https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 28 May 2026 18:31:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2520913 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 19:25:40 +0000 charleysmom 2520913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you @gentlelunette. I'm definitely going to check it out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2520583 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 19:41:55 +0000 gentlelunette 2520583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charleysmom: I'm not sure if you're still concerned, but a more reliable screen than the M-CHAT is the CSBS-DP. You can find it online and I can help you score it if you want. It looks at social and language milestones. I work in early intervention and much prefer this screen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2507139 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 07:49:39 +0000 looch 2507139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree that the match is very important, in my experience with my son, if the therapist can't connect, they can't do what they need to. In some cases, a poor match causes regression. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2507130 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 06:46:01 +0000 delight 2507130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you and your DH gone to any parent nights or parent programs that specifically touch on how to stimulate language development in DD? Typically, in the 18-24m range a lot of SLP services focus on teaching parents how to interact with their child in the best ways possible to stimulate language. You could check to see if there are any Hanen qualified SLP's in your area who teach the "It Takes Two to Talk" program which is directed towards parents and doesn't involve direct child therapy. </p> <p>It sounds like the therapist is not a good match and it is really important that she is. Does she involve you in the sessions and teach you lots of ways to provide a language rich environment and stimulate your daughter's language?</p> <p> As others have said, there is a huge range of normal in this age. I'm confused as who did her evaluation though. Was it the SLP? Or was it a different person and then you were referred on to the SLP? From what you have written, I sense your child is on the right track, however, it is hard to judge that through posts (I am an SLP). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2507118 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 06:03:30 +0000 catomd00 2507118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that people who know and have interacted with your daughter would have a better sense of where she is developmentally and better equipped to determine if she is within the range of normal than we would. What you describe doesn't sound atypical to me, but I'm not a professional and don't know your child. They could be seeing things that aren't being expressed in your post. If two professionals mentioned delays and autism and felt intervention was best, then I would be inclined to follow their advice. If I disagreed, I would look elsewhere for a second or third opinion. I'm of the mindset that there is no harm to intervention even for slight delays, and if there is a delay, earlier intervention is best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2507065 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 21:43:19 +0000 charleysmom 2507065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@truthbombs I don't feel like the current therapist is a good match for my daughter. When I contacted our case manager about finding a new therapist, I was told that her agency is the only one that takes our insurance and our current therapist is the only one with availability.. If we went out of network it would cost roughly $60 a week and we honestly just don't have it right now. If she really, truly needed it then obviously we would make it work but things are already tight as we are a one income household. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2507052 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 21:13:40 +0000 Truth Bombs 2507052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While your daughter sounds to me like she's in the typical range is there really a downside to continuing the therapy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2507049 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 20:57:31 +0000 runnerd 2507049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charleysmom: my DS will be 2 in July, and your DD is way ahead of him words sounds like to me! I brought up to doc at 18mo point and he said he was more than fine with 10-15 regularly used words plus all his animal sounds, and great receptive language and engaging with others. I honestly am so surprised that you have been directed to do all that at this age with such a large range that is normal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2507048 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 20:50:12 +0000 charleysmom 2507048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, everyone. I feel pretty confident in the progress she has made so I think we are going to stop therapy for now and have her evaluated when she turns 2 if necessary.<br /> @pumpkinpie her doctor mentioned autism because of the lack of pointing and waving. But once she started interacting with my daughter and she responded, she backed off of that and said she just might be delayed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2506978 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 18:26:20 +0000 MrsRcCar 2506978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>N flagged a lot on his MCHAT. He is speech delayed but his language exploded after his 3rd birthday. They are taking about discharging him in the coming weeks. He has been in speech therapy of one kind or another for well over a year. He does have sensory problems. (Both of my kiddos do) I did have him evaluated with the Autism specialist at our children's hospital and they said he was typical. Just late to progress to somethings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2506969 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 18:08:03 +0000 ShootingStar 2506969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I'm not a child specialist, but I can tell you your daughter is way ahead of where DS was at that age. And he's perfectly typical. Before his language explosion at 23m he had a few words, but not a lot. Your DD has far more than he did at her age. </p> <p>You know your DD best. I don't think EI can hurt, but it also doesn't seem like she needs it in any way. Maybe have her evaluated again in a few months after she turns 2? