The Imperfect Community

peglegginmegan · Slightly Flawed Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 27 Location: wv

Chloe's 20 mths old, and she has only said about 10 words, most of which she said once, then promptly stored away in that weird little brain of hers. At 11 months she said "duck". And that was the last time anyone heard it. She doesn't point to things she wants, she bangs her head when she's frustrated, doesn't try to approach other kids, yet she understands most things I ask her to do. I asked her pediatrician about it at 18 mths, and he didn't seem too concerned. That was until he came in with another doctor who went down a list of things, mentioned head banging, then began to look very concerned when I said she does that. So they wanted her to come back in 3 mths to re-evaluate. That appointment is about 2 weeks away, and she's only added one more word: done, which she yelled after every meal for a week, then promptly forgot. Am I being crazy worrying about this? Or is it true that she's just storing things up in her head, and one day she'll start spouting words like crazy? Confused

Jessica · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 5:58 am Post subject:

What state are you in? Sometimes pediatricians aren't the best resources for speech delays, which it sounds like she's experiencing. I would call your early intervention program and have her evaluated for speech services.

peglegginmegan · Slightly Flawed Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 27 Location: wv

Thanks Jessica. I'm in West Virginia, and I think the services here are fairly good. I think I just needed an external opinion...everyone else is trying to be "nice" and tell me that she's fine. But when it comes to my children, I don't care so much about my feelings as making sure things are ok with them. My MIL is driving me crazy...she said that her youngest didn't start talking until 2 1/2 and that he was fine (which he isn't, he had moderate learning disabilities), and that I was just too neurotic! This from the same woman whose reply when I called about coming over due to a power outage was "Oh, I'll take the blankets out of the cradle that my cats sleep in. You can just put the baby in there." Hahahaha.

mammaX3_MOD · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 9:16 am Post subject:

3boysmama · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 1:17 pm Post subject:

i don't know if this helps or not but my son has a swallowing disorder and he went to a speech therapist. she is excellent, she seemed to know more then most of the drs. although he didn't work on any speech with her she helped him emensly with the swallowing. my guess would be soon after her bday she will be chatting up a storm!!

from my own experience, i think that if YOU think your child has a problem you fight for the dx. I did this for 6 mos before he had an offical dx and everybody thought i was nuts but i knew something was wrong.

peglegginmegan · Slightly Flawed Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 27 Location: wv

So, we had our first visit from the Birth to Three program yesterday, it was just a preliminary evaluation with a social worker. She referred us to a speech pathologist and a psychologist who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. (!!!!) Honestly, I was hoping she would come in and say that I was just crazy. But after answering all the questions, she seemed pretty concerned. She was all hesitant and got a little teary-eyed when she asked me if I knew anything about ASD's. But, while she was there, Chloe grabbed Wayne's hand and dragged him in the kitchen! She's never done that before. Then she said daddy. Which she hasn't done for a month. So, thanks for encouraging me to have an evaluation done....this program seems to move pretty fast, so I'm hoping that we will meet with the specialists later this week.

peglegginmegan · Slightly Flawed Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 27 Location: wv

So, here's a short update. We met with the speech therapist, and the ABA therapist. They both feel that Chloe has a speech delay, possibly a cognitive delay, and may be somewhere in the autism spectrum. I'm glad things are moving, but everything is so damn vague. It makes me want to scream!

mammaX3_MOD · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:27 am Post subject:

I'm sorry to hear about your frustration. I hope you get the answers you're looking for.....

Scout · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:10 pm Post subject:

I tend to be of the "wait and see" school on language delays unless there are other signs of a problem. My second child did not talk until he turned two, and then made only vowel sounds for a while, in very marked difference to all of his siblings who were early and clear talkers. But, we could tell that his receptive language was good, and even though the delay was frustrating for him and for us, I felt like it was unnecessary to make a big thing out of it. For us it turned out to be the right call. He just turned six and has no speech problems other than a very slight problem with the letter "s."

mammaX3_MOD · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:41 am Post subject:

I agree with you Scout. I dug in my heels when my PED suggested speech therapy several times, and now, at 6, my son speaks perfectly! I swear, Dr's can make us moms crazy!!!!! cussing

peglegginmegan · Slightly Flawed Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 27 Location: wv

I've heard both sides....many people have said what Scout did, then others have said early intervention is better. I guess there's just no way to tell after getting speech therapy (and it working) if the child really needed it or not. And there's no way to tell beforehand who will just grow out of the delay. So, i guess I'm erring on the side of caution.

Jessica · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:33 am Post subject:

What's kinda sending up the red flags here, is that ANY therapist, especially a speech pathologist (who isn't qualified to dx Autism) would even mention the "A" word at such a young age.

Our therapists ran and hid if I asked them about the "A" word, nobody was willing to entertain the theory and UOC would not even evaluate my son for any ASD until 4 years of age. The evaluation process for ASD shoudl last about 6 weeks and include a Behaviorial/Neurological MD.

I applaud you for moving forward with early intervention, but I would be leary of any therapist trying to dx, especially at this age. IMO, that is highly irresponsible. JMHO.

becky2005 · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 12:26 pm Post subject:

Michael just really started talking a few months ago. He just turned two. We were really starting to worry and then the lightbulb went off in my head...how is he supposed to talk when with a pacifier jammed in his mouth most of the day?! I banished his paci to be used in the crib only and that has made a huge difference Very Happy

I'm wishing you lots of luck. I know how it feels to think your child might have a speech problem.

ExCareerGal · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:53 pm Post subject:

I have some red flags going up too. Until a child is at least 2 years old you cannot even begin to suspect any of the disorders you are mentioning with much accuracy. Does you child make eye contact, smile, look at your face, respond to you non verbally, have good receptive language (does what you say) ? If so she probably does not have Austim (though I know there are exceptions to all of these).

I am a huge fan of early intervention for language disorders. But that usually means 2.5 years old to begin unless there are serious delays (usually obvious at birth).

I would give her at least until 2 I would think. But it really is case by case basis. Without seeing you child I am not giving you a professional recommendation!

Janna

peglegginmegan · Slightly Flawed Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 27 Location: wv

I agree that the speech therapist can't make a diagnosis about anything like this! I think their intentions were to suggest more evaluation (by a physician). When I reread my posts, I realized they sounded kind of frantic! But as I understand it, here are the things that are so worrisome about C: she lost words and doesn't seem to know them now, she walks in circles around her room picking up toys and handing them to us (without actually playing with them), her eye contact is unreliable, her response to her name is very unreliable, she never babbled or cooed, rarely cried, arches her back and seems unwilling to be held, and when she's excited she holds this pretty elaborate stiff awkward posture with her arms back and starts stomping her feet in a really fast march. I call it her chicken dance, and honestly, it's pretty damn cute. She also doesn't gesture or make any noises to indicate what she needs and has come up with ways to avoid needing my help to get things. Like climbing out of her crib to get the box of cereal on top of the microwave, then taking it back to her room. There are other things too, but this list is getting too long. There are a lot of good qualities, also too long to list. But you know what? I'm already tired of worrying about this. I generally don't worry much. And I'm not so much worried about a diagnosis as I am about learning to do the things she needs to learn. That's why I started on this early intervention, and why I will follow their advice and get the referrals from her pediatrician for hearing tests and psychological evaluations.