Speech Therapy

[Visitor9]

Hi Dee
I hads Eliza at speech therapy at 2 well it was a week before 2 as she was not speaking at all, so this is probably at different scenario.
I was like you and wanted to have E assessed before it was said..."well if you brought her in 6 months ago it would of been a small problem now it is huge". Needless to say I was happy that I took her.

1st appointment was just a chat mainly with me to discuss what was a problem for me and what E would do in different circumstances. E was playing around the ST never pushed her to "talk" or do anything she felt was going to make her uncomfortable. We sat on the floor playing with glitter sticks for 20 minutes just mainly ST observing what was going on. She then gave me the notes from the session and planned some stratagies to get her to vocalise rather than pulling or pushing to get her way.
2nd appointment: We had to keep a diary of speech advancement and with the "praise reward" system she really came in to herself. Once again there was more games on the floor and observing. She then again gave us the notes and a few more progessive tools to get E to talk in sentances.
3rd appointment: LOL cancelled it she was speaking far better than anyone would imagine.

This was over 3 months and just by refering back to my notes that she had set for us..it prompted me to either praise..her system was never to correct a child in the sence it was more...say if Matthew said "brink" you would repeat back does Matthew want a Drink?. You often sound like a bit of a dill but it does work..just repeating the words back..like mummys thirsty she is having a drink.
I know it is an age for confusion sometimes it may last a few days, months and then they correct it themselves.

I think if it is an issue that you are worried about, there is never a wrong time to contact a speechie.
I was suprised I didnt need a referal to see a ST, I went to my GP and they said private speachies dont require them. If you go thru the public system you will need one thou, we were told that they dont really address ST for children until they are kinder age so I think my best $200 was spent seeing one.

We went to the MCHN yesterday, she could not believe that E was the same child. And she said Do you think Eliza needed to go to ST? I said I needed to go! To learn how to help her
Good luck
Bec

[Deejoy17]

Thanks girls for your thoughts.

Bec - I`m so glad E is doing so well, yay for her. LOL Bec that`s exactly what I say to Matthew - Does Matthew want a drink? and yep also the Mummy is Thirsty Mummy is having a drink... your right I do feel like a dill at times but I certainly cansee how it would work.

I spoke to me health nurse on Monday about this issue, she didn`t think it was of any concern at this stage.

My own thoughts are that I`ll keep an eye on him over the next couple of months and if I`m still concerned I`ll take him to a private ST, I`d much perfer to go privately then publicy, I should imagine the waiting lists here would be very long in the public system.

Thank you Girls