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2506966 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 17:59:46 +0000 BabyTsMom 2506966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like there's such a huge range of "normal" at this age. Your LO seems pretty verbal to me, and the fact that she interacts with you and other children is very important! I would go with your gut and see how she naturally progresses. You can always go back to EI if it comes to that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2506965 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 17:54:24 +0000 Pumpkin Pie 2506965@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just went for my DD's 18th month appt., today, and she only says like 3 words (mam, dada, ball), and my doctor was not concerned yet. We did talk a little about autism because I mentioned that the other kids in the day care who are her age seem to be doing and saying a lot more. The doc gave some examples of what they look for - its not so much how many words they say, but how they communicate and interact in general. The doc observed DD playing (giving/taking toy), DD's reactions, responses to faces and sounds, people etc., and the doctors said she seemed fine. </p> <p>An example the doc gave was if a child was not interested in people at all, only the toy. The doctor handed a toy to my DD, and my DD took it from the doc's hand, gave it to me, and then looked at both of us. </p> <p>Do you know why your doc brought up autism?</p> <p>From your description is sounds like your DD is doing really well in verbal skills! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2506957 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 17:41:44 +0000 Mama Bird 2506957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've never heard of this type of evaluation! I thought any words count at this age, not specific "meaningful" words. I think that as long as the child can communicate her needs, whether by talking or by gestures, she's in the typical range. Good receptive language is a good sign too.</p> <p>It can't hurt to do speech therapy, but it sounds to me like she'll do fine without it too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/speech-therapy-for-toddler-long-post#post-2506886 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 15:02:14 +0000 charleysmom 2506886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter's pediatrician expressed some concerns regarding the results of the M-CHAT at her 18 month visit. The concern was that she wasn't pointing, wasn't really waving, and didn't nod yes/no. And even though she had many words (knew most animals/sounds and repeated words) she didn't consider them "meaningful" words. In my discussion with her, I expressed that she was a late clapper so I had just assumed she would be a late pointer and wasn't concerned about it. She had other ways of getting our attention so I felt she just didn't feel the need to point. My husband and I felt the same way in regards to her speech- receptive language was great so we figured she would speak more when she was ready. </p> <p>Her doctor still felt like she needed to be evaluated and even mentioned autism- although she backed off of that a bit and said she may just have some mild delays.</p> <p>We agreed to the evaluation which was done in our home. My daughter is very curious and social and was very interested in the toys and activities they had her do. I observed and didn't think it was an entirely fair evaluation. For example, they would show her a toy and she would be engaged in it and then they would call her name and ask her to get something across the room. My daughter just wanted to continue playing with the toy they gave her which I found to be typical of a toddler. So despite my claims that her receptive language was great, she scored way below average in that aspect. It also takes my daughter a while to feel comfortable and speak in front of new people. So even though she was saying more words by the end of the evaluation, she scored below average and was recommended for a speech evaluation.</p> <p>In the weeks leading up to the speech evaluation, DD started pointing, started to name some objects when she recognized them and started to wave more. But once again, she scored below average during the evaluation and speech therapy was recommended and autism was mentioned again. The evaluator felt my daughter did not make long enough eye contact with her and felt that my daughter playing with her (the evaluators) hair clip and touching her sweater was a possibly indicator of a sensory disorder. She did stress that it was far too early to know anything for sure. And even though I told her that she sings some words to songs, can say most of the alphabet, name animals and sounds, she said that that was just memorization and they are looking for "meaningful" words. Telling us when she's hungry, thirsty, etc.</p> <p>So we decided to go ahead with the speech therapy. My husband and I figured that any extra help wouldn't hurt. So she has had 2 sessions- it should have been 4 but the therapist cancelled twice. At this point, I feel like it's unnecessary. She's using meaningful words: snack, hungry, cookie, water,milk, all done, more,help,hi, bye, mommy, daddy, etc.<br /> She can identify and name most animals, shapes, some colors, most of the alphabet, numbers 1-10 and all the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. She's affectionate, loves books and music and interacts with other children. So my husband and I are leaning towards stopping the therapy and just letting her progress at her own pace. She'll be 2 in June. For those that have toddlers, does it sound like she is behind in her speech? For those in EI, is this type of evaluation typical? </p>