3 yr old language/conversation delays

[2brilliantbabies]

Many thanks again for the guidance that I have received so far.  Now, I need to ask a new question.  My daughter, that I have been discussing previously, continues with her inability to answer open-ended questions and actively converse.  Is this something that can be addressed adequately through speech/language therapy?  Is there a larger problem that I am unaware of?  Is there some kind of processing problem? At this point, we have discussed Autism and Asbergers, both of which I do not feel are the issue, unless I am misinformed.  In all areas, beside conversation, she is a happy, healthy, loving little girl.  She is very active, and but does have a somewhat short attention span. She maintains good eye contact, does not care what she wears, eats pretty much anything (if we can get her to sit at the table long enough), is very loving & empathetic.  She doesn't have any unreasonable fears and is not a daredevil.  She can be somewhat shy around new people.  She does speak, answers most yes or no questions, sometimes she ignores us I think.  If someone appears to have hurt themselves, she will run over and say "OK, (name of person)?"  She uses please, thank you, and welcome at appropriate times.  "C'mon (name of person).", "Let's go.", "Gimme", "Hey wook (look).", "Wook at dat!", "Whatcha doing?"; if we are going somewhere its "Go School", "Go see cows?", "Go town" or "Go find Daddy" (fill in with where ever we are going).  She will sometimes speak to inanimate objects or toys..."Hi puzzle", "Hi rock." Generally though, she gets her needs/wants across through one or two word phrases. Instead of I want chocolate milk, its just "chocolate nilk (milk) please." Also at bedtime, its "Goodnite kiss."  Never "I want" or "I need" or "Can I have" I try to get her to mimick me in speaking the correct way and using sentences, but she just echoes the last one or two words.  She said, "Swing please." I said to her, "Audrey, say, I want to swing please."  Again it comes out "Swing please."  When I break it down into two words each: "I want" (she will repeat) "to swing please." (She will repeat.)  Then I will put the whole sentence together and it is still "Swing please."  If she is having a good time she will giggle and say "Hey this is fun."  But if you ask her if she had fun, she will not answer.  The doctor asked her questions like, "If you are hungry, what do you do?" (No answer.) "If you are cold, what do you do?" (No answer.)  I thought maybe she was being shy, so when we got home, I asked her the same questions.  No answer.  Today she got into my wallet and found a picture.  She looks down into my purse, "Hey its dark in dere."  Pulls out her sister's picture and says "Dat's sissy in dat picture." (That's quite good for her, especially if unsolicited.)  She likes doing flash cards, but again, it requires only a one word response.  I have scheduled the first meeting for her speech eval. with the school on 4/27.

[tomel]

Ah yes the poop problem, defintely have been there. We also give our son probiotics.  I agree with you about not telling schools about your son. I think from here on out Im not even gona mention it to anyone. Your son will get there with the creative play, just keep modeling for him. Thats great that he imitates.

[tomel]

Good luck with the potty training. We were lucky with that one we were able to get him trained when he was 26 months old, which is very rare. Does your son go to an all special needs class at preschool or is it typical kids? My son is in a class with special needs and typical kids. The typical kids are called classroom peers.

[tomel]

I cannot believe that preschool wouldnt take your son. Isnt that illegal? Are these very prestegous preschools?  I'm think the public school system cannot deny a child. The preschool where my son goes which is thru the public school district the teacher told me all of her students are maintreamed into regular kindergarten. Although we are considering Montessori for him. I have him enrolled at a Montessori for a month in the summer and I just told them "a little ADHD".
Did you ever apply for long term care for him? That covers therapy from 3 to 6. Then a review at age 6. At least I know thats how it is here.

[tomel]

Another thing my ot does is play is games with him, which this is important for obvious reasons. When my son turned 3 1/2 in April I took him to the child dev. specialist and she seemed to think he was caught up with his speech or at least closer than what he was. It sounds like your son may be to advanced for the Hanen book, but mabye check it out anyway. You may be able to find it at the library.

[tomel]

Ah yes the good ol Gluten Free and Dairy Free diet. My husband and I never see eye to eye on that one.
My son does get OT at home. She helps him with attention to task and works on his trunk area. He has mild hypotonia. She also works on his fine motor. Prescissors skills, stringing beads etc.
My son also has a hard time listening to the speech therapist at school. We pay the Music Therapist out of pocket he seems to enjoy her. This also works on attention to task and following directions. Any good therapist will "follow the childs lead" especially at this age. Unfortunately not alot of them realize this and again expect them to act like typical little girls.
I know that there have been studies done on the Omegas (fish oil) this has helped my son alot.  
3 months behind is not bad. My son at 3 was (now 3 1/2) was 6 months behind. But he seems to keep catching up. Using new words and pronouncing better everyday. If they stay at 3 months or even 6 months behind, it wont matter when the are older. It would be like as adults us telling someone we are 6 months behind for our age.  I know with my son when he is in therapy it seems like "how the heck is this gona help", but if the child keeps progressing, it is helping. Although there is always that debate of well would they have progressed anyway. Who the heck knows.

[xmsrlong]

We use just a multivitamin and a b6 supplement.  Unless there is clear scientific evidence which has been published and peer reviewed, we don't use it.  We took him off dairy products a year ago and that made a huge difference.  He is on a gluten free diet right now but I don't think it does anything but my wife insists.