How to get family member to have neice evaluated...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's another perspective. I have a niece who has a big-time -- BIG time -- articulation delay. She's about a good 2 years behind in reaching articulation milestones. Nobody outside the family could understand her at all for a couple of years, no joke. Even her parents cannot understand her much of the time (at age 2, 3, 4 and believe it or not, sometimes still at 5).

Still, I have kept my mouth shut. Even though my own son has had articulation delay and therapy, and I still have all the literature I could lend ... I say nothing. And boy is it hard when this girl gurgles and mumbles at age 5.5.

So the point, and I do have one, is that NO other adult in her life has recommended speech therapy. Until, finally, my sister thought to call EI when she saw other kids making fun of her daughter. The little girl is crushed, and this teasing is happening a lot now (because, what was kind of cute at 2 is ridiculous at 5). My sister is really sad for my niece.

It's not always a given that "preschool teachers will intervene."

Nothing at all? Not even once? Not even a casual "if you're concerned about this, I have some great books you could read"?

Glad you're not my aunt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My brother recently visited with his 18 month old daughter and wife. His daughter does not speak at all. She grunts and points. It's very clear she understands everything going on around her, she can follow directions, nod appropriately and make eye contact. Her social skills are not where my daughters' were at that age, but my niece is rarely around other children and spends most of the time at home with mom...
My mother and I are both very concerned about her. I suggested to my brother that he have her evaluated; I have a background in speech therapy and communication disorders. She's eligible for free early intervention services, so why not? It can't hurt? I thought he was sold... weeks later he and his wife have still not done anything. My mother who has worked in early intervention her whole life is freaking out. She also has politely brought it up to him and even researched whom to contact in his home state (Maine). Still...nothing....
How do we get them to get this child evaluated?? Early intervention is so important I hate to see more time go by without any help for her. My mother is concerned that she may be on the autism spectrum, I believe it's just a speech delay, either way she needs help. What can we do???

OP, on some level you mean well, but it's time to back off. This is not your child and you are going to destroy your relationship with your brother. You've made your point, but you don't get to make their decision. Let it go.

And if and when the time comes, bite your tongue or scream into your pillow but do NOT start in with "I told you..." That will be just as poisonous as the heavy-handed approach you're trying now.