Speech Therapy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is 4 and clearly has delays. Until his brain was ready, therapy did not help. When he was ready, it helped. I'd just go in for an initial consultation rather than a full evaluation and if recommended try a few sessions. We knew we need help, so it was a non-issue. The evaluations only confirm what we know. I do not find them helpful except for insurance payment. If you are concerned, get help and worst case you do a few sessions and do find the benefit you stop (we tried several therapists before finding the right one who listened and saw the issue). I would also get a private one for a school IEP.

I think you're the same PP who posted about using videos too. You really don't know if it was ST or that your kid was just ready. Speech delays are neurological by definition.

There is no one fit all approach for a child. We do the videos, we do outside activities and an abundance of speech therapy. I do think the speech therapy is now helping as I see the growth in my child and I see what he is learning in his imaginary play. He recreates things he learned in therapy and practices it. He also copies the videos which gives him additional practice. They are visual and include sight words and phonics so he has picked up that as well. We very much see the neurological issues and there may be life long challenges because of it, but with that said, we do see progress now in part to natural developmental growth, therapy and other activities. I do not think he would be as far as he is without all the additional supports. If you do not believe in them, do not do them. You are only hurting your child. I am amazed at people wait till 5-6-7-8 to realize the problem is a problem and then they still refuse to get help outside of school. We are willing to do what it takes to give our child the best chance at life. The earlier you start to expose the better as now is when their brains are forming and taking everything in.

[Anonymous]

Our experience has generally been that evaluations were billed at the same hourly rate as speech therapy (we've generally paid between $110-135/hour). How long it takes to some degree depends on what you are looking for and know already, and what kind of issues they need to look for and how cooperative your child is/how quickly they warm up to a new situation.

[Anonymous]

We spent $500 for the evaluation and then submitted the receipt to our Health Flexible Spending Account for reimbursement. Our insurance did not cover the private provider we had chosen for the evaluation. We received an extensive report with plans for helping our son at school as well as at home. He was 3 years old at the time. There are several private places in Rockville and Bethesda that offer great speech therapy services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our child is 4 and clearly has delays. Until his brain was ready, therapy did not help. When he was ready, it helped. I'd just go in for an initial consultation rather than a full evaluation and if recommended try a few sessions. We knew we need help, so it was a non-issue. The evaluations only confirm what we know. I do not find them helpful except for insurance payment. If you are concerned, get help and worst case you do a few sessions and do find the benefit you stop (we tried several therapists before finding the right one who listened and saw the issue). I would also get a private one for a school IEP.

I think you're the same PP who posted about using videos too. You really don't know if it was ST or that your kid was just ready. Speech delays are neurological by definition.

I don't think this is true. You can have developmental speech delays. Stuttering isn't neurological either.

[Anonymous]

Speech delays are often motoric.

[Anonymous]

Just my experience, I found the speech eval through child find in FFX county to be great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Speech delays are often motoric.

Which is still neurological: (from ASHA)

What is childhood apraxia of speech?
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder. Children with CAS have problems saying sounds, syllables, and words. This is not because of muscle weakness or paralysis. The brain has problems planning to move the body parts (e.g., lips, jaw, tongue) needed for speech. The child knows what he or she wants to say, but his/her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words.

There are few causes like environmental or physical that aren't neurologically based.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speech delays are often motoric.

Which is still neurological: (from ASHA)

What is childhood apraxia of speech?
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder. Children with CAS have problems saying sounds, syllables, and words. This is not because of muscle weakness or paralysis. The brain has problems planning to move the body parts (e.g., lips, jaw, tongue) needed for speech. The child knows what he or she wants to say, but his/her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words.

There are few causes like environmental or physical that aren't neurologically based.

What CAUSES the neurological problem, is the question.

It can't all be "bad luck".