Re: Speech delay in younger sibling

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/31/01 6:42:40 PM Eastern Standard Time,

rjprather@... writes:

> hi, by, and bubby) . The interesting thing is that he has picked up a few

> signs. I have never made any efforts to teach them to him- he's just

> picked them up. He looked at me today and signed mom instead of using his

> voice! I am getting rather concerned about this. Developmentally, he is

> doing fine in all other areas. Did anyone else experience this with

> younger siblings of a non verbal child?

Sheila was 4 years old when I had Colleen. By Colleen's first birthday she

had at least a dozen signs she would use with Sheila (at the age of 5 Sheila

was still non-verbal and used sign, pics symbols and an augmentive device to

communicate). When Colleen was 2 and called all women " mom " , all round

objects, " ball " and every color was orange we decided to get a speech eval

done for her too. Turns out she had some significant speech delays and

qualified for related services. By the age of 4 she was discharged from

services. Still when she is tired she will have some trouble with certain

words. Turns out that like both her big sisters she had articulation problems

and like big sister Sheila she had apraxia.

nancy

[Guest guest]

I wrote an almost identical e-mail about 2 years ago when my youngest, ,

was almost 2. When I took him to his 2 year visit, the nurse asked me if he had

about 200 words. I said " No, he has 2. " The Dr. was not worried - said he was

having his needs met and didn't have a real need to talk yet. I did have his

hearing checked - which was a complete failure (he was non-cooperative, big

surprise). I was still worried because I thought with all the stimulation I gave

them BOTH to help my older son, , talk - he should have been

precocious!!! So I called ECI and lined up a speech person and he began to talk.

In all honesty - I think it had nothing to do with them and everything to do

with being ready. will be 4 in March and talks up a storm. It

was even harder waiting for him to talk because I had been waiting for SO long

to have a child talk to me!!! I will say this - I am fascinated by what he says

- it is the only way you get to really find out what they are thinking about -

and his imagination is just so enjoyable. DON'T WORRY - Spencer will talk and it

will be the greatest! As an aside - I am pregnant (due tomorrow) with a baby

girl and feel certain that I am due an EARLY talker!!!!

in Dallas

Speech delay in younger sibling

Hi everyone,

My son is almost 4 and doesnt talk yet, however we have been using sign

language with him for quite a while and he uses it well. My problem is my

younger son Spencer. He is 20 months old and doesnt have any words yet. We are

going to get a speech evaluation for him hopefully soon (he does say mama, dada,

hi, by, and bubby) . The interesting thing is that he has picked up a few

signs. I have never made any efforts to teach them to him- he's just picked

them up. He looked at me today and signed mom instead of using his voice! I am

getting rather concerned about this. Developmentally, he is doing fine in all

other areas. Did anyone else experience this with younger siblings of a non

verbal child? I am just curious. Spencer stays home with me and I have thought

about putting him in a day care class a couple of days per week just so he can

be around other kids on a more consistent basis. ANy ideas would be helpful. I

feel like I already do alot of activities with both of the boys to promote

language( ie reading to them, singing, etc.). I guess I'm just a little

worried.

THanks.

Jodi

3.8 DS and Spencer 20 mo

[Guest guest]

Hi Jody!!

This post looks like it could've been written by me! My daughter is 4 and is

pretty much non verbal. My son is 18 months and only says a couple words -

" mama " " dada " " tickle " but he does do this wonderfully entertaining

Damien-esque growling. LOL He sounds like a monster! It's too cute and kinda

disturbing at times (i.e. at 5 in the morning). The other day we saw him

sign for the first time and we haven't even been concentrating on teaching

him signs! He signed " more " and used it correctly (for food). It was really

amazing! I think it's great personally. However, I was thinking the same

thing as you as far as speech goes. His daycare and doctors don't seem to

see anything wrong with him and I, being a mom of a first-born child w DS,

don't worry so much about certain developmental things. I mean, of course I

love to hear baby babble but I've learned to take things easy and let it

come as it may. My son also seems to be developing fine otherwise....

*shrug*

What to do?

Sandy

mom to le (4, DS) and Adam (17mo)

>From: " Jodi Prather " <rjprather@...>

> " " < >

>Subject: Speech delay in younger sibling

>Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 10:58:39 -0500

>

>Hi everyone,

>My son is almost 4 and doesnt talk yet, however we have been using

>sign language with him for quite a while and he uses it well. My problem

>is my younger son Spencer. He is 20 months old and doesnt have any words

>yet. We are going to get a speech evaluation for him hopefully soon (he

>does say mama, dada, hi, by, and bubby) . The interesting thing is that he

>has picked up a few signs. I have never made any efforts to teach them to

>him- he's just picked them up. He looked at me today and signed mom

>instead of using his voice! I am getting rather concerned about this.

>Developmentally, he is doing fine in all other areas. Did anyone else

>experience this with younger siblings of a non verbal child? I am just

>curious. Spencer stays home with me and I have thought about putting him

>in a day care class a couple of days per week just so he can be around

>other kids on a more consistent basis. ANy ideas would be helpful. I feel

>like I already do alot of activities with both of the boys to promote

>language( ie reading to them, singing, etc.). I guess I'm just a little

>worried.

>

>THanks.

>

>Jodi

> 3.8 DS and Spencer 20 mo

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jodi,

I can relate to what you're experiencing. My son was 3 1/2 when we

brought his sister Grace home from China (age 7 mos.). He said a few words,

but was mostly non verbal. Grace's speech was slow developing and I too got

concerned that her only peer role model () didn't speak well. At age

2 she said 40 words and was not putting any words together.

Well...that was then and this is now. She is now almost four and her speech

sky rocketed between the ages of 2 1/2 and 3 1/2. I can't believe how

complex her sentences are now. She started preschool this past September

and that certainly has helped. But the wonderful part is that 's

speech has made a leap as a result of her leap. He has picked up a lot of

phrases that she uses and he uses them appropriately.

I think if you could get Spencer in a playgroup or something with other

kids, that will help. But his speech will come along, and when it does,

I'll bet you notice a difference in 's speech before long. If you

are really concerned, it wouldn't hurt to have Spencer evaluated by Early

Intervention. I did this when Grace was 2 1/2 and it eased my mind

considerably. Good luck!

R.

Mom to (6, ds) and Grace (3)