Re: New to group, with a question

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Many would be hesitant to diagnose a 19 month old with apraxia

however that doesn't mean you cannot get him evaluated. Every state

has an Early Intervention program which in some cases sends SLps to

your home for therapy. Or you can seek a private evaluation from many

university hospitals, private practices, ish Rite among others.

It would be great if he starts speaking in full sentences and sadly

so many of us have heard that advice or " Wait, he is a boy, or his

siblings talk for him " etcc just to name a few. At the end of the day

if it isn't him just being stubborn then valuable time has been lost.

In terms of comparing other children it is hard not to. If I had my

daughter first I would have sought help earlier for my son. The good

news is once I got with the program my son has progressed

consistently over the last 3 years.

So definitely seek out an evaluation. Best wishes to you and your

little one.

denise

> Hello! I am seeking information about speech delays and whether

> there is any cause to be worried about my 19 month old son. He

never

> babbled as a baby, and only in recent months has he started making

> sounds such as ya-ya-ya-ya, da-da-da-da, or ba-ba-ba. His

vocabulary

> is limited to " uck " for truck, " ook " for look, and " at " for that.

> Once, I watched him looking at a family picture, pointing to me and

> saying " a-ma, a-ma " . But he will not say it again. My husband

says

> he has heard him say " aper " for diaper once or twice, and he used

to

> say " ink " for drink, but has not said it in a couple of months. He

> understands perfectly what we say to him, and can follow complex

> commands. Instead of talking, he will point, or cry, scream and

> screech to get what he wants. My grandparents and parents tell us

> he's being stubborn and because he can understand what we say to

him,

> that he'll " start talking in full sentences any day. " His

> pediatrician said at his 15 mth check up that his language

> development was fine, because he had the three words that he still

> speaks, plus the " ink " . We were delayed on getting him to his 18

mth

> check up, and are going in next week for that. He did have tubes

put

> in his ears at 11 mths because of frequent ear infections, but his

> hearing has been fine. He seems fascinated when we try to get him

to

> repeat words, even putting his hand on my mouth and smiling. Does

he

> sound like he's really on track for a 19 mth old? Our older two

> children were very advanced for their ages, so this is a huge

unknown

> for us.

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

>

[Guest guest]

lISA,

We also had two advanced children prior to our late talker. It

certainly makes it confusing. Try NOT to compare your 19 month old

to the other kids. It will only make you crazy. Also just nod and

smile when your relatives offer advice!

I certainly feel you need to address this at the 18 month

appointment. With the history of ear infections and the " lost "

words (gaining and not using them again), you could have an issue on

your hands. Has his hearing actually been tested repeatedly, or are

you just going by your observations?

It is very encouraging that he understands and follows directions so

well. He is also very close in his attempts at saying particular

words. Great!

Go with your gut. If speech therapy is necessary, it is so much

better to recognize it now and not at age 4 or 5 years.

My humble opinion.

Pam

mom to Ian, Apraxic and workin' hard!

> Hello! I am seeking information about speech delays and whether

> there is any cause to be worried about my 19 month old son. He

never

> babbled as a baby, and only in recent months has he started making

> sounds such as ya-ya-ya-ya, da-da-da-da, or ba-ba-ba. His

vocabulary

> is limited to " uck " for truck, " ook " for look, and " at " for that.

> Once, I watched him looking at a family picture, pointing to me

and

> saying " a-ma, a-ma " . But he will not say it again. My husband

says

> he has heard him say " aper " for diaper once or twice, and he used

to

> say " ink " for drink, but has not said it in a couple of months.

He

> understands perfectly what we say to him, and can follow complex

> commands. Instead of talking, he will point, or cry, scream and

> screech to get what he wants. My grandparents and parents tell us

> he's being stubborn and because he can understand what we say to

him,

> that he'll " start talking in full sentences any day. " His

> pediatrician said at his 15 mth check up that his language

> development was fine, because he had the three words that he still

> speaks, plus the " ink " . We were delayed on getting him to his 18

mth

> check up, and are going in next week for that. He did have tubes

put

> in his ears at 11 mths because of frequent ear infections, but his

> hearing has been fine. He seems fascinated when we try to get him

to

> repeat words, even putting his hand on my mouth and smiling. Does

he

> sound like he's really on track for a 19 mth old? Our older two

> children were very advanced for their ages, so this is a huge

unknown

> for us.

