Speech Therapy

Hi all,

I have a son, name Taaha.  He is 2 years and 1 months old.

The problem is related to his speech. He is not started to speak even basic words like mama, papa etc as yet. He is otherwise a normal child, doing all activities as normal kids. Not very social though, prefer to create his own activity within a bunch of kids and involve himself in it. Usually mutter words in his own language, sometimes loud when excited.

His child specialist(doctor) recommends to have a consultancy from a speech therapist if we (parents) are more concerned. So, we already started this consultancy.

The question is, whether is it too soon to have that type of consultancy. Is it really helpful to have a speech therapist helping the kid along or he will start speaking normally with some time.

Regards to all the readers.

[selmaS]

I hope it was not improper to abreviate ur name...??My sister works in the USA getting children services who present wiwth different developemental delays. Yes U should look into speech therapy, but therapy in general...make sure his hearing is ok......there r forms of autisum that can case speech delays...look up aspbergers (sp?).......I hope ur son responds to whichever therapy u choose.

"selma"

[asifsiddiqui]

Thanks a lot selma for your time and support. Am obliged for your feedback.

Have consulted ENT specialist already and after various examinations, he was contented that everything is fine with my son's hearing.

Now about two weeks since joined the speech therapy. Am hopeful for good results.

Regards.

[swearingen]

Hello.
Don't fear!  You are starting early!  Both my children went through similar things.  My daughter - we had her tested for everything at age 2 1/2.  We were told this was the earliest we could test her at Long Beach Memorial in Long Beach, California.  We had the hearing, mouth, eyes, everything checked.  They did recommend her for speech therapy - however since she was in a private school - they would not pay for it.  After working with her at home - she has progressed wonderfully.  She is now an 8 year old diva that we can't get to be quiet.

My son was also similiar - however we delayed in getting him tested.  We began testing a year and a half ago - he is currently 5 years old.  After checking all aspects with him as well - we discovered that he just needed his tongue "snipped".  The underneath portion of his tongue prohibited him from elevating his tongue enough to say the words properly.  We had the procedure completed almost a year ago.  Although he is still in speech classes twice a week, and people outside of the family sometimes have a hard time understanding him - he has come a long way.  Again, as the same with my daughter...sometimes we can not get him to stop talking.  

Hang in there and just do the tests one at a time.  My children could only be understood by family - and sometimes they couldn't even understand them - we used a lot of motions and pointing.  My son was shy about trying to talk because the kids would tease him or not understand him.  I don't know where you are located, but most public schools should have a speech department or special education department.  Once the tests are completed, you can go this route as well with speech classes.

The one big piece of advice I would give you - is don't give up!  Parents know the best about their children.  Don't get discouraged!  Take one day and one word at a time with your little one!

Lisa

[asifsiddiqui]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for your kind and supportive feedback. Am obliged and wishing you the best for you and your family.

Yes, am not dishearted or will be, to ever stopping the treatment, till getting the results :)

The case of snipping might also be the case here with my son as well, as some of the family members already have given feedback that the underneath portion of the tongue is not enough to enable my son to speak effortless. But, that snipping might come later as he is not even trying to speak. He usually get his needs either by making various sounds, various signs or by taking you by grabbing your finger to his spot/thing of interest. We do train him verbally about the name of things he is usually interested into, like mama, papa, water, milk, car, chair, table etc. We (parents) are encouraging him to talk by neglecting 25% - 40% of his these efforts, so as to force him to speak the relevant word, even in anger.

The rule of "A word a day" has been implemented as per your guidance. Thanks a lot again.

Best Regards.

[swearingen]

It's wonderful to hear you, the parents are watching this closely.

Oh yes - we started the "neglecting" part as well during that time.  It was very helpful.

My only advice with the clipping is that we did it when my son was 4 and the dentist informed us that age 4 was actually late for getting this procedure done.  Of course whatever your children's dentist says though.

