Tranquility7 Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I posted last week about DD's slow speech development - that thread is here if you want background info. Anyway, I talked briefly to our ped today and he suggested taking her to a nearby clinic where DD can get a free 15 min speech screening. I'm sure their opinion will be that intervention is necessary, but I'm *very* unsure whether we will do it. But we also don't want to get put on some list where they are going to call and bug us about it (either the clinic, or my ped, or worst case, anyone associated with the gov't - that last one would drive me particularly BATTY). So, if we go to the screening, but are unsure about follow-up, are we just asking for trouble? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I'm fairly certain most agencies don't have the desire or the budget to go chasing down people who are not interested in their services. I would be more concerned about trouble from waiting too long to get a problem diagnosed. I read the thread that you linked, and it's possible that she's just a late talker, but since you seem to be worried about it, I don't see any harm in getting an evaluation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I can't imagine that they have the time/resources to track down everyone who comes in for an evaluation and does not follow through. I started out with early intervention and then went through a private therapist. Nobody called to find out what happened to us. Having a child who began speech at 18 months and went for nearly 8 years I can't imagine not taking my child in for an evaluation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I posted last week about DD's slow speech development - that thread is here if you want background info. Anyway, I talked briefly to our ped today and he suggested taking her to a nearby clinic where DD can get a free 15 min speech screening. I'm sure their opinion will be that intervention is necessary, but I'm *very* unsure whether we will do it. But we also don't want to get put on some list where they are going to call and bug us about it (either the clinic, or my ped, or worst case, anyone associated with the gov't - that last one would drive me particularly BATTY). So, if we go to the screening, but are unsure about follow-up, are we just asking for trouble? They won't chase you down. Here is the deal though- kids that have speech delays that are not corrected by the time they are 5 1/2 are 50-70% more likely to have academic problems in the form of a learning/reading disorder. I am a speech-language pathologist and had the opportunity just this past weekend to attend a seminar about language and reading. I read your other thread and your daughter is very delayed and I think you are remiss in not seeking help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyThreeSons Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Have you had her vision checked? She sounds a lot like my youngest ds. His speech improved dramatically over the couple of months between his speech screening and starting therapy. During that time, he got his first pair of eyeglasses; the therapist attributed the improvement to the fact that he could now observe visual cues from us when we were speaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyS Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I posted last week about DD's slow speech development - that thread is here if you want background info. Anyway, I talked briefly to our ped today and he suggested taking her to a nearby clinic where DD can get a free 15 min speech screening. I'm sure their opinion will be that intervention is necessary, but I'm *very* unsure whether we will do it. But we also don't want to get put on some list where they are going to call and bug us about it (either the clinic, or my ped, or worst case, anyone associated with the gov't - that last one would drive me particularly BATTY). So, if we go to the screening, but are unsure about follow-up, are we just asking for trouble? I understand your concerns completely and I think you are probably right not to want to be involved in a government agency. Unlike another poster, I know that it's just not true (even if it is logical) that they don't want to chase people down. They do, they will, they love it. I will encourage you to get an evaluation by a private speech therapist. They aren't that expensive. My son did speech therapy for a year when he was 8. We never entertained the idea of getting involved with the school/government service. We just paid the $35 a week and dealt with it. Totally worth the money considering the hassle we avoided. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NASDAQ Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 They won't chase you down. Here is the deal though- kids that have speech delays that are not corrected by the time they are 5 1/2 are 50-70% more likely to have academic problems in the form of a learning/reading disorder. I am a speech-language pathologist and had the opportunity just this past weekend to attend a seminar about language and reading. I read your other thread and your daughter is very delayed and I think you are remiss in not seeking help. Do you have a link on a group of children who attempt remediation versus a group who doesn't attempt it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NASDAQ Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Well it depends on the agency where you live, doesn't it? In my jurisdiction we did have an evaluation, opted not to undertake speech therapy, and heard no more from them. I would suspect that this is more common than agencies that go after you, but it's really more relevant what the agency in your state does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I will encourage you to get an evaluation by a private speech therapist. They aren't that expensive. I don't know where you live but I paid $125/session. My son went 2-3 times/week. It was not expensive, it was crazy expensive!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Do you have a link on a group of children who attempt remediation versus a group who doesn't attempt it? I can't link it as it is in a data base for speech specialist, but there have been dozens of ongoing studies spanning 30 years. Professionals who have done work in this area are Stackhouse (1982), Williams (2003), Dodd (1995) and Bishop/Adams (1990). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellydon Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I don't know where you live but I paid $125/session. My son went 2-3 times/week. It was not expensive, it was crazy expensive!!! This is the going out of pocket rate. Sometime insurance will cover therapy for a co-pay. Universities with speech programs usually have clinics that are cheaper as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TammyS Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I don't know where you live but I paid $125/session. My son went 2-3 times/week. It was not expensive, it was crazy expensive!!! We live in Maryland. It was $35 per session, straight out of pocket, because our insurance wouldn't cover it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 We live in Maryland. It was $35 per session, straight out of pocket, because our insurance wouldn't cover it. My insurance wouldn't cover it either. I don't think our speech therapist could pay her rent charging only $35/session. