". My son started talking between 2 1/2 and 3 and he is a constant chatterbox. He can speak english and amazes me with his vocabulary, some spanish, and does a little sign language with his baby brother. I had his brother when Ian turned two. PLease try not to freak out. It doesn't sound like anything is wrong with your son to me, just that he is very blessed to be learning so much with a mommy who cares to give him the best.

V.

mommy to Ian (3) and Finn (1)

Have you tried contacting a local VPK school for his age. If they do not accept him yet, they could most likely give you referrals to places for him. Autism or not, now is defintely the time to work with him for his future development. You are doing the right thing. Best of luck to you

Hi Sarah,

You can get free services through the USF Early Steps program. It sounds like your son would surely qualify foradditional speech therapy, or you could replace your existing therapy if this sounds better.

They probably have a program or some opportunity for him to associate with other speech delayed kids (though honestly, it seems doubtful that hanging out with other speech delayed kids, per se, would help him in his speech, but perhaps being with teachers in this type of group might be of benefit).

Contact Heather Bair, the Service Coordinator for USF/Bay Area Early Steps Program @ ###-###-#### for program info and to set up your evaluation and discuss available services.

As I mentioned, it is free. They will charge whatever is applicable to your insurance company - or in other words, what the insurance company is willing to pay for, and they will cover the rest.

For further info see: www.early-intervention.org

Good luck!