Speech Therapy Update: I Am a Little Scared Now!

Before they do speech therapy they like to look at all possible options and if they may need additional therapies. That is normal.
If something is wrong you are still catching it relatively early. Mothers intuition is great, but we don't always notice the signs for everything that could go wrong. Try not to stress about it, especially before you know anything is wrong.

I am sorry, this must be very scary for you. But remember that he is the same little boy that he was a few days ago. Much scarier to me would be if you had noticed a dramatic developmental change in your son that appeared suddenly. As you point out, the things she picked up on are things you view as just his quirks. To me that says he is a happy little boy who might benefit form some added therapies. So this can only help him. Yes, words like "neurological".are frightening and can't be ignored. But this opens up posibilities to potentially make your son's life easier and not harder. Call your pediatrician right now and tell them your concerns and see if they will see you today or soon. Yes, some tests and workups ar ein order probably with specialists, but the pediatrician can probably tell you what to expect and take soem fear out of it. Try not to think the worst.

Worry will not help, and I know how it is, you want to know right now exactly what is going on. Call the pediatrician and get strarted on the process.

It is likely that the same motor issues that are causing the articulation errors you took him to be evaluated for are also casuing his other motor concerns, but speech and langauge issues also accompany neurological conditions too.

By "neurological" she probably was refering to nuerodevelopmental issues which range from mild to severe, and I would take comfort that you only worried about the speech issue and your pediatrician did not notice this at all, and assume for now that his issue is on the mild side. Think more in terms of fine motor control issue for now, and keep your mind off the scary idea that it is some deeply rooted nuerological condition, disorder, or syndrome. Try not to borrow trouble and go looking for every condition that could fit his motor issues, it probably won't be helpful and will just make you worry more. If you need to know the details about something serious, it will find you once you start the evaluation process.

I am assuming that this is a school based evaluation (from your last post) and that the speech therapist will be bringing in the OT, PT and maybe a psychologist to evaluate his developmental level in a little more depth, is that right? If it is, consult with your pediatrician about private evaluations for all these areas, and for the medical attention that he needs as well. The school is required to identify his needs and to evaluate all areas of his disablity, but they are not diagnostic, and you should not be relying on them to diagnose or provide all the services that he needs. Even for speech, OT, and PT, you should get private evaluations so that you maximize his progress, becasue the school is only required to make him functional in the classroom, and you will want far more than that. You probably will need a consultation with a Neurologist and an evaluation with a Developmental Pediatrician, a Speech therapist, an Occupational Therapist, and a Physical Therapist (all these areas will be run through a Developmenta Pediatrician's office, and all the peices of the evaluation will be covered, and explained to you in one report from the Developmental Pediatrician.)

I have been where you are. You thought that your son just danced to his own drummer, and needed a little therapy, and BOOM, people start saying things that make little sense, and you think that they are not telling you something becasue they don't want to scare you, and by not just saying what they think, they actually scare you more. It will be OK. Ask them to write down the words for you, and get explainations for any you do not understand. The speech therapist may be worried about how you will respond to what she suspects, and I would try to stay as calm as you can, because if a school noticed an issue, it is something you should take seriously. Schools actually have a huge tendancy to under identify, so there is something there and you probably will be receiving public serivces to help him. Just don't skimp on the private services! His medical condition and all services that make him more than "functional" are your responsiblity; know that this is true, even if they say otherwise.

Do not feel bad that you did not notice this yourself. Shame on your doctor (if the same one has been seeing him and screening for development all along.)

It will be OK.

M.

You must be going through turmoil right now. I know you are worried, but, believe me, that she noticed his shaky hands is a good sign. It means she's experienced at what she is doing, and she wants to help your son as much as possible.

The truth is, the more you know about your son, the better you can help him. Just as knowing your child can help you motivate him to clean his room or help ease his anxiety when you cut his hair, knowing all the factors that might be influencing his behavior and speech will help you use the knowledge to his benefit. I've recently met two adults who had conditions as children (ADD and Asperger's) who were never diagnosed, and they endured so much condemnation and misunderstanding because of this.