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHASRADA Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 Our local speech and language practice is private, but has an endowment which allows them to offer scholarships using a sliding scale based on income. The standard rate is about $120 per hour, but can go as low as $25 for the most needy families. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slipper Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I doubt anyone will do any type of follow-up or bug you to put your child in therapy. However, should anything (in another area) come up, I can see where it may be used against you if you don't. Since your doctor has already suggested it though, it could be used against you anyway. My suggestion is the same here as it was in your other thread. Get the evaluation done so you can determine what you are dealing with - there can be so many causes for the problems you are describing. Then tell them that you want to do it yourself. SLP's completely understand that time and money constraints will prevent parents from seeking treatment. They would far rather show you what to do at home (and possibly checking in every so often) than for you to not seek treatment. I think that any therapist will tell you that the kids who are the most successful are the ones with dedicated parents who are doing the therapy at home (with or without outside therapy). I have seen many families in our area (rural and impoverished) who do not want to have their child tested for any type of 'abnormality'. (I use that word loosely - speech delays, reading delays, walking delays, etc). Those kids have further struggles down the road. I can't back that up with any type of data, only what I see in my community. If you're worried, can you ask around and try to find a speech therapist who may be interested in doing some work 'on the side'? There are many speech therapists with a day job who would be interested in both helping a parent in your situation (and your child) and earning some cash outside of their 9 - 5. I would still do a hearing test, just to make sure, but after that is clear, I think you would do fine with some guidance. If you are close to a Children's Hospital, they usually have a sliding scale for sessions. Speech sessions (full pay) will run a bit over $100 a session (40 minutes or so). Insurance should cover it (or most of it). If you are under three, early intervention will pay for it. Good luck with it all. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I would definitely take her in for an evaluation, but not the free 15-minute screening. I think it was on the other thread that someone mentioned early intervention services, and I think this is what you need. If you are in the states, I think it is pretty ubiquitious. It usually has a name like Child Search or Child Find. The word "clinic" makes me think for-profit, but I guess it's possible they are associated with the early intervention program. My oldest went for a screening for a mild articulation issue, and they were extremely thorough. They checked hearing, vision, motor control, and I don't remember what-all. They gave us detailed reports. We did decide to use therapy, and we paid nothing for the screening and nothing for the therapy. A thorough screening is going to give you a lot of valuable information. It's up to you to evaluate that information and decide what's best. If you disagree with their methods or conclusions, then fine, but what's the harm in getting it done? I think you are correct to be more concerned about a child who is TRYING to talk, and isn't able to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandycreek91 Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 I don't believe they would bother you. I waited way too long to get my son speech help because of those worries. After paying a lot of money to a private speech therapist we finally went to our local school district. He was tested and was approved for help in math and speech. We participated in the math class for 3 months and in speech class with the local school district for 2 years. When we decided to drop the math assistance and keep speech, they were kind and just adjusted our IEP. They didn't come after us when we pulled him from the math program (even after knowing the math test results that allowed him in the program) We ended up with a math tutor that worked better for my son. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 (edited) . Edited January 12, 2016 by wapiti Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phathui5 Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 We've been getting speech services through the schools for three years and it isn't a hassle at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted June 25, 2012 Share Posted June 25, 2012 In my experience, most parents have trouble getting enough services for children who truly need them, not the other way around. And if your child does have a medical issue causing the speech delay, do you really want to have to explain years down the road that you didn't seek help because you didn't want to have to deal with the annoyance of receiving a phone call afterwards? My dd still wasn't even babbling at a year old. It turned out that, among other things, she had fluid in her ears that was obstructing her hearing. Having tubes put in helped immensely. It did take her time to catch up, though, and between that and her genetic disorder, it took awhile. If we had waited any longer, she would be very, very delayed today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivka Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 In my experience, most parents have trouble getting enough services for children who truly need them, not the other way around. And if your child does have a medical issue causing the speech delay, do you really want to have to explain years down the road that you didn't seek help because you didn't want to have to deal with the annoyance of receiving a phone call afterwards? :iagree: I really don't understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFSinIL Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 All four of my kids were assessed by either Easter Seals and/or the local school district - three of them qualified for Early Intervention (therapies and/or developmental preschool.) One only needed weekly speech therapy. While on of the kids (the most severe) has turned out to be SillyAutismMan the other three have flourished. And speak clearly and have great language skills. In large part due to early intervention! You DD may have apraxia (is that the term?) or something going on that needs addressing. If naught else, an assessment can help you know how best to help her. Then you can do your own research and work with the kidlet yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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