Speech Delay

[worrying]

I have a 39 months old girl with a speech delay, she was progressing day by day, has few hundreds words, knows all the ABC’s and sound the letters makes in two languages, all colors and shapes, numbers to 100 by counting and spells words, has a great memory and loves to read and listen to music, remembers songs easily and sings them , types on the computer, fills in the words that I leave out of books, answers questions related to her name, age, mommy and daddy’s name, colors , numbers and shapes. Bring things I ask for and put things away, loves hugs and has a good eye contact with us. She never saw or play with a child until three years old, I enrolled her in a full-time preschool two months ago, she was unhappy and sick most of the time (throat and ear infection), the school director told me that her language is back and she is rocking herself but she started to interact with her friends, recently I was searching for the speech delay and started to worry, it is like she is playing around and dancing with the music so I thought she is playing. She has favorite books and toys but I can switch the routine easily, I haven’t noticed any rituals, she talks often but it is from videos and songs and things she heard us saying. She tells me when she wants to eat, drink, sleep, go potty in single word, two words, but not more.
Can the echoing be a part of language development or she may be autistic.
NOTE: While we taught her all English basic’s tools (numbers, letters, shapes, colors, etc…) we did not develop with her a real conversation in English language, hopping she will learn from native English speaking persons such as teachers and friends.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Nothin in your description indicates that your daughter has any condition, including Autism, on the Pervasive Developmental Disorder spectrum. In light of the fact that she is just now experiencing social interaction with peers and learning a language, her response does not seem surprising. Is the language spoken at home other than English?

[worrying]

Thanks a lot for your prompt response.
To answer your question, the language we talk to her at home is not English, and the first time she begin to communicate in English was in the preschool two months ago.
Thanks again.
Sincerely

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

The additional information confirms the likelihood that your daughter's reactions are normal and understandable in light of the situation.

[babyhopes]

I am a speech therapist and I have seen this many times. When a child is exposed to a social environment for the first time they appear "slower" than other children in communication, I feel it is just getting use to a new situation. Also, since your daughter does not communicate in English at home, she is probably finding it difficult to express her wants and needs to the people at preschool. It isn't that she doesnt know what to say, but she knows they will not understand her if she speaks in her "home langauge". Therefore, she will most likely stay quiet or use non verbal communication (pointing, grunting, emotional outbursts) Another thing I have seen is when chidren arent able to "use their words" to communicate they often withdraw from peers, become focused on particular thigns in their classroom, in many ways these tendanceies can appear to look like autism. THEY ARE NOT! If anything it is a "language dealy". I am not saying your child has this, it is just something that is common with preschoolers. If you are concerned I would talk with the teacher and maybe ask if there is a speech therapist available at the preschool that could screen your daughter. Depending on what state you live in, this service should be free through the local school district since your daughter is above 3 years. Check with the local school or preschool first. Hope this helps!

[dontakedrugs]

MORE DAMNING EVIDENCE ABOUT ADHD `MEDICATION`



Thursday, January 5, 2006 - Page updated at 12:00 AM

  

Reported risks spur new study of ADHD drugs
By Andrew Bridges

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Reports of sudden deaths, strokes, heart attacks and hypertension in both children and adults taking drugs to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are spurring new government study into the medications' safety.

Sales of drugs to treat ADHD have increased sharply in recent years, with use growing at a faster rate among adults than children, according to a recent study by Medco Health Solutions, a prescription benefit manager. Spending on ADHD drugs soared from $759 million in 2000 to $3.1 billion in 2004, according to IMS Health, a pharmaceutical information and consulting firm.

The Food and Drug Administration said it had received reports of what it called "serious adverse events" — including deaths — in association with the therapeutic use of the drugs. The agency considers the reports "rare though serious," FDA spokeswoman Susan Bro said Wednesday.

The FDA's Canadian counterpart, Health Canada, yanked the ADHD drug Adderall (adderrall) XR from the market for six months last year in response to reports of 20 sudden deaths and 12 strokes in adults and children using the drug. A number of the cases involved children with structural heart defects.

The panel eventually concluded there was inadequate evidence of increased harm from Adderall (adderrall) XR compared with other available therapies, a conclusion the FDA also reached based on data on hand.

Now the U.S. regulatory agency is asking its Drug Safety and Risk Management advisory committee to examine ways of studying further the potential cardiovascular risks of the drugs. The few studies that have looked at longer-term use of ADHD drugs provide little information on those risks, the FDA said.

The committee is to meet Feb. 9-10 in Gaithersburg, Md.

"The issue of drug treatment of attention deficit disorder in children has been a controversial one without this issue of cardiovascular risk, too. It adds another concern to what will certainly be an interesting conversation," said Arthur Levin, the FDA committee's consumer representative.

A posting to the FDA Web site did not identify any of the drugs by name. However, the most commonly used ADHD drugs include Adderall (adderrall) XR, made by Shire Pharmaceuticals, and Ritalin, made by Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Various other companies make generic versions of Ritalin as well.

Shire spokesman Matthew Cabrey said the company had not been told of the meeting but added it may send representatives. Novartis did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

[kjv1966]

TO ANYONE WITH SPEECH DELAY QUESTIONS : EARS, EARS, EARS!

Make sure you have drs. test ears for fluid blocking eardrum movement - there is a test specifically for this (start with a T) and most pedi. don't routinely do this if they do not visually see signs of ear infection - but fluid can be clear and they are not seeing it! It will block eardrum movement making hearing difficult if not block hearing completely. If chil is not hearing during speech development they will not speak well if at all. Tubes in ears may be necessary - much better to rule this out than to not have checked something so simple! My daughter is proof of this - within one week she went from no words at all to full sentences after having tubes in ears. Now at 7 no speech problems whatsoever and excelling in school! Don't take one drs. word for it get a few opinions and rely on "instinct".