Recs for speech therapist to 9 month old infant with speech delay

[Anonymous]

The pediatrician recommended we take our 9 month old DS to a speech therapist due to a probable speech delay. It may be both receptive and expressive as he doesn’t recognize his own name and can only say “aaaaa”. He has a ready social smile, has strong eye contact, actively and positively seeks attention from his mom and brother, and is a highly mobile crawler.

Pediatrician recommended going to Strong Start, the DC government program, but she also said if private is an option, that can be beneficial too.

Any recommendations on who to look into?

We would need something in DC - Capitol Hill preferred but anything on the orange, blue and silver Lines would be good.

[Anonymous]

That seems premature. Is this a very young pediatrician? you could get the book It Takes 2. I’m sure SLPs would be happy to take your money though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The pediatrician recommended we take our 9 month old DS to a speech therapist due to a probable speech delay. It may be both receptive and expressive as he doesn’t recognize his own name and can only say “aaaaa”. He has a ready social smile, has strong eye contact, actively and positively seeks attention from his mom and brother, and is a highly mobile crawler.

Pediatrician recommended going to Strong Start, the DC government program, but she also said if private is an option, that can be beneficial too.

Any recommendations on who to look into?

We would need something in DC - Capitol Hill preferred but anything on the orange, blue and silver Lines would be good.

How did you not get any private recommendations from your pediatrician?

[Anonymous]

OP here - pediatrician recommended it so we’re doing it

[Anonymous]

OP here - they gave us list of therapists as long as my arm but some were expressly for older kids when we called. Hence the posting here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - they gave us list of therapists as long as my arm but some were expressly for older kids when we called. Hence the posting here

got it.

[Anonymous]

I would get a hearing test first.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know of any (sorry!) but I’m curious how many posts - including this one- will be made questioning OP, questioning pediatrician, but not answering her actual question.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would get a hearing test first.

2nd this. I have a child who had a severe receptive and expressive delays. We started at that age and no one would really evaluation. We were told to wait anywhere from 18-24 months. We started about 16 months paying for private speech. That is very young to diagnose but a hearing test is a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know of any (sorry!) but I’m curious how many posts - including this one- will be made questioning OP, questioning pediatrician, but not answering her actual question.

9 months is far to young to diagnosis. Infant and toddlers wouldn't even consider it. They can try or they'd have to pay privately.

[Anonymous]

OP here - DS passed the one they gave him at birth and pediatrician didn’t think he had hearing loss when she examined him. That being said if the therapist ordered it, we would happily do it.

[Anonymous]

Start with the county early intervention program. I’d also get a new pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - they gave us list of therapists as long as my arm but some were expressly for older kids when we called. Hence the posting here

OP have you already called all the providers on the list? My advice for you is:

1. For each provider who says, "we don't work with babies the age of your child", ask them to recommend someone.
2. If you get through the list and haven't found someone, call your pediatrician back and ask for more provider names.
3. Or just go with Strong Start. For babies through preschool, government programs tend to be good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - DS passed the one they gave him at birth and pediatrician didn’t think he had hearing loss when she examined him. That being said if the therapist ordered it, we would happily do it.

OP it's backwards to start with therapy first and do testing to rule out causes second. You sound very committed to your pediatrician. Pediatrician screenings (for hearing or anything else) can miss issues that specialists won't miss. In the SN world, it helps to be a little skeptical and dispassionate.

[Anonymous]

I’d go to strong starts. It is a great program and very thorough. They’ll probably do the hearing test as well and therapists go to your house.