>

> Thanks in advance!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Your son 'could' just be a late talker with a simple delay in

speech. If you have any concerns at all I highly suggest you

contact Early Intervention to see if you can schedule an exam even

though your son may be 'on the cusp' to qualify for services.

There are many suggestions in The Late Talker book for all children

with any type of delay in speech -to help encourage speech, help

relieve frustrations for both him and you, and provide excellent

charts thanks to my co author developmental pediatrician and Medical

Director of EI for NYC the largest of it's kind in the country -

Marilyn Agin MD.

The frequent ear infections may be the cause of the delay. I know

through my nephew that is did cause permanent mild hearing loss in

both ears and a speech impairment -but even with tubes and all his

ear infections just kept coming back. With an ear infection you

could stand in back of him and yell and he wouldn't hear you without

hearing aids (which he now has)

For young kids with no signs of oral apraxia -the one thing that

could be diagnosed early -the best they could diagnose anyway would

be " suspected verbal apraxia " EI is benign if not needed -and may

help.

Below is an archive to a new parent that has more info that may

help. Welcome!

What type of apraxic like speech behaviors are you seeing that makes

you and the SLP suspect your child has apraxia vs. a simple delay in

speech? Is your child talking at all yet? At your child's age -

without speech, it's difficult to diagnose verbal apraxia -they

could " suspect " verbal apraxia and begin treatment just in case,

which wouldn't hurt your child if he ended up just having a simple

delay. Just a few questions before we could provide more accurate

answers:

Does your child have signs of oral apraxia? (for example, can he on

command smile, imitate funny faces, blow bubbles...if you put peanut

butter anywhere around his mouth can he lick it off no matter where

it is?)

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/oralapraxia.html

Does your child have any neurological " soft signs " such as hypotonia

or sensory integration dysfunction?

http://www.cherab.org/information/speechlanguage/parentfriendlysoftsigns.html

Who else evaluated your child? Was it only the SLP through your

town school or was he also in Early Intervention through the state?

(birth to three) Was he evaluated by both a speech pathologist as

well as an occupational therapist? Was/were they knowledgeable

about apraxia? (If your child wasn't diagnosed by an occupational

therapist as well and professionals suspect apraxia -I highly

recommend you request that too either through both the school as

well as private through insurance for many reasons)

To answer any questions you may have about taking your child to see a

neurodevelopmental MD if he has not yet been to one and apraxia is

suspected... in one word - " Yes!!! " I would have your child diagnosed

(private) by a neurodevelopmental medical doctor (developmental

pediatrician or pediatric neurologist) who is knowledgeable about

apraxia and other neurologically based multi-faceted communication

impairments for numerous reasons. Reasons include (but not limited

to)

*having a " hero " on the outside of the school who can assist in a

therapeutic plan and oversee your child's development over the years

*advocacy support with the insurance company

* ruling out or confirming any neurological soft signs or any other

reasons for the delay in speech

*help those that ask " why isn't he talking yet " understand this is a

medical condition -and has nothing to do with your child's cognitive

ability. (if in your child's case it doesn't. Apraxia in itself

does not affect a child's cognitive ability -and speaking early or

late is no indication of a child's intelligence. Also contrary to

popular belief -most who have speech impairments have average to

above average intelligence)

I would also have at least one private " out of pocket " (if possible)

exam with a knowledgeable speech pathologist as well. This SLP can

coordinate with your child's MD, and school therapist and other

professionals, and again be there to assist in a therapeutic plan,

help set goals and oversee your child's development over the years

if needed.

