Need Advice for Toddler Speech Delay

My girls love Signing Time. I think you can go to signingtime.com and get lots of cd's there. Outside of that I don't know what to suggest.

The only suggestion I have is to pick a word every couple days and focus mainly on that word. My son (he was 21 months at the time)barely qualified for early intervention (basically no expressive language) and when his speech tharapist would come she would do that. For example she would work on the word "please." She would play with him and repeat "please" VERY enthusiasticly about 50 times while she was with him. "Can I please have a card...please...please...Can I please have the card?" Then my son would give it to her. When it was his turn she would tell him to ask. In the beg. he wouldn't, but with her constantly repeating words he finally started to do it. After a few sessions she wouldn't give him the card unless he asked. When he did say "please" she made the biggest deal out of it...she was very encouraging. From her I learned to repeat words over and over and over and to be extra excited when working with him. She said it should be fun, not like work or it won't work as well.

I agree some alone time would help, but also include your other kids. My youngest picked up signing once I got his older brother to show him. Good Luck.

Hi! I have taken a baby sign language class with both my children and then used two videos as reinforcements and extensions to their class learnings: Baby Einstein "My First Signs," and Baby Einstein "Baby Wordsworth -- First Words Around the House."

I enrolled my kids in the Baby Sign Language class offered through Gymboree Play in Geneva. It is an incredible class and is a wonderful way to spend 45 minutes with your child out of the house! (It is pricey -- but was worth every penny for us.) After taking the class. my daughter began to learn directly from the Baby Wordsworth video on her own. She actually knew more sign language than I did!

As for simple signs for Dora or Spongebob... a common way to sign a name of someone you love is to sign the first letter of the name over your heart. This can be used for a sister's name or pet's name. I suppose you could use it for a beloved cartoon character. Maybe for Spongebob, you could draw a square in the air and then point to your pants (SquarePants...get it?) Just an idea.

you can contact your local school district...they should be able to provide help for your daughter...that way she is getting specail attention & you will have some free time with the other kids.

keep us posted!!!

good luck!

sincerely,

K.

baby einstien has some great real life picture cards that I've used in my classrooms with toddlers and babies and I know for sure toys r us has them but they are ten dollars there my friend has found them at borders for four dollars. Is there any way to take her into a room by herself when dad is home? If not you could try to do a little "circle time" activity with all the kids where you say ok I'm going to hold up a card and say your name I want only the person who's name I say to tell me. I know your kids are young it worked for my three years olds in class but not much younger that that....hope this helps.
H.

We LOVE the "Signing Time" DVDs. Our 3-year old has Down Syndrome and he has learned over 200 signs. The signing encouraged his speech. I highly recommend the Signing Time DVDs.

For our son, a combination of signing and reading has really motivated his speech development. He loves to look at a book and identify words and/or pictures. He used to only sign the words (and we would say the word to reinforce the speech aspect). Now he says and signs the words. His articulation is still unclear, so we continue to repeat the words so that he hears the correct articulation.

I think part of the solution is discovering what is most motivating for your own child - what makes her want to talk more. I hope you find something that works well for your family. Best wishes!

A great way to practice speech with children is singing. It does not bring attention to them and everyone can participate. Also, anytime you are dressing her or changing her diaper. My daughter had problems with her "R" sound so when we put her shoes on we would say together lets put on your rrrrrrrunning shoes. If she was wearing red we would make a point of saying rrrrred that day. My daughter was also borderline. We went to a speech thearpist for one meeting and she did give us suggestions of activites to do at home that helped alot.

hello- My daughter was speech delayed at one year or so was making NO sounds at all- no cooing no babbling etc. Her deal was she had low tone in her cheek, tongue and mouth muscles so we worked on strengthining them etc... anyhow I suggest reading, reading reading to your child. Especially books that have basic pictures where you can read and point out things like " here's the tree, can you say tree? if she can't say it, have her start with the "t" sound to begin with. Praise her and try it again next time you read that book. ALso, re- read the same books over and over- it will help her by hearing the language and connecting it with pictures. I also had trouble with older sibling speaking for them. I always pulled out the playdough and let them have fun with that at the kitchen table, while I worked in ther other room with the younger one. Or get a special box filled with self directed crafts for the older ones so they can keep busy and interested while you spend one on one time with the younger one. Good luck! I also have heard of the "Bumblebee" series of movies that help with speech. I never had them, but was recommended them by my daughter';s speech therapist. you can find them online.

