Recommend a school with small class size for 8yr old w/ language disorder

[Anonymous]

My DS got a MERLD diagnosis from a SLP one year ago. From my understanding, it was the best way to describe that his language was delayed and he needed speech therapy. Another SLP referred to it as "Developmental Language Disorder" which is also called "Specific Language Impairment."

I am unsure why some posters on here seem to go nuts chomping at the bit when someone says this diagnosis was given. Was I supposed to argue with the SLP about this diagnosis on the paperwork? And the psychiatrist who further evaluated him and agreed with the term "Developmental Language Disorder?"

OP, I hope at least some of the posts were helpful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:None of this is helping OP find a school for her kid folks.

Oh, good lord. We are trying to help. Siena and Lab are great suggestions for dyslexia or other language based LDs. MERLD isn't a diagnosis for an 8 year old. In trying to clarify issues from OP, it seems like she hasn't either had very comprehensive evaluations or she doesn't know how to interpret them. MERLD might show up as a diagnostic/ICD code in a report for example.

MERLD simply means expressive and receptive language issues. Call it what you want. Official diagnosis would be a language disorder. Most call it MERLD to describe the type of language disorder, just like people still use Aspergers despite it being removed as well. Its still very common to use with the language disorder community. Not all kids with language disorders have academic issues, especially dyslexia. They are more prone to them but to make the assumption and insist child has more issues is doing the child a disservice. I've heard good things about Lab but most kids I know are much more severely impacted at that age so it may not be a good fit for OP child.

+1 million

There are a couple posters here who flip their lids when someone says their child has been recently diagnosed as MERLD. But we know from our MERLD message boards this diagnosis is still used all the time, all across the country, by all kinds of people doing diagnosing, including developmental pediatricians, SLPs, clinical psychologists, etc.

The DSM really shortchanged kids who have language disorders. It's "Language Impairment" diagnosis is woefully inadequate and likely why it's being rejected when people sit down to actually put a code on something. MERLD was a much better descriptor.

You don't find it a bit odd with the several recent new diagnosis of MERLD. I find it a bit odd to get diagnosed at age 8. The DSM does several diagnosis the same way, including ASD. They really need to develop better medical tests, better "treatments" and find better ways to diagnose rather than just changing the names.

I would find it odd for a kid who had no other diagnosis to get a MERLD diagnosis at 8, but not for a kid who already has an apraxia diagnosis. Severe language production issues, such as are seen in apraxia, are going to conceal other issues. You can't tell if a child who isn't combining sounds due to apraxia would otherwise be able to construct sentences, and you can't do detailed testing for receptive language, because many of those tests are dependent on verbal answers.

In addition, a child who already has a CAS diagnosis almost certainly meets criteria for SLI through the schools, and already qualifies for intensive speech through insurance (unless they're insurance won't pay that for any child), so there is less pressure to test further.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS got a MERLD diagnosis from a SLP one year ago. From my understanding, it was the best way to describe that his language was delayed and he needed speech therapy. Another SLP referred to it as "Developmental Language Disorder" which is also called "Specific Language Impairment."

I am unsure why some posters on here seem to go nuts chomping at the bit when someone says this diagnosis was given. Was I supposed to argue with the SLP about this diagnosis on the paperwork? And the psychiatrist who further evaluated him and agreed with the term "Developmental Language Disorder?"

OP, I hope at least some of the posts were helpful!

If you apply for SN schools you'll need more a SLP evaluation. Language delays are often comorbid with other things. Many parents have BTDT with small private schools until they realize they are a waste of money because they don't/can't meet your kids needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS got a MERLD diagnosis from a SLP one year ago. From my understanding, it was the best way to describe that his language was delayed and he needed speech therapy. Another SLP referred to it as "Developmental Language Disorder" which is also called "Specific Language Impairment."

I am unsure why some posters on here seem to go nuts chomping at the bit when someone says this diagnosis was given. Was I supposed to argue with the SLP about this diagnosis on the paperwork? And the psychiatrist who further evaluated him and agreed with the term "Developmental Language Disorder?"

OP, I hope at least some of the posts were helpful!

The OP's kid is 8--it's not "developmental."

[Anonymous]

High Road Academy in Laurel.