16month old w/ speech delay & therapy??

[linsey]

My DD is 16months old. SHe has been going to ST for 3 weeks (2x per wk). She has a speech delay. She will say Mama and ma ma ma (for more). She will not say dada. 2 wks ago she started saying quack quack but has stopped, she did the same thing with dada a couple of months ago.

In speech therapy she just stays frustrated and upset. The therapist withholds until she vocalizes. The past 2xs she did not vocalize at all and yesterday she would not even sign. She can sign more, bird, duck, ball, hat, all finished. But she is not very consistent with any thing. She has just started babbling. The therapist said, she is very stuborn and she thinks once we push "that button" she will be fine.

Any ideas? Does this sound like your kid? What should we do? We watch ST and have the flash cards. I'm just getting a little frustrated and I can't find any good info. I would to hear from a been there and done that parent! :-)

My 3yr old son signed as a baby also. He didn't have a speech delay.
Thanks,
Linsey
Mom to Walker (9/13/02) & Scarlett (9/3/04)

[3LittleBees]

The therapist withholds until she vocalizes.


What do you mean by withholding? When my daughter started ST at about 14 months I know the therapist would try to make her vocalize; but she would give whatever item they were working on after a few tries. Never actually withheld anything. If she is getting really frustrated that may be part of the problem. Even in ST toddlers want and need a sence of accomplishment. I know when my daughter wouldn't vocalize the therapist would give the item to her after a couple of tries (especially if she was getting very frustrated) would say the word and sign for it. Then the therapist would sign and say the word and ask for the object back.

Every therapist is different and have a different approach. Do you attend ST with your child and are able to observe? Is ST at your home or another location? In my case the first ST I had was at an office; but then the therapist came to my home and I was able to observe every therapy session. They even included my oldest and her twin in the session to creat a more "normal" environment. When I say normal I mean something more close to what Christina was doing on a day to day basis. Like playing with her sisters. There were some days that the therapist would ask Delilah to say and sign something to see if Christina would imitate her. Other days if Christina didn't seem interested she would have Deborah sign and say the word and them ask Christina to do the same. Christina actually caught on when she saw Deborah and would at least start to point and sign instead of scraming.

I know that even with the ST my daughter didn't really have much improvement until about 1 year later (about the same time we started watching Signing Time).

[aligreat]

At our school for deaf children at snack time the teacher has the students sign, or say if they are able to, I want...whatever they are eating. My daughters only started there last week, and so the teacher does not require my little ones to sign "I want" before giving them a snack.

At home I do roll shifting--supplying both sides of the conversation--for something I want them to learn how to communicate. I ask, "Do you want a cracker?" and then I stand by my daughter and use a little voice and little signs reply, "Yes, Mommy, I want a cracker." I sometimes try moving their little hands to help them make the movement of the signs if not the signs themselves.

[Alli]

ST twice a week sounds like a lot. We only do ST 2 times a month. Maybe she's frustrated because too much? Just an idea. Cass didn't even say as much as your DD at her age. I know this is probably not the advice that you want, but just try to relax. She will do it when she is ready. If she senses that you are frustrated or stressed she might pick up on that and feel the same way. Take your time! Good luck!

[ditzychick77]

when I first found out my daughter was hearing impaired and that's what was causing the speech delay I had the same thing happen. the more you tried the more she wouldn't do it. it took me a month to get her to sign one thing to me. I caught her trying to say/sign things when she didn't think I was looking. I just spent a lot of one on one time with her saying loudly and signing things naturally while we were playing and otherwise backed off. once I had backed off she started trying all on her own, now she tries to say/sign almost 2 dozen words and is learning more and improving every day.

[addax]

Hi there, I'm relatively new to the world you're in now. We've been in Holland for a long time but recently we got sent on a new tulip cruise when my younger ds was dxed with verbal apraxia. (See the Holland threads for context!)

How did your dd get dxed with speech delay? Is she deaf or HOH? Have they assigned another label or cause to her speech delay? Has she had a full spectrum EI type eval?

