OT and speech and end up okay?

[Anonymous]

Is it possible for a 4-5yo to require speech and OT and end up having their issues (language delay and social emotional skills) resolve? DD doesn't have a diagnosis but these services have been recommended by her PreK program. Do they genuinely work?

[Anonymous]

Of course they can resolve. Speech therapy is pretty common. I had speech therapy and I’m not sure why. It was a little group at school. After a little while they told me I didn’t need it anymore. I was so upset because it was so fun.

My son has it for delayed speech. He went to a private speech therapist until first grade.

OT will depend on why she’s being recommended. But that can be resolved also.

[Anonymous]

Yes!

[Anonymous]

They do work. Your child will make lots of progress. That being said, there is possibly, likely, an underlying disability that is creating the need for them, and that doesn’t just “go away.” But that doesn’t mean your child is also going to be impaired for life. They may grow into an older child who still needs some accommodations at school, and that’s ok- they will still be successful and intelligent and capable. My daughter had speech and OT when she was a preschooler- she was diagnosed with a learning disability later and still has an IEP now, but she is bright, curious, deeply intelligent in many areas, has friends, thrives at school, etc.

[Anonymous]

Just be open minded. Of course issues may resolve or they may not. Your child could have a disability or not. Getting support and accommodations in place now will help you and your DD better understand her strengths and challenges and build her skills.

My DD presented with a language delay and some social skills challenges and she ended up being diagnosed on the spectrum (and not saying this is your DD at all—but this is what most ppl worry about it seems so I thought I’d just name it in case). She has needed OT only occasionally, but has consistently been in speech to help with social pragmatics. She’s made great gains and I’m not sure she will always be in speech—I doubt it. But she still has a disability for the rest of her life that may require help and support at various moments. Regardless, she’s amazing and has a bright future.

[Anonymous]

Yes, they definitely can.

If they don’t, though, it’s going to be okay.m too. My child who needs services is younger (pre-k) and I have an older already in elementary. The thing her being in school has demonstrated for me is that so many kids get services these days. They still are doing well academically and socially in many cases but have a couple of things they need more support on. It’s great that your preschool is helping you get the help your kid might need!

My DS’s issues has so far turned out to be ADHD, which has been helped a lot by meds.

[Anonymous]

They may resolve. They may not. But even if they don't, it's "okay." My child's issues did not resolve and she has a disability; nevertheless, she, and we, are okay.

[Anonymous]

They will definitely improve. My dc is 5, and has been doing speech and OT 3x weekly for a while now. We are seeing encouraging results in some areas, but the social emotional is lagging and that’s making everything else really hard. It sucks. Hang in there and absolutely give them a try if possible. Nothing to lose.

[Anonymous]

My brother was in speech (severe delay + articulation) and OT (coordination + crossing midline + fine motor issues) at 4-7 yo. He won an award at high school graduation as the scholar-athlete of his year and now has a college degree. He even almost made it to the Olympics as an athlete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible for a 4-5yo to require speech and OT and end up having their issues (language delay and social emotional skills) resolve? DD doesn't have a diagnosis but these services have been recommended by her PreK program. Do they genuinely work?

they absolutely work but they don't cure autism (NOT saying your kid has autism, just saying some parents think early intervention = cure, which isnt' true)

[Anonymous]

OP here- thank you all! The support from strangers honestly helps me immensely!

[Anonymous]

I don't know what I would have done without our private speech therapist. My son was in speech at DCPS from prek3 to 1st, and we did private for a year i think but quite intense - twice a week for 30 min before school with homework. Still a bit of articulation issues, but he didn't talk at all in prek3, so huge progress obv.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what I would have done without our private speech therapist. My son was in speech at DCPS from prek3 to 1st, and we did private for a year i think but quite intense - twice a week for 30 min before school with homework. Still a bit of articulation issues, but he didn't talk at all in prek3, so huge progress obv.

actually through mid of 2nd grade, just got kicked out and he is upset as he liked it!

[Anonymous]

My 14 year old went though stints of ST, PT, and OT. He speaks perfectly and his verbal scores are off the charts, he has lots of friends (but is not the BMOC type), and he plays (and is decent at but not a star) multiple sports. He is more than fine. No diagnosis. Lots of kids are just sort of late bloomers.

[Anonymous]

My son is almost 5 and has been doing speech for 6-7 months. He had articulation issues which are now resolved and he is still doing speech therapy to improve his expressive language. It was not recommended to by his teachers, but we wanted to give him more support. He is trilingual and that is probably what is delaying his speech a bit.

Either way, we saw huge progress in just a few months! All the articulation issues were solved within 2 sessions.