language-based speech delay

Teri - posted on 07/14/2009

I have a 3 year old son who is experienceing some delays with his speech. He is also seeing a SLP. I noticed his language getting worse after my daughter was born and he was around the age of 2. Since he turned 3 and we have been working harder with him, his language is getting a lot better. His speech is great but his amount of proper language is poor. He is scheduled to see a child psychologist early next month to make sure it doesn't have any connections with any other health issues. We noticed that he is not picking up the concept of conversation and language as well as he should. He made up his own language that sounds like chinese. It was as if he was trying to pretend to talk like a grown up but didnt know how so he pretended. Kind of like when kids pretend to hand write on paper when they dont know. He is a VERY intelligent child and we have seen GREAT improvements with him. We are hoping it is just a general delay most likely due to the birth of his sister. Most kids tend to regress in some way when a new sibling is added to the family. My best advice was something that I did not know until the SLP told me... dont use big proper language around them... talk to them at their level with proper anunciation of words but one step ahead of them at all times. So if your son is talking in 2-3 word sentences you talk in 2-4 word sentences. Ex: child says: "Me Potty" you would repeat back, " Yes, you GO potty." and also with reading. Read the pictures and make it interesting... dont read words until they are around age 4. "mousy jump over the stick, Look mousy jump over the stick" make actions and try to repeat yourself regularily. Never try and get your child to say things like -Jonny SAY "I went potty" for gramma and grampa. They need to learn in a natural environment by repetition. Hope this helps!!!

Katie - posted on 07/07/2009

I am new to the circle of moms on facebook, hadn't really looked into it until now. I am gald I have now though. My son is 4 (as of today) and has been in speech therapy since abotu 26 months I guess. We live in SC and they have good programs that are through the county. He attended therapy at a private center until he was 3 (this was funded by the county program) then after turning 3 he was placed into the school county program. He attended a playgroup program twice a week last school year where he received one hour of speech per week. He has shown some pretty strong progress sicne he began therapy. I have had a difficult time with people (mainly in laws) asking "when will he be thru with speech" but they don't understand that no one knows how long it will be and that he has a lot to catch up with. He has a vocabulary of about 25 clear words, but so many others that I and my husband understand. He expresses his needs and wants verbally as well as with signs, his own signs as well sign language that I have worked with him on. I have come to accept we will be in speech for several years and so far he has loved going. He will be in a regular 4K classroom in the Fall which I am VERY excited about and he will also continue his regular speech therapy. We have been VERY blessed with VERY caring people through the whole process!

Jenna - posted on 07/06/2009

My little boy is 2.5 and after a long struggle, he is sort of in speech therapy. they don't seem to really care. it took months to get a full assessment with an SLT at our home, and all that we came out with was that his delay was down to his tongue tie causing muscle development delay in his mouth, but now that it had stretched, and the fact that he is due for his op just before he turns 3, we don't need to worry.
Easier said that done! I can't help but worry, I worry in case they've missed something, why they're not sorting out his group therapy for me properly, what he is going to be like at nursery, socially, whether he is going to catch up in 2 years, enough to get on well in school... its horrible, and as he is my only one, i feel like I am missing out on this time of his life, there aren't any cute sentences that don't make sense, any embarassing moments, he cant tell me what he wants, i can't discuss things with him.
I love him to bits, and he does try. He is s clever in every other way and I wouldn't change it - God doesn't give you anything you can't handle - but I wish the paedatricians, SLTs and HVs were more pro-active on providing us with help!!!! Does anyone else feel like this, or is it just rainy old England!?!

Leah - posted on 06/13/2009

So far,prayer & speech therapy are my methods. SLowly but surely, I see progress in my 4 year old. Let me know what your childs symptoms include. Thanks

Megan - posted on 05/16/2009

My son has speech delay, He's fine in all other areas, just behind in speech. he had a development assesment and got refered to a speech therapist. We've started a group called Toddler Talk, at a community health centre. This group gives parents some ideas to try with the children to help encourage speech. Soon he will start ono on one speech theraphy. He's 2 and a half. He is starting to try and say new words.

Rabaab - posted on 05/08/2009

Hi Amy,

my daughter also had speech therapy. They did not know what it was linked to whether it was language based or motor based. I mean i thought it was a bit of both as she has trouble in reading, writing, spelling. I mean you just need to keep talking to her and just showing her pictures of different stuff to help her talk.. My daughter when she started talking she spoke full sentences in both her main languages urdu and english.. The other thing, do not get stressed. Kids react also if they see you stressed..

Bethany - posted on 04/26/2009

My daughter is 3 yrs. old and is also not talking very much. She does jabber alot but only about 15 - 20 actual words. My pediatrician wants us to take her to a speech therapist, but I'm not as worried about it. My son was also behind on talking and finally opened up about 3 1/2 yrs. old and hasn't stopped since. He is my first born and I was more worried about it then so we went to the therapist for 1 1/2 yrs. I'll never forget one of the first things she told me, "I can get him talking, but once he starts he won't hush" (boy, was she right) I guess after going through it with one child I'm more relaxed with my second. I know she's trying atleast.



I have heard of some therapists who use peanut butter to help them. I guess with the peanut butter sticking to behind the teeth showing the child the touch the tongue there. Also, we make her look at our mouth real close as we sound the words out as largely as we can.

Amy - posted on 04/23/2009

Since this post we have taken my son to IA City for a complete evaluation. As we always thought, he does not have autism spectrum disorder, he IS of average intelligence, and he will be fine. His brain processes language differently than ours and it is hard for him to produce speech but he has come SO SO far. His fine & gross motor skills are actually exceptional and the psychologist told us this is how he compensates for his language struggles.

Stephanie - posted on 04/23/2009

My son is 2 1/2, has been in speech therapy for a year now, and has barely progressed at all. He only says about 5 words, and I'm lost on what to do! His therapist doesn't seem too concerned, but going elsewhere would mean at least a 75-mile trip...

Rachel - posted on 04/22/2009

My son is almost 4 and he has been working with a speech therapist since he was 2 yrs old. He has progressed alot as in now he has a greater vocabulary and is putting words together but its still extreemly difficult to understand most of what he is saying. Im not sure if its language based or not. I just started him (about 4 days ago) on a gluten free/casein free diet. I read about it and how it has been shown to help children with speech problems as well as sensory issues which my son has. I hate to say anything since its only been 4 days, and im a little biased :), but i am already starting to see a little difference. Its a difficult diet since almost everything contains gluten (which is found in all wheat products) and/or casein (found in all dairy) but if it helps then it is definitly worth it.

Hope this helped :)

Erica - posted on 02/18/2009

Hi Amy... my son is 2 1/2 and has been going to speech therapy since he the fall, as well... He does have a speech delay (he speaks no more than 5-10 words), but he will also be meeting with an occupational therapist next month.  They have mentioned (many) conclusions, including PDD, High Function Autism, Sensory Disorder, and so many, that I have had many, many sleepless nights worrying. We too, are in this run around as to what to do next... My personal opinion for you is to seek the opinion of an Occupational Therapist. (that is what we are doing next month) I do not think my son is Autistic- if anything, he seems like a normal little boy who just doesn't want to talk... I hope to find the answers we were seeking, and hopefully they too, can point us in the right direction...

I hope this helped you in some sort of way...