The reason I'm asking is that her behaviour in ST is quite like my son's. Because of the features of his speech disorder (technically he has a disorder, not a delay) it is very difficult for him to produce sounds. So this is the biggest challenge in starting therapy, and it may take months to overcome: getting him to communicate or heck even make sounds on request AT ALL. They are using a 'whole language' approach and encouraging sign and PECS and aug comm to try to help keep the frustration down.

With any young one diagnosis is an emergent game, and even my son's diagnosis is a strong hypothesis rather than a certainty. I'm certainly NOT saying that I have the magic key to your dd's behaviour -- I'm sure lots of kids are resistent for at least a short time in ST -- but I did want to let you know you are not alone! I think one important role the parent can play at this stage, whether it's a short stage or a looooong one, is to ensure that too much pressure is not placed on the child in ST. If the frustration level gets too high, then no progress gets made. Short of a full-blown tantrum, your SLP might not recognize your child's signs of frustration.

Oh, and my ds gets ST three times a week. The appropriate frequency of ST depends a lot on the diagnosis.

Good luck.

[ADevane]

Your daughter sounds exactly like my son. He is 23 months now and after 6 months of ST also 2x a week he has made a lot of improvement. I started signing with him just under a year old before I knew he had a delay. His receptive language is fine maybe even a little ahead but his speech is not clear and he leaves off the last sound on almost all words (this is very common in speech delays.) 2x a week is definitely not too much. In fact you should also be doing the things the therapist does every day. I think I could be a Speech therapist now I imitate her so much. I must admit it's exhausting but he has well over 50 words and 2 word combos now (not clear at all but I understand because of signing and context) but more importantly he TRIES to speak whereas before he was very hesitant and acted exactly like your daughter. Signing helped with that because he signs and says the word and then I model the word for him. For example if he is reading a book and says "bah" and does the sign for bike I say "that's right bike!" so he knows I understand him and he continues to attempt to say the word. He is validated. I also use tons of positive reinforcement for every attempt he makes regardless of how off the sound is. It seems to me that some kids don't speak early but when they are ready they can speak fine (like their first utterance is a sentence) but other kids (like mine) have difficulty getting the sounds out and need lots of practice to do it CLEARLY. These kids know the words just as well as other kids do, they just can't get them out of their mouth. If you want to email me directly, feel free. :)

[amiller]

I don't know, it sounds like a personality conflict with the ST. Maybe your child doesn't like them? Are you present for the sessions? If not I suggest you watch a couple to see what your child is reacting to.

And here's my less-than-popular answer to problems like yours: relax on the child. Pull him/her out of ST. As long as you can communicate enough to make daily life tolerable/pleasant, there is NO reason you have to push her. Maybe she is just not ready! She's still a baby and despite what these "professionals" will tell you, you have plenty of time. Also, there is no gain being made if therapy is an unpleasant experience and your child's participation is lacking. So I would, were it my child, pull her out of speech therapy, look up speech development games on the internet to play at home, and love on my child for a year or so before going at it again. Who knows - might be a blessing for you both!

[momgael]

Aly:

I am the director of an Early Intervention agency and it may come as a surprise, but I agree with Aly!

When my son was a toddler and in EI, we got minimal services. He was in speech therapy 2x/mth and got OT consultations about 1x every 6 weeks. We would meet with the therapists, review what had been going on, she would help us develop intervention strategies that fit into our lifestyle and away we would go. He is now nine, very articulate and in the gifted program at school.

Many may argue that it was because we were "involved" parents. However, my husband was in seminary, I was a Service Coordinator in EI, my older son was 5, my husband was youth pastoring at a church and hour away and our lives were crazy. The therapists didn't ask us to do anything that wouldn't fit into that lifestyle. (IE. brushing every two hours for SI issues would have been rough for us, however, the OT gave us sensory regulating activities for the grocery cart, car seat, etc.)

I work in an area where there is a LOT of cultural poverty. Many parents haven't had the modeling to know that they can help their child more than the 'professionals'. More therapy does NOT help their children developmentally. Coaching parents on how to PARENT and PLAY with their child does make a life long difference in the child and family's lives.

Anyway, soorry for my long soap box. Go with your gut and skills. View your therapists as consultants, like your doctor, accountant and general contractor. Take advantage of their expertise, but recognize that your day to day life and routines are what will have the impact on your child's development.

