Re: Confused? Early INtervention

[Guest guest]

Hi Sara - you need to ask her. Talk with h er about her plans for your

son. It's possible (maybe most likely?) that she's a special-ed/case

coordinator type. Or perhaps a Teacher of the Deaf (they have a

different background than an SLP). So ask her. I know when Sam was in

EI, he had Kathy Marshall who coordinated his care and did visit the

house, an SLP who also came and a ToD too. All would be appropriate for

your boy!

Barbara

saraandchadd wrote:

> Background first - there are two schools in the area that I could

> pick from to have J attend. I wanted a school instead of just ST

> coming out to the house becuse he isn't talking at all and I thought

> he needed the immersion in language. I picked the school that also

> teaches sign - since he isn't talking! So we EI came around I told

> them I wanted this lady to be his " provider " or whatever it is

> called.

>

> So when we found out about the Klinefelter's I called her to tell

> her that it is possible he also has auditory processing delays that

> I thought would change they way we handled his therapy. She tells

> me " well I guess we need to get him with a speech therapist then

> because I'm not really familiar with that " . WTFreak? I thought she

> WAS a ST???? Now I'm not so sure about using her? What is she? I

> don't want his treatment to be ONLY learning sign - he desperately

> needs language.

>

> Does anyone know what she might be if she isn't a ST but working

> with deaf/HOH? I can't believe someone didn't tell me she wasn't a

> speech therapist.

>

> Should I try to switch him to the oral school? They don't do sign

> but the lady who runs it is a ST. Or should I just stick with this

> lady coming out to the house?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I would say she's probably a Teacher of the Deaf. When

Jaden was in EI he had 2 home visits a week, one from

the TOD and one from the ST. These 2 worked really

great together and came very unbiased and always

supported our decisions.

le

[Guest guest]

I would say she's probably a Teacher of the Deaf. When

Jaden was in EI he had 2 home visits a week, one from

the TOD and one from the ST. These 2 worked really

great together and came very unbiased and always

supported our decisions.

le

[Guest guest]

I would say she's probably a Teacher of the Deaf. When

Jaden was in EI he had 2 home visits a week, one from

the TOD and one from the ST. These 2 worked really

great together and came very unbiased and always

supported our decisions.

le

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/24/2006 8:12:22 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

saraandchadd@... writes:

WTFreak? I thought she

WAS a ST???? Now I'm not so sure about using her? What is she? I

don't want his treatment to be ONLY learning sign - he desperately

needs language.

First I agree with Barbara's post -- talk with her and ask the questions to

determine what her plan was/is. Perhaps she isn't an ST or SLP, perhaps she is

just a kind of social worker or case manager.

As for your comment above, sign IS language. It is attaching a symbol to a

concept. In the case of signing (any form of sign language), it is a visual

symbol not an auditory one. By learning to sign, your son IS stimulating the

language center of his brain and acquiring language. So that is a good thing!

From what I understand of your circumstances, I don't think that you need to

change your choice of placement. It sounds like you are ADDING individual

SLP services on top of that school. The lady suggested a speech therapist, so

perhaps that is not this lady's speciality -- someone new could be a good

thing.

Adding the SLP onto the school choice sounds like a good combination to me.

Spoken language ... that is where the SLP comes in. And the school is signing

so there is visual language as well. Best of both worlds.

There are several parents here who have used a Total Communication approach

-- basically a combination of whatever works for that child. And several have

mentioned how signing has supported the fledgling verbal skills. That their

children added the word with the SLP after having had it as part of their

signing vocabulary.

Language is so much more than just speaking. If my son wasn't talking, then

I'd be hell-bent to give him whatever form of language worked for him, just

like you are doing right now. So, have him attend that school you like where

they sign and start to use individual words/signs at home to support his

visually. It will lessen his frustration levels and enable him to communicate

with

you. So what if he starts with sign and moves to speaking? He'll be able to

" talk " with you and his brain will be developing. A win-win situation.

My son lost his hearing after learning to speak. But I have always believed

that it doesn't matter how I communicate with my son, as long as I can do it.

It's one important reason why we're learning sign now ... because of times

like now. For the past few days, Ian can't wear his aids (swimmer's ear) and

he simply can't hear me without them. So, we're signing a lot this week. Right

now I can't explain how thrilled I am that we decided to learn.

Best -- Jill

[Guest guest]

Sara, hopefully you can go visit the schools and see what they do in action. A

lot of times a program can look totally different on paper than in reality.

[Guest guest]

Sara, hopefully you can go visit the schools and see what they do in action. A

lot of times a program can look totally different on paper than in reality.

[Guest guest]

Sara, hopefully you can go visit the schools and see what they do in action. A

lot of times a program can look totally different on paper than in reality.