Speech Therapy Questions?

Question

My Son is 18 months old and not talking yet so his Dr. is concerned. He is developing fine in all other areas, just his speech is lacking. He USED to say “Mama”, “DaDa” and “YumYum” but stopped about 4-5 months back. He does make noises like “Ha” and “BaBa” and “DaDa”, but none of them are exclusive to one thing or another…just general noises. When he goes in for his next check up she will send him for a speech evaluation and speech therapy if he’s not speaking yet. Have you been to speech therapy with your child or are you a Speech Therapist? Can you give me some tips on what we can do at home to better encourage him without him feeling pressured?

He communicates by taking your hand and putting it on what he wants. Ex: If he wants juice (or something else in the fridge) he takes you by the hand walks you to the fridge and puts your hand on the door handle. After we open the door he gets what it was he wanted. If he wants to play with Legos he takes your hand and puts it on the Lego box and then we play with them.

We of course encourage speaking by asking him what he wants a few times and then as we are doing the action he asked for we tell him what we’re doing. We ask him to use his words to tell us what he wants instead of just putting our hand on an object.

I know this is long but I wanted to give as much info. As I could so I can get the best tips possible. Oh, and I know that all children develop at their own pace so please…no comments like that.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Boy does this bring back some memories! Our oldest daughter was kind of like your son, she could say several words & short sentences untill around two. MaMa, DaDa, bite, dink, Ndit(Bandit, our dog), side(outside), wanna dink, go bye-bye, go side. But around 2, she started pointing & grunting and we still don't know why. Her pediatrition referred us to a speech therapist who helped her so much, actually it was a group of therapists. They used several methods to help her, touch~she would touch their throat/chin or mouth while they said a word~then she would touch the same area on herself as she said/tried the word. They used sign language, pictures, drawing, flash cards & several other things that I have forgotten. Oh I just remembered that they also used a tuning fork like is used to tune pianoes,etc. I don't remember exactly how but all of it together helped her so much. And she really enjoyed it. It was usually one on one, her & the therapist but she did have several sessions with a little boy also. I don't know if all speech therapy helps as much hers did but I would recommend to at least try it. The therapist will tell/teach you several things to do/use at home/stores/traveling/wherever!

She was in therapy for about a year or year & 1/2, I just can't express how much it helped her! She is nearly 20 now & can speak very well. She doesn't talk a lot but it is just because she is a quiet/shy person. If she knows you well, she can talk your ears off!!!
Best wishes & God bless!

Answer 2

My son had no words at 18 months and was referred to a speech therapist then. We first had his hearing tested and then went on the wait-list for a speech-path. Some words started to come at about 2 years(ish) and he started seeing a speech path just before his 4th birthday (I love the waiting lists our health care has). The thing I’ve learned the most since going to see the speech path, is that if I would have stopped interrupting my son 3 years ago, we wouldn’t be seeing a speech path twice a month now. It is so hard to do, because I know what he wants, I’ll just grab it and give it to him before he’s even finished asking or if the answer’s no, I’ll stop him from asking and tell him no. And (IMO) my boy being lazy (no physical problems were found), if he doesn’t have to talk, he won’t and now he doesn’t have the same skill set for sound production that other kids his age do. Your son will probably get his hearing tested first and if it’s found to be okay, then you will start seeing a speech path. Where are you from? My son was referred to speech path at 18 months because the wait was (supposed to be) 12 – 18 months, that way he was already on the wait list if there was still a problem in a year. As it was, it was over 2 years before we actually saw one. What to expect? She will first do an assessment to determine what help if any your son requires. My son was diagnosed as having a mild to moderate speech delay. The sessions have helped. She is also working on other areas where he might require improvement. Speech therapy is non-invasive. You have nothing to lose by getting it checked out and it will not hurt your son. And during the sessions? The speech path plays games. My son loves his speech path.

Answer 3

My youngest brother was like that. WE did what you do, saying teh name of things over and over again. And do you know that about 3yrs of age he just started talking in complete sentences. Doctors had labeled him austic and possibly retarded. Guess he showed them all. Kids are little sponges at take in all that you teach them. Hnag in there mom.. you just have a stubborn little guy on your hands. someday you are going to wish he woudl shut up.

(((HUGS)))