Options for Speech Therapy over the Summer???

I just had to write to let you know you are not alone. My son is going to be three this summer. He is not a talker and has some unusual tendencies that have raised some red flags about Autism as a possibility. We too are overwhelmed with all the information that we are reading about what this might mean for us.

He has been receiving speech therapy through First Steps but when he turns three he will transition to the local school system for service. He will be evaluated for his needs this week by the school psychologist/therapists etc. but they have only allowed 1 hour for this whole process, which in my opinion can't possibly give them a complete picture of all my son's abilities. But these people are supposed to be professionals so I am trying to give them some credit.

If your sons do not have any identified delays other than speech, maybe you don't have to worry so much. Many people have told me stories about friends/relatives who didn't speak until they were 4 or older.

You seem to be doing everything you can to make sure your boys have what they need in many ways.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You are a good mom. You aren't going to miss the window of opportunity, because this is the window and you are doing everything right. Talking to them and encouraging their responses, even if they are unintelligible right now is the best thing you can do. Also make sure you spend a lot of time narrating everything you are doing. That is what we were told to do from very early on in this.

We are in a position that we are able to also have our son evalutated at Riley Hospital for Children, but that is completely of our own doing. We just decided that it would be better to overreact now, instead of pretending that nothing was wrong and then finding out later that we were in denial. But since you have had your boys evaluated and they do not seem to be having other delays, I don't think you need to worry so much. There are very specific things that these professionals look for, and they must not be exhibiting them.

I really feel for you and wish you the best. Spend the summer enjoying your children and giving them every experience you can, narrating everything you do and see. They will probably begin to speak on their own, but if not you can push for the services they need this fall. If you have friends or relatives who spend much time with your twins, encourage them to talk as much as possible. The narrating seems strange at first, but you just get used to hearing yourself talk. It helps when others are doing it too. Plus, like you said, sometimes when it doesn't come from mom it helps a little.

Best of Luck!

Well, as a mom of a daughter with a history of feeding problems I understand your frustration with the system. But, perhaps a summer break is needed, mentally and financially. The boys are old enough to get involved in other social events, and maybe that will encouarage some verbalization. Check out play camps, bible schools, play groups, gymnastics..anything to get them around other children close in age. I am under no impression that will make them suddenly talk, but it may encourage them to make more attempts AND it gives everyone a break. You and I know this becomes a power struggle and they WILL win! So, 2 months of summer break will not close any magic window..you are still a great, caring, concerned mom and in the fall you can restart official therapy and keep working on doing the job you do everyday...being a fantastic mom!

I apologize your boys were not given speech-language therapy at the time you first expressed your concerns. Speech-language therapy is like ART. What works for one child may not work for the other. As for twins, therapy should be separate. I usually find music works best with young children, however, there are the exception. The following are some CDs that may help your children make progress towards accomplishment of their speech goals: http://www.expresstrain.org/Catalog_Kids_Express_Train_20... and
http://www.signingtime.com/parent-success-kit. Please visit my website for more resources: www.perfectlyspeaking.com

Hi there
I don't know that I have a lot of advise... My friend has a 3 year old son who has speech delay. He does not pronounce any words correctly. He is turning 4 in August and will have to wait to work with a speech therapist until he goes to pre-school beginning of the school year. My friend went through a lot of hearing tests and evaluations and is frustrated as well. None of the tests have shown that there is anything "wrong" with him. She has tried to work with him herself but it seems that he listens better when someone else works with him. I think that she will just wait to see what the speech therapist says. But so far everybody that has evaluated him, has said that he is just very delayed but will catch up by the time he enters first grade if he starts working with a speech therapist now.
As far as the changes in your kids' diet, there is a disease called: Celiac disease that requires people not to eat gluten. There is a lot of information on the internet. Check out www.celiac.com. They have a section on there about gluten free cooking. That may help you.

I don't know where your located, but sometimes colleges have people that can help with this. Like Miami University in Oxford OH has speech therapy they offer at very reduced rates. You get a student therapist and such but it could be something affordable to do in the summer time as at least an option. I think I remember someone telling me it was less than $10 a session.
One other option sons grandmother has found, is that at some places, there is a "discount" or other options of payment if you are paying cash and not using insurance. Be sure to ask about this at places that don't accept your insurance.
I wish you the best of luck! Our prayers are with you!

L.,

Wow. You have hit the wall early. You have discovered some of the biggest pitfalls of developmental delay (even if it is just speech) Get that referal to a Developmental Pediatrican and get your appointment for them now. Insurance will cover a developmentalist. There is too much to explain here, I am an educational advocate for kids with disabilities, but you have found many of the common pitfals to advocating for your children. You must find a way for them to get therapy, the school will provide only enough for them to be functional in the classroom that is most appropriated for them, and no more, which is not all the therapy they need. I know it sounds harsh, but get used to it, you will always be making up the difference. Contact Easter Seals, sometimes you can get therapy throught them for little or no cost.

Above all, get the evaluation with the developmentalist, they will do a full speech and language evlauation too, and any other evaluation that the boys need. They will coordinate everything for you and give you a treatment plan to follow. You will never have to kick yourself because you missed something.

The first rule in dealing with "public" services is to never, never go into a meeting knowing less about your child than they do (and by knowing, I mean evaluations) After you have the evaluations, contact me and I can help you understand them backward and forward.

Last, I urge you to avoid the trap of non standard treatment plans. There are a million people out there that want to sell you something, a diet, a supplement, an idea...it is not going to help your sons, there is no credible evidence (and I use this evidence in mediations and due process) that any of these treatments work at all. If you want to try diet, or vitamins, go ahead, but do not abandond standard treatment.

Look at it this way, the brain is an organ, it has a phsycial structure, like your hand has a phsyical structure. You would never fall prey to the idea that you if you hand did not function or had a structual defect, that taking vitamins or eating different foods would fix it, and it won't work for a brain either. The good news is tha brains can be trained to do amazing things, but you need to get them standard therapy early, and as much as you can possibly get.

Good luck. Let me know if I can help you.

M. (Educational Advocate for kids with disabilites-Mom of 3 girls, 2 with ASD)