How do you know if your 2 year old needs speech therapy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you all.

OP, I'd see if you can get this book out of the library:
http://www.amazon.com/Takes-Two-Talk-Practical-Children/dp/0921145195/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1384230224&sr=1-1&keywords=hanen

Early Intervention often gives Hanen classes, but this is an easy read (lots of pictures) to give ideas on how to encourage speech.

If you do end up needing speech, then you know read the signs right when it came to your DD. (Also, squelch that impulse to compare kids regarding how advanced they are. That's an exercise in futility.)

Let us know how it goes.

[Anonymous]

Make the call for evaluation. They sometimes take a while to schedule etc.

At 20m, DD said "mama", the dog's name and "eh". We are FX so the ped put in the request for evaluation, gave me the number to call etc. we got lucky and had a great coordinator who called back immediately and got the ball rolling. But it wasn't until a month later that she had the evaluation. And she did not start speech therapy until a month after that. By 30-32mths she made tremendous strides. She aged out at her 3rd bday was completely caught up.

[Anonymous]

Can't hurt go discuss with your ped at two year appointment and/or schedule an early intervention evaluation. Ped was concerned with my son's speech at two year appt and recommended early intervention which found him way behind on speech. He had only 10-15 words and not combining them. Later we learned he had hearing impairment from chronic ear infections. After getting ear tubes and with speech therapy he caught up and was eventually discharged for testing within normal range for his age.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PPs who suggested calling DC Early Intervention to request an evaluation (and not waiting). Just to clarify, DC EI's services currently end at the child's 3rd birthday. As of July 2014, services are supposed to be extended to the child's 4th birthday. I hope you and your family find good luck with them -- they made a huge difference for our family.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I completed the ASQ questionnaire and based on the responses, he scored low (but normal) on communication and surprisingly low on his gross motor skills.

The woman I spoke to said that I could still request an evaluation and I plan on doing so.

If it turns out that my DS is low (but normal) in communication, can I still get speech therapy for him? Would I have to go private?

I guess I'm just trying to figure out if I can give him some extra help even if he is just a little below normal. I'd really like to get him some help regardless of the results of the evaluation. I just feel like he would benefit so much. He's so verbal.

And on the gross motor skills, what kind of therapy would he get? Occupational therapy? What would they do?

[Anonymous]

PT - physical therapy for the gross motor would be best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here. I completed the ASQ questionnaire and based on the responses, he scored low (but normal) on communication and surprisingly low on his gross motor skills.

The woman I spoke to said that I could still request an evaluation and I plan on doing so.

If it turns out that my DS is low (but normal) in communication, can I still get speech therapy for him? Would I have to go private?

I guess I'm just trying to figure out if I can give him some extra help even if he is just a little below normal. I'd really like to get him some help regardless of the results of the evaluation. I just feel like he would benefit so much. He's so verbal.

And on the gross motor skills, what kind of therapy would he get? Occupational therapy? What would they do?

If your child doesn't qualify for early intervention services, it doesn't mean he doesn't have a delay, just not significant enough for services, so you can definitely take the results to a private SLP and get an assessment/second opinion.

Low tone often goes with speech delays, so many kids go to OT or PT. If it's fine and gross motor issues, then OT is better. PT mainly works on gross motor. OTs may also deal with things that with sensory skills as well:
http://www.ldonline.org/article/6023#anchor386046

[Anonymous]

My low tone kid qualified for both PT for gross motor and OT for fine motor. You can qualify for both PT and OT depending on the issues.

[Anonymous]

If your insurance covers private and you are concerned, I would try private if he does not qualify. We put our speech delayed child in gymnastics at that age and it really helped with the gross motor skills. They have parent/child classes.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Where did you do gymnastics?

Our DS has amazing fine motor skills. It's kind of ridiculous actually. He's been able to pick up tiny little sesame seeds since he was 8-9 months.

But I think his gross motor skills might be due in part to the fact that he broke his foot and was in a cast for a month or so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. Where did you do gymnastics?

Our DS has amazing fine motor skills. It's kind of ridiculous actually. He's been able to pick up tiny little sesame seeds since he was 8-9 months.

But I think his gross motor skills might be due in part to the fact that he broke his foot and was in a cast for a month or so.

OP, I would check with your pediatrician regarding a PT if you think the gross motor and the brake are related b/f starting gymnastics.

Swimming is non-impact, and that's great gross motor exercise.

[Anonymous]

OP, I might have missed it, but what is her socialization like? I'm a SAHM and non-stop one-sided conversations are hard to keep up. We got DC into a playgroup about the same time we started speech therapy and I feel like the combination has been really beneficial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. Where did you do gymnastics?

Our DS has amazing fine motor skills. It's kind of ridiculous actually. He's been able to pick up tiny little sesame seeds since he was 8-9 months.

But I think his gross motor skills might be due in part to the fact that he broke his foot and was in a cast for a month or so.

We go to Dynamite - they have regular and special needs classes. The kids get to go on the real equipment. It is instructor dependent - some are good, some are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I might have missed it, but what is her socialization like? I'm a SAHM and non-stop one-sided conversations are hard to keep up. We got DC into a playgroup about the same time we started speech therapy and I feel like the combination has been really beneficial.

OP here. He started a part-time preschool program 2 mornings a week in September. We thought that his verbal development would skyrocket after then but it's been pretty much the same. That is one of the reasons why we're concerned.

We think that his verbal development has been a little slow because I'm at home with him full-time and I have been able to read his gestures and sounds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I might have missed it, but what is her socialization like? I'm a SAHM and non-stop one-sided conversations are hard to keep up. We got DC into a playgroup about the same time we started speech therapy and I feel like the combination has been really beneficial.

OP here. He started a part-time preschool program 2 mornings a week in September. We thought that his verbal development would skyrocket after then but it's been pretty much the same. That is one of the reasons why we're concerned.

We think that his verbal development has been a little slow because I'm at home with him full-time and I have been able to read his gestures and sounds.

OP, no, it's neurological. You could have had your kid in full time preschool or daycare and still end up in the same place. Focus on the future; can't change the past.