Children learn through play!

Nickie, NC

[amiller]

I am the director of an Early Intervention agency and it may come as a surprise, but I agree with Aly!


Wow, this does come as a surprise! I am very passionate about m core belief: That parents are the best advocates for thier child, and the professionals do not ALWAYS know best!

With a reasonable amount of caution, parents can make decisions for their children based on advice from professionals, rather than following orders. It is my goal in life to help parents understand that!

[Jenn]

With a reasonable amount of caution, parents can make decisions for their children based on advice from professionals, rather than following orders. It is my goal in life to help parents understand that!


I wish more parents understood this as well. I loved my job so much more when I had a parent giving lots of input about what they would like to see their child working on, offering suggestions for how to help their child accomplish things, calling for extra IEP meetings if they wanted to make adjustments. As the teacher, I was only with a child a few hours a week, so who was I to say exactly what was best for that child? That parental input is priceless. I think, particularly in the early years, parents are unsure of themselves.....they are surrounded by professionals with oddles of paperwork and test scores, telling them that their child needs loads of intervention to catch up....even with my background in special ed, I think I'd feel pretty intimidated by all of that as a parent!

[lovemy6sweeties]

I wish more parents understood this as well. I loved my job so much more when I had a parent giving lots of input about what they would like to see their child working on, offering suggestions for how to help their child accomplish things, calling for extra IEP meetings if they wanted to make adjustments.

Jenn - can you come train our preschool teacher ;) He could use some of your wisdom. I, too, think parents have a lot to offer, and that the "professionals" don't always know best. I went to Brady's first IEP, and the teacher, without ever having met my son, and going from his exit testing from EI (which turned out poorly, even my service coordinator told me it wasn't indicative of Brady's abilities) had already made up an IEP for Brady. I was ticked, but had already gone the rounds with the district for placement, so I just let it go, knowing that I would ask for a new IEP in the fall, since he was only in school for 6 weeks til summer break. As it turned out, his immune system couldn't take it, and he got very ill and ended up only being there for 6 days.

I do have to say though - that at 16 months, I would have been thrilled with ST twice a week for Brady. Our EI center only offered one 45 minute session a month, and we did private speech for 1 hour a week for a while, then 1 hour 2x a month. I would have loved more intense speech intervention, but only if it was helping Brady, if it was causing stress, or clearly not helping, then I would have forgone it.

I'm with Aly in some respects too, we take "vacations" from therapy every so often, and we don't do extended school year. From what I have seen, when my kids are home from school, they are the best therapists Brady has ever had. He always makes HUGE gains in the summer - and they're free....

Okay - sorry this is very long ;) You have to go with your gut - you are the parent, you know your child the best and what ultimately is in your child's best interest. I hope everything works out well, keep us updated :)

[amiller]

The other thing is, professionals seem to see kids as diagnonses, rather than people - there is no degree in Anyka or Brady or Blake, so they generalize. Just because MOST cleft palate babies can't suck and swallow, doesn't mean my daughter, who could, needed a G-tube... etc.

[Jenn]

He could use some of your wisdom.

Not sure I'd be fair letting you call it wisdom, as I had my share of "the professional knows best" moments. I just learned my lesson early on that the job is a lot harder when you're trying to play tug-of-war with the people who know your students best ;)

[momgael]

in my life came from being the 'parent'. It changed my perspective drastically! I also believe it made me better professionally.

The reason I continue to work in a sometimes frustrating system is because I believe that parents need a choice and that there are 'professionals' out their that want a positive work environment that encourages family-centered intervention. We don't always get it right, but we really want too!:)

There is a great series of trainings, research and print materials available from a couple of organizations on this topic. The Puckett Institute and FIPP are two that really advocate for family-centered intervention.

Jen....if your every in Fayetteville, NC and are looking for an EI position, I know of one! ;)

Best wishes, take care of yourselves and remember to have fun! These years melt away and you wonder where they have gone!

[Jenn]

Jen....if your every in Fayetteville, NC and are looking for an EI position, I know of one! ;)



You've got a deal! I would love to get back into it, part-time maybe, but I'm having too much fun being a mommy right now!