Just relax and keep your mind and heart open. Your son is a beautiful, amazing kid, and you will both be okay. This is just part of your unique journey. It's okay to be nervous, but you are not alone, and your son is lucky to have a concerned mother. Be sure to ask all the questions you have, so that the experts can address your concerns as fully as possible, and if they start to throw "lots of big words" at you, stop them and ask for clarification. You and your son have that right.

Bless you.

when my oldest was about 3 i had him evaluated for speech. so they did a complete evaluation, which was kind of threatening, truthfully. and i will never forget afterwards when they sat me down and said "his speech is fine, its age appropriate...BUT.... we dont like how he sits/stands/cuts etc." i can still hear that "BUT" like it was yesterday, i remember the feeling in my belly and i could cry right now. it turned out fine, he got OT for a year, loved it, and they helped him tremendously and he is fine now. a little, ummmm wispy? for lack of a better word, but he is fine. i know you cant keep from worrying, i feel for you. but the bottom line is that if there is something going on, the faster they get to treating it, the better off he will be, no matter what it might be, if anything. just try to stay calm so you can be focused on what they are telling you and more importantly so that he doesnt pick up on your worries. best of luck to you.

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Hi. I'm sure you're very scared for your little guy. I can relate. My oldest son, 4 (5 in Feb) was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder with speech delay when he was 3. It qualified him for services through a developmental preschool in our school district where he receives speech therapy. He was also recommended for occupational therapy for the sensory disorder. His teachers were concerned about autism. We were horrified! This was our perfect, adorable little boy. We were also aware that there were little things about him that was just a bit different, and maybe a little behind, than from the other kids his age. But to us, that was just him; our son. After all, we all have little idiosynchrosies that make us different. But, after the initial shock of learning and accepting that he did have a disorder, we just enrolled him in every program that we thought would help him. Our goal as his parents are to ensure that he gets everything he needs to reach his fullest potential...and try to focus on all the wonderful things that he is great at! No matter what diagnosis your son receives, just know that it is just part of who he is, and that he is still your perfect, adorable little guy...it's what makes him special. Stay strong, stop thinking about what the worst scenario is, and just take things one step at a time. You love your son and nothing will change that!

I have an 18 month old that at her 14 month check up the pediatrican said she is going to have my daughter evaluated for speech threapy services.I always knew that her speech wasn't were it should be she only said mama a few times but dada was all she could say and babble constantly.As a concerned mom I always took notes and brought up ALL concerns with the pediatricain.I was highly concerned didn't waste anytime in contacting TARC services on the other hand words from my pediatrician was not to worry she didn't notice anything else and she is fine she is the baby afterall.So she was evaluated Autism is out she is the baby and her need's are highly met she has no reason to talk, she uses gestues and fine motor skills whew so I thought now here is the hard part she is very stubborn she gets her way no matter what, she beats all obstacles in her way she is now saying more words and mama daily.We are working on sign language now and me getting to back off and make her talk well can't make her noway.She is very vocal uses high pitch often so now here ears need to be checked she has had only 1 ear infection passed her newborn hearing so now it is another wait and see.
I would begin to write down everything that you think is abnormal that your son does I know we hate to compare our children against each other but sometimes we have to,the speech therapist will write up her evaluation and your dr will receive it view it and will discuss those with you at the appt. this is a good time to intervein with your concerns because it could lead to a huge impact on your sons life he may need additional services and evaluations.Hope all goes well keep us posted

I don't have alot of advice but I sort of understand how you feel. My son who is now 6 years old has been in speech therapy as well as OT. Both has helped him very much. And I'm glad that I had him evaluated when he was 3 years old or he probably would not have made the great progress that he has made. I never knew anything about OT/Occupational Therapy or that a person could be overly sensitive to things that must of us have no problems with at all. So, I had him evaluated because of his speech and then I learned that he needed OT. I would have never known.
So, don't beat yourself up over it because some things you just don't know unless you have had experience with it before. However, if your son was getting worse with the way he walks, runs or streches his fingers you would have notice and took him to the DR.
I think that because it's not something you notice as progressing then it's not something that is going to cause him life long problems. At least now you can address it and see what if anything needs to be done.
I'm sure it will all be okay.

