Is it weird for a speech therapist to ask to meet alone with my 9-year-old right after he begins treatment?

[Anonymous]

Typically the kids don't do as well with the parents in the room, which is why the therapists want them out. Most places either have you come in 5 minutes at the end to talk about what was done.

[Anonymous]

My kid is younger but I’ve always sat in for every session with the speech therapist and no one has had an issue. I agree that 1 of the three we saw was useless and we switched away from her quickly- I am sure the lack of progress would have been evident eventually but when basic 75 percent of a 30 minute session is not relevant (looking for misplaced items, being late, random stories my kid was completely uninterested in) it was pretty obvious from a couple sessions we needed to switch. Also my son was nervous and did better with me in the room.

My older child sees a therapist to talk about emotional issues and I never sit in unless one of them asks me to. To me that is completely different, because I can understand how my presence could be an issue. But for speech? Can not really see it

[Anonymous]

Kid in therapy from before age 3. Only ever went in for the last ten minutes for parent training. Sat in the waiting area with all of the other parents who didn’t go in.

[Anonymous]

No, that's not a weird request. Please, please don't hover. I wish a therapist I'd had would have done this on my behalf.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t sit in with my 3-4 year old and neither did the other parents in the waiting room. It’s not a parent thing as far as I am aware.

Wow. I'm surprised. This is not typical where I'm from.

Aren't parents on this board often complaining about lack of progress and the like? You'll make so much more progress if you understand what's happening. And I think that's your right...

I realize I'm a bit opinionated about this, but oh well. It's interesting to see the diversity of opinions.

I recently talked to one provider that was like, "oh sure! we want families to sit in because that's how kids learn faster and at home."

I know my child is making progress bc I hear the progress in their speech. No, I’ve never sat in on speech or OT for either of my kids. I do get feedback from the therapists afterwards on what to work on at home. I also don’t sit in the classroom to ensure my kids are making progress. I hear them share what they’re learning afterwards and I look at their progress reports.

[Anonymous]

Yikes.

If you don't trust the therapist to do their job, find another one you do trust.

Of course, it can be helpful for a parent to join sometimes to learn strategies or just to observe. What you are doing though is hovering, which, isn't helpful to your kid.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's weird, I wouldn't let my kid go alone at any age until I knew the therapist and was comfortable. If you are not comfortable, switch. They should allow you to stay at least the first few sessions and then meet with you after the session to review. What do they have to hide?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Typically the kids don't do as well with the parents in the room, which is why the therapists want them out. Most places either have you come in 5 minutes at the end to talk about what was done.

My kid did better because if they misbehaved I'd redirect them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t sit in with my 3-4 year old and neither did the other parents in the waiting room. It’s not a parent thing as far as I am aware.

Wow. I'm surprised. This is not typical where I'm from.

Aren't parents on this board often complaining about lack of progress and the like? You'll make so much more progress if you understand what's happening. And I think that's your right...

I realize I'm a bit opinionated about this, but oh well. It's interesting to see the diversity of opinions.

I recently talked to one provider that was like, "oh sure! we want families to sit in because that's how kids learn faster and at home."

There was no way I'd let my limited verbal child go alone with someone at that age. I went in until my child was older and I was very comfortable with the therapist. But, I could go in at any time.

[Anonymous]

Not strange at all. Mine has gone in alone since age 3. I sit in the waiting area and read.

I'd pretty sure I'd be a distraction if I were in there with him.

[Anonymous]

I sat in on sessions for my child with apraxia from ages 2-6 and thought it was very beneficial to see what they were working on and how to cue him. I assumed that was normal at the time but after reading these posts I think maybe that was unique to the SLP. She did home visits. I think at 9 they should definitely be ok alone. Now that I think about it, my oldest child saw an SLP briefly at age 4 for articulation disorder and I waited in the waiting room with all the other parents.

[Anonymous]

There comes a point when parents might inhibit progress more than they help. I wouldn’t be concerned by the fact that they asked you to leave. I would be concerned they didn’t explain the reasons for it, even if that reason is you. They also didn’t provide you with an alternative means of observation- often times I’ll have to “kick out” parents but tell them they can video me or check in whenever as long as the child isn’t crying, some places also have 2 way mirrors that can be utilized. The kicking you out part I wouldn’t be worried about, the lack of professionalism and communication though is concerning.

[Anonymous]

OP, you sound insufferable. This is not a weird request.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Oh wow. I've weeded out so many not so productive therapies by sitting in these sessions.

I've sat in since my son was 3 and needed a lot of assistance with articulation.

Super surprised people aren't sitting in more frequently. It's interesting.

I myself have gone through several therapists before I found the right one. How do you know what's going on unless you hear the info being exchanged?

Also, I guess I don't understand the *cost* of a parent listening in (like a fly on the wall) until a kid is a tween/teen. So why not?

If you’re already so entrenched in your view why even ask? Obnoxious thread. Clearly there is only one right answer for your and anyone who disagrees is a chump in your eyes.

[Anonymous]

I never sat in with my three year old. The child needs to focus on one thing, the speech therapist.