I found that my insurance paid for about 80% of going to a speech pathologist. When I called my insurance(blue cross/blue shield PPO) they said they would not cover it, but I decided it was important so I did it anyway. The speech place submitted it to the insurance because they said it happens all the time that they say one thing and do another...and they covered it!
I really think going to speech helped him. Not only for the speech part, but the one on one time he got. Just like you said, there was nobody else there to answer for him. He only went for 30 minutes a week but I think it made a huge difference.
Good Luck.
J.

All I can say is buy the DVD "Baby Babble". My 23 month old son is delayed in expressive speech only (on time with everything else developmentally). This video is created by 2 speech pathologists and is great. There are 2 of them...my son prefers the first one which is geared toward 3 - 30 months. I have a 4 month old...so when I need to tend to her...I have my son watch the video. He is glued to it, copies the sounds, facial expressions, and the signs. He has been in speech therapy for almost 2 months now and I see more improvement from the video then I do from his weekly sessions...it's amazing. I wasn't able to find the dvds in stores...I ordered mine from Target.com. They also have them through amazon.

I'm not sure about those signs but I do know that baby einstein has a my first signs dvd that helps. The website www.aslpro.com is wonderful and even has a children's section that has easier signs for children. I'm taking sign language classes and feel free to ask questions and I can try to see if I can find signs for them if you want.

Hi,
My girls were eligible for early intervention..which honestly was a joke and waste of time. Both girls were very delayed in speech, other areas and one baby is blind. I refused to use sign language, cause then the child will not make the effort to say the word.. Unless your child is very delayed, malformations and has no means to communicate go for it. But if your child has the capacity to speak or attempt it..i wouldn't recommend it...One of my girls had speech problems until she was around 28-30 mths. We did speech therapy for 2 years and it was pretty disappointing. The one thing that did help both my girls was music..just singing every nursery ryhme, favorite shows, dancing, making up songs to daily chores, play kids cd's...everything was a song and still is..first they echo the tune then they mimic the words...and the nice thing about it..is that everyone can participate in the singing...One baby was test above average and my other daughter has reached her peers. I have dealt with many medical professionals and it all comes down to...most children that have delays usually catch up to their peers by the age of 3...if the child has other medical issues they reach their peers around 5yrs old..and cognitive skills by 6-7...you should look into music therapy..I just read articles I found online...your little one is still pretty young...if speech delays run in the family..that also plays a role....hope the info helps...good luck

"Treasure Chest" is a great video. It has a stuffed bear who signs and is so cute. My kids loved it. Also "Baby see'n Sign" is okay. Quite a bit more borring, but lots of new words. If you are by Wheaton/Warrenville or Oakbrook, you would be welcome to borrow them. I will want them in a few months for my little one, but we're not really using them currently. Also the Warrenville library did one time class on infant signing. You could call them and ask them who taught the class, becasue she teachs sign regularly - but I don't know where.

One last thought. Eighteen months is still pretty early. She may surprise you and go through a growth spurt in this area. Kids are so different, I know mine were. But you are mama and of course know your little one best, just a thought.

D.,
I have twins. My one sone is delayed in speech due to Down syndrome & my other son is also delayed. There are greast resources. For signing , have your heard of Signing Times? great DVDs to watch. There is also the Express Train- www.expresstrain.org- they offer cds with catchy words & phrases that kids love to imitate. Super Duper publications has every fun, educational item that you would ever need & they offer free shipping. www.superduperinc.com

I have 4 kids & I use my other kids to ge my son with DS to talk. He says a word & they all take turns or if he is not cooperating they say the word & then he does. And we use M&Ms as a reward system.

I have everyone sit in a row almost like a little classroom. he learns the best from others.
Hope this helps.

Thanks
R.