Networking with parents of other speech-impaired children is also

possibly one of the best moves you could make in your child's

recovery. Others will steer you to the " right " professionals and

programs in your area -and you won't feel so alone. I would HIGHLY

recommend joining a whose goal is to unite parents and

professionals. This group

/ is through CHERAB

http://www.cherab.org

The speechville website also has message boards so that you can talk

to other parents on particular topics.

http://www.speech-express.com/boards/

Check your state resources at Speechville to find local support

groups and resources.

http://www.speech-express.com/regional-resources.html

http://www.speech-express.com/communication-station/regional-support-groups.html

(BTW -for anyone who is either running or starting a support group -

due to The Late Talker book and the many who will see your group,

please make sure your info is up at this website and accurate)

For all your other questions including what type of testing -just

read " The Late Talker " . (Nike said 'Just Do It!' -I say 'Just Read

It!') At Amazon.com you can even start today and read sample pages

of the book online!

" The first book to show parents how to tell whether a child has a

speech

delay -or a more serious speech disorder

Every parent eagerly awaits the day his or her child will speak for

the fist

time. For millions of mothers and fathers, however, anticipation

turns to

anxiety when those initial, all-important words are a long time

coming. Many

worried parents are reassured that their child is " just a late

talker, " but

unfortunately, that is not always the case. Co-author

[Guest guest]

(and others),

Thanks for the responses to my email! I will definitely bring up the

speech issue at his check up next week and push the issue with the

pediatrician for a referral to a specialist, and contact Early

Intervention as well.

As for the hearing tests, he had borderline hearing before the tubes

were put in his ears last June. The ENT dr described his hearing as

someone with their head under water in a bathtub trying to listen to

someone talk outside the bath. After the tubes were put in, he did

fine on two hearing tests, and has not had any ear infections since.

As for the signs of oral apraxia, he does not smile on command or

imitate funny faces. I have thought it strange that he won't stick

his tongue out mimicing my husband or myself, although he thinks it

is hilarious when one of his siblings does so. He doesn't blow

bubbles, or blow his nose, either. He doesn't lick anything off his

lips. His idea of giving someone a kiss is with a full-open mouth.

But are all of those skills things that a 19mth old typically can do?

I know my other two could blow their noses at about a year old, but

did not know if that was early or on time. He has no other problems

or delays in his development.

So, I will keep watch for him, and hang out here to learn from all of

you!

Z

[Guest guest]

,

You need that speech/language evaluation.

From what I have heard, the children with hearing loss due to fluid

in ears making them hear like they are under water will quickly

catch up to their peers once that problem is removed. Your

description of no smiling on command, no tongue out, no blowing, etc

is typical of our kids at an early age.

In the meantime, buy a harmonica, some simple whistles, and other

blowing toys (those party favors are great!) for practice at home.

The harmonica kind of switched a light on for Ian around the age of

2 years. It was fun!

Take care. Overall, your little boy sounds wonderful!

Pam

> (and others),

>

> Thanks for the responses to my email! I will definitely bring up

the

> speech issue at his check up next week and push the issue with the

> pediatrician for a referral to a specialist, and contact Early

> Intervention as well.

>

> As for the hearing tests, he had borderline hearing before the

tubes

> were put in his ears last June. The ENT dr described his hearing

as

> someone with their head under water in a bathtub trying to listen

to

> someone talk outside the bath. After the tubes were put in, he

did

> fine on two hearing tests, and has not had any ear infections

since.

> As for the signs of oral apraxia, he does not smile on command or

> imitate funny faces. I have thought it strange that he won't

stick

> his tongue out mimicing my husband or myself, although he thinks

it

> is hilarious when one of his siblings does so. He doesn't blow

> bubbles, or blow his nose, either. He doesn't lick anything off

his

> lips. His idea of giving someone a kiss is with a full-open

mouth.

> But are all of those skills things that a 19mth old typically can

do?

> I know my other two could blow their noses at about a year old,

but

> did not know if that was early or on time. He has no other

problems

> or delays in his development.

>

> So, I will keep watch for him, and hang out here to learn from all

of

> you!

>

> Z