Again, don't get discouraged.  I know it is probably frustrating at times for you and your family and of course for your little one.  Best of luck to Taaha as he embarks on this new experience :)

Lisa

[selmaS]

so glad that u have him in speech therapy....he will do well...I just know it.
My sister's job is getting services for infants and toddlers who display delays.
One thing I did with my nephew and he enjoyed was talking into something that changed the sound of ur voice.....pumpkin bucket....my nephew was also echoalic...repeated everything....if u asked how is david...he'd reply how is david.....so I spoke into the pumpkin...it made him laugh....he wanted to do it also, but I did not let him repeat what I said...and he finally said I am fine....he still says that when I ask and he is in his 3rd yr in undergrad college!!!

keep us posted to how ur son progresses!!

Godspeed
"selma"

[asifsiddiqui]

Thanks a lot Lisa and Selma for your feed backs and kind wishes. Am obliged.

One more thing I want to share if someone from among the readers might have encountered.

Its sometime, Taaha start slapping his forehead with his hands and even grab hands of parents and start slapping his forehead. Its not like he was angry or frustrated at that time, just start to do it at any instant, not specifically during the day or in evening, but mostly at night while putting shim to sleep. He even try to strike his head to hard parts of his mothers body like bones, joints etc. Does this behavior has anything to do with his absence of interest in speaking.

Regards.

[elwoodsf]

Good Morning ~

My son was delayed with his speech. We put him in a program through the State of Washington called Birth to Three. He attended three times a week with other children his age. When he turned three he was able to attend speech therapy through the school district and attended until he was in the fourth grade. Today he is 17 and he is the talker of the house! He has great grades in school and is very good in math and science. At 17 he is attending college. My son, when younger, spent a lot of time with Lego's and Kenex (building toys), taking apart electrical things like VCR's, TV (we cut the cords off of them first). I look back and I think he was filling up his brain with information and didn't have time to talk. He did have a hearing loss, 15%, in one ear which is now gone, due to ear infections.

I hope this information helps.

[selmaS]

I asked my sister...she works with infants and toddlers to age 3 and her reply is below.....I hope it can help.

"selma"

Sounds like he has sensory integration issues.  It is his way of calming himself down.  They will need to find an appropriate way to get the input he needs.  They can try deep pressure massages or lotion rubs before bedtime.  There is a book called the out-of sync child that has useful suggestions in it.  An occupational therapist is the one who treats this condition.

[asifsiddiqui]

To: elwoodsf

Please accept my gratitude for sharing your experience here. Am obliged.

To: selmaS

Thanks again Selma and please convey my gratitude to sister as well for her kind advice. Deep pressure message has been incorporated as per your advice. Have sorted out the book you mentioned and soon it will be in my hands :)

Regards.

[asifsiddiqui]

A month's assessment period has been advised by the therapists and a meeting with the concerned doctor was scheduled in Dec08. The program has been going on smoothly which is 5 days a week, 20 minutes dedicated each day to my son.

There are some +ve effects already visible in the behavior of my son. It might be because of increment in age but I do put it in the portfolio of speech therapy. My son is now more reactive to various situations respectively, like he now enjoys nursery rhymes/cartoons more (showing some reactions) which he was initially just interested in watching. His willingness to speak is now much more but still, no sensible words as yet.

Doctor reveal my son's progress to be slow and it might take 6 months or more to get the things channelized. As there is some behavioral improvement already, am hopeful and will continue this treatment.

The Book "Out of Sync Child" is truly a marvelous one and am thankful to Selma and Selma's Sister for that. I would recommend it to all parents for better understanding of the behavior of their children.

Regards.

[selmaS]

I am so happy to hear of the progress ur son is making and that the book was helpful.

Thank you for the update and I know u r busy with work, but I do look forward to ur continued updates when u have the time.

Godspeed
"selma"

[asifsiddiqui]

Hi selma,

Hoping u r fine and wishing you well.

As for the progress, now Taaha is able to speak some basic words now and able to understand most of the usual vocabulary.

Thanks for the support.

Regards.

[selmaS]

Hi Asif....I am so glad to here he is progressing so well...and that is quick from the last update. I pray ur son Taaha continues to progress the way he has...it looks very promising.

I imagine ur drs r a bit surprised too, that was not 6 months!!

Godspeed to you and your family
"selma"