Have the testing done . Find out what the problem is and get the helped needed. Maybe their are things that can be done for him before he starts school. Maybe he will qualify for special services preschool . You can't know or do anythig until you have him seen and evaluated. cross each bridge as it comes and become as informed as you can about his condition. Research and find what works best for you and your family. Ask questions. If you don't think it was answered ask again. You are his voice and advocate you know him better than anyone. Let your voice be heard for your son.

Dear Karma,
It is a good thing that he is being evaluated and able to receive the therapy he needs now that he is young. My oldest too had speech therapy in kinder, together with some physical and occupational therapy as well. Don't be scare, I know it is hard because we can't stand when something happens to our children. But the good thing is that he can get tested now that he is young and get the help he needs.
If it is something neurological, just the neurological terms are long and confusing enough to make your head spin. But I think what she meant to tell you was that you will eventually understand them once they are explained to you. Don't stress or worry yourself over this, you need to be strong and focus for him. He may not have anything serious, it maybe something that can be treated and resolved quick. So, just call your pediatrician and ask him to send him to a neurologist so you can have some piece of mind. Pray for him and for your family, that no fear comes over you guys, and that the peace and wisdom of God guides you through this process.
Blessings

It's never easy when you have a child who develops differently from what is considered the norm.

I remember being scared when I realized that my middle child was not speaking as much as he should at two and that what was said was difficult to understand and his gross motor skills were behind. I continued to be concerned when I realized how much effort, time and therapy it would take to improve.

He is now seven and is above grade level in school. He still qualifies for therapy but the severity of his issues have greatly disminished. I believe with all my heart that this is because of the efforts that I and his therapists put into him and continue to work on.

Please accept all therapies given to your son, fight for additional services, do not get stuck on the labels they give you, and love and treat your son as if he can do anything and everything. In the end, he may just to that!

Good luck!

I have a child who was VERY strange at that age, with impossible to understand speech and odd movements, even up to age 6 or 7. Well, he's 12 now, and seems like a regular kid 80% of the time, so I think he is just growing out of most of his difficulties! Like a late bloomer. He's actually in Special Ed, but it's mostly dyslexia at this point. He's a happy kid, and he has friends, even though he's still odd in some ways.

Try not to worry, just get him checked out.

Keep in mind that not every problem is a serious problem, and not every imperfection is scary.

The speech professional is looking out for your son, that's her job. It sounds like she noticed some things about him that looked unusual to her (remember professionals see a wide range of children so they will be more likely to notice anything that isn't typical). There are some physical quirks (like "toe-walking", for example) that are often seen in children with certain developmental problems meaning certain quirks and disorders can pair up.
But the quirks alone don't mean there is serious problem---it is just a sign that maybe a closer look should be taken at the child, just in case there is something else that goes along with the quirks. It's her job to look for stuff like this.
I have worked in schools and seen children who appear to have something unusual or "neurological" about them who function fine in school, and are happy, they just look a little odd in their movements. That could be the case with your son. It may be just a little thing, a "challenge".
But IF something unusual is found and named (big words) it means that your son can get support to be as successful as he can be, and that is a good thing. =) Don't worry about labels, they are confidential, and they lead to help and support.

This is to address the shakiness more than the other issues. And like others mentioned, become informed when you learn about other issues.

Okay, so my husband has familial tremors. It makes him shake a bit and he has "hitches" in his arms and legs when he moves. The "hitches" show up when he is reaching out about halfway. He has had these all of his life and caffiene and sugar can tend to make the shaking worse. Make sure your son doesn't get too much caffiene from soda/chocolate, etc., and not much sugar, high fructose corn syrup, etc.

