Re: Sheri - Speech

[Guest guest]

Hi Sheri!

There is no definitive answer as to when a child with DS will start speaking in full sentences, as there isn’t for a typically developing child. What I can tell you is that the ability to communicate is fabulous! There are some great books you may want to read:

http://www.amazon.com/Early-Communication-Skills-Children-Syndrome/dp/1890627275

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1890627542/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851 & pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1 & pf_rd_t=201 & pf_rd_i=1890627275 & pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER & pf_rd_r=1FJX9MA2696FBSS6Y1TM

http://www.amazon.com/Classroom-Language-Skills-Children-Syndrome/dp/1890627119/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8 & s=books & qid=1275423390 & sr=1-1-spell

My son, now 8. 11 is just now a chatter box and is able to carry on appropriate conversations with friends and family who know him. He still often needs prompts to initiate conversations but once he gets going! Freddie's best friend (with DS) came out of the womb it seems talking in full sentences? Another boy in first grade (at the elementary school I work at) uses strictly sign language and yet another in kindy uses the PEC system. I know an 11 year old girl who speaks just below age appropriate. For Freddie the ability to communicate was just such a powerful thing for him in the advancement of his total language.

I would suggest that exposure/inclusion with typical children with typically developing language helped my son, an only child. Speech therapy helped in articulation and oral motor training. It did not teach my son how to speak. Motor planning helped move his speech along. There is so much more to learning to speak other than a lot of speech therapy.

nnaMommy to Freddie 8yrsFull Inclusion - 2ND Grade!"We can change the world one classroom at a time" - Gail on

Subject: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] SpeechTo: DownSyndromeInfoExchange Date: Tuesday, June 1, 2010, 5:07 AM

Hi everyone. My little girl will be 5 next month and still has no speech. She will sometimes say no or mom but that's pretty much it. She finds lots of ways to communicate with me and has recently started using the sign for eat, no, and her verison of cup. It's so hard not being able to know exactly what is bothering her when she's upset or wants something. She receives speech therapy at preK. At what ages did your children with down syndrome begin to speak and has anyone had any success with visual pecs or any other program? Thanks!