Early Intervention help..?

Question

The evaluators were here earlier evaluating my 33 month old son and said he didn't qualify. His expressive speech was at 24 months with everything else (gross motor, cognitive, receptive, fine motor, self-help, and social) was all at above 39 months. He gets very bored after he masters things, but what can I do to increase his verbal skills? He got a computer game, played it once with me, then played it all by himself after that. He rarely wants my help. I would just like him to talk more. Any ideas? Do you have any ideas on games or toys that would be good for him? He turns three in August.

Answer 1

I'm surprised he didn't qualify, I thought if they were at least 6 months behind in an area they did... maybe its more, I forget! Anyways, thats great he did so well everywhere else!

I did go through speech therapy for my son.... one thing they told me was just to talk constantly - as you go about your day, narrate everything you are doing. Your child then picks up on the vocabulary. We also used the Baby Bumblebee series and simple flashcards for increasing vocabulary.

If you really feel he needs therapy, you can always look into private speech therapist. If you can find one that accepts insurance, its not too expensive.

Either way, it certainly sounds like a simple and slight speech delay, he'll catch up! Good luck!

Answer 2

In the state I live in a child must fall below in at least two areas to qualify for services. I would just encourage him to talk more. When he wants something make him tell you what he wants to get it. He will be very frustrated at first, but if you stick with it it will help. If you know of a game he likes encourage him to tell you about the game. Ask simple questions like are you having fun, what is your favorite part. When it is time to eat give him a couple of choices for a beverage -- strongly encourage him to tell you what he wants. These are very simple things that can help and don't give up just yet. You might just have a quiet little fellow who will start talking you out of house and home in a matter of weeks. My son did not say two words until he was two and a half. He is three now and we can't seem to keep him quiet. He is a very intelligent little guy who has some minor speech problems that we are working to correct.

Answer 3

my suggestion would be to talk to him constantly. tell him everything you're doing like, "now, i am washing the cup" or "first, we have to put on your shirt". narrate everything you do and he'll catch on and follow your lead. if he wants something, tell him to use his words. if he doesn't know the words, give him the words and make him repeat what you say before giving it to him.

my oldest was 3 and said maybe 20-25 words...total. we took him to a speech therapist and she has been wonderful. he goes for 30mins once a week. it costs $40/week but is so worth it. it wasn't so much her teaching him how to talk, but her teaching me how to teach him...does that make sense? i'm a fairly quiet person and didn't really see the point in telling him each and everything i was doing, now i know that was a BIG mistake. he has been seeing her for just over a year and has made tremendous progress. his vocabulary is fine, now we're working on articulation. actually, it's working too well. hate to say it, but there are times i wish he wouldn't talk...just for a couple minutes.

hope this helps and good luck!!!!

Answer 4

Evaluators for what? Didn't qualify for what?
Has his hearing been tested?
Make him ask for things - no 'point and grunt' responses.
Calmly say, "You must ask for what you want, with words."
Don't answer for him, but you can say "If you want to go outside, you must say 'outside' '.
Don't ask yes/no questions, either - ask about everything , in a way he has to make a choice - "Do you want the red shirt,or the gren shirt? Do you want to brush teeth before your bath, or after? Do you want chicken soup,or vegetable soup?'
Talk to him about everything, and get all other caretakers to do the same.
Get or make a game that requires him to talk. Get flashcard sets with with alphabet, numbers, and common pictures on them [ dog, daddy, ball ]. Reward him for every word he says correctly [ a goldfish, a m&m, etc. ].
Read to him, and ask whart the people in the picture are doing. You can start with some of his books, and then use
magazines, comics, etc. Or, watch a kid show with him, and ask what will happen next [ during commercials ]
Keep branching out and increasing difficulty [ label all the nouns in his room, do up/down, in/out, under/over etc.]
Good luck, and I am sure he will improve! [ let us know, if you can ]

Answer 5

Most important, do not talk for him. When he wants something, make sure he verbalizes what it is he wants.

Play games with him that require him to talk and when he does reward him.

At times I would post pictures around the house and at different times get my kids to tell me what the were. When correct I praised them (kids love positive reinforcement). It has to be fun and not seen as work.