The familial tremors aren't anything serious, but some days they do tend to be worse than others. My hubby actually works in electronics and was still able to work with small parts for testing, soldering, etc., so it didn't interfere too much as he grew up. He is still able to do what he loves. He finally learned of a medication that helps, but I wouldn't recommend anything like that for a little guy.

Try not to worry yourself and when you do learn of any condition, try to research as much as possible, so you will know how to best help your child. The shaking doesn't have to be a bad thing, as with my hubby. It could just be a way of life that isn't harmful.

Dear Karma,

At 4 years old with regular check ups at the peditrician if there is something going on with your child it should have beed noticed. I would take him in right away and tell the doc what happened with the speech therapist.

I certainly understand your fears, but you need to take action for your child right now.

Blessings......

She likely means that the examination and diagnosis is going to be stressful and you will "get through" it. And she's right. I mean, look at what you're feeling now. That's really stressful. You will get through it, but you're going to feel a lot of conflicting and painful emotions as you do.

The important thing to remember is that your son has not changed. The fact that these mannerisms which you took for granted might be linked to a nervous disorder does not make him less than he is or less able to be what he wants to be. This is not "something wrong with him." This might be something he has to deal with. He is not damaged goods, as much as a label can make you feel that way. Nervous disorders don't have to affect anything that makes him him. My small experience says that your son's symptoms sound like mild cerebral palsy, and I know people with severe cerebral palsy who have completed college and live very successful and happy lives by anyone's standards.

You can refuse any treatment that uses drugs if you don't want them.
If he has a mild case of Cerebral Palsy it can be taken care of with Rolfing a deep tissue method. Look it up on line.
You can take your child to gymnastics classes to help him become more coordinated.
Take a healthy dose of skepticism with you. I am a healer and I have faith. I have been dealing with an Autistic boy whose family was told he was beyond repair. We used deep tissue work with him and hands on healing. We used cranial work and acupuncture. And he has had a goodly amount of homeopathy. All the professionals kept telling his mother he was retarded but I said no. He is eight years old and this summer he started to speak. He will be able to live in the regular world and so will your son.

Updated

You can refuse any treatment that uses drugs if you don't want them.
If he has a mild case of Cerebral Palsy it can be taken care of with Rolfing a deep tissue method. Look it up on line.
You can take your child to gymnastics classes to help him become more coordinated.
Take a healthy dose of skepticism with you. I am a healer and I have faith. I have been dealing with an Autistic boy whose family was told he was beyond repair. We used deep tissue work with him and hands on healing. We used cranial work and acupuncture. And he has had a goodly amount of homeopathy. All the professionals kept telling his mother he was retarded but I said no. He is eight years old and this summer he started to speak. He will be able to live in the regular world and so will your son.

i don't have any advice for the PT/OT, but i have been reading about celiac disease (which i have) and there are many anecdotes about a child's language exploding once they were off wheat. most people think of celiac disease as causing a problem with their gut, however it can also cause a range of neurological problems. there are stool and saliva tests out there to see if he is reacting to wheat but you can also just try eliminating it and see if he gets better.

p.s. the book i was reading is called the gluten connection.

best of luck

I think you should have him evaluated, but try not to be afraid. It will only give you more information in which to base your decisions. It is easy for us as moms to get used to and accept our children for how they are. So, we may not think of certain symptoms as problematic until someone points them out to us. I don't think that the woman should have said what she did to you. It is not very professional. It caused you to be upset and I think it is an insult to your intelligence. How does she know that you can't understand the words that will be used?? Good Luck and Stay Strong!

I know this can be upsettingto hear that something might be wrong with your child. Please do not let these "professionals" put a label on your son, he is normal no matter what because he is his own person.
If he can be helped in some way by them, that is great. But many times these experts will prescribe medications that are not necesary & even harmful.
So my point is, just be wary, which it seems like you are being, trust your instincts & do not let their "expertise" be the final word on a diagnosis or treatment.
If he is doing fine, there is no reason to be concerned or change anything in his life. And children that are "diagnosed" often develop the sense that they are not normal & that is the last thing you want your child to feel.