Nt Sibling--need perspective on his speech

[Guest guest]

My 8 year old asperger's son has a younger 4 year old brother. I was never

concerned that the 4 year old was on the spectrum as his behavior and

socialization are wonderful. What I have noticed is that his speech is not

clear. I think I'm able to make out his sentences because I'm such a huge fan of

his cuteness, but other people cannot always make out what he's said.

He seems to not enunciate clearly and almost slur his words. Some words come out

very clear, but many times I strain to listen to his words to make them out. He

can absolutely create complete sentences, but he cannot always clearly apeak

them. I am hesitant to wait it out, but my husband says I'm just over-reacting.

If I did want to have him evaluated, would it be with the pediatrician first vs.

potentially an out of pocket speech therapist? Assuming a speech consult isn't

covered by insurance. What do you think?

[Guest guest]

Get his hearing assessed via audiogram.  Have the audiologist test all frequencies, not just most (which is the norm), and have her test ULLs and check down to -10dB.  She'll graph the results.  The results of normal hearing should appear as 2 approximately straight lines (one for each ear), approximately overlapping.  If they look more like mountain ranges or foothills, he has an auditory processing disorder which can be corrected with auditory integration therapy (www.georgianainstitute.org).

Definitely don't wait on this.  If his poor speech is because he's unable to hear accurately, he'll have to work extra hard to succeed in school, right from the start, and that's just not fair on him.  At best, he'll come home exhausted from school, at worst he'll do poorly in school and/or have behavioral problems.  Better to rule out auditory processing now and if it is the culprit, get it treated.

BTW, also get his ears checked by your doctor.  Some kids have an extraordinary buildup of ear wax for no particular reason, and it makes hearing difficult, and if you can't hear language accurately, you don't reproduce it accurately because you speak like you hear!

Denawww.listenbetterwithAIT.com

[Guest guest]

this info is so helpful, if I call an audiologist what exactly do I need to be asking for/telling them on the phone?  if they can do it he already has an audiologist that he saw in 2008 before he saw the ent but since then he sees the ent and they have an audiologist or tech ors omeone that does the testing there.  i do not have a copy of the tests from the audiologist and dh took him but dh said they did the same type of test (stick something like earplugs in their ear) so I assume its the same??? as well as a tympanogram (he had fluid in the ear he failed in).  the test I have from the ent shows they test at 750 Hz through 8 kHz and then the hand written in results list DP level, noise and results for each (pass or fail).  The only part i understand is the refer  (fail) or pass.  I have tried googling to see what the results mean but have gotten nowhere.

Anyway, he passed his last hearing test (at his post op from his 2nd set of tubes) which was in January.  He went to the pcp yesterday (for allergies/excema) and is being referred to an allergist but she said she saw his tubes and thehy looked to be in place and clear (his 1st set had gotten clogged before he even went for his post op).  so we assume he is still hearing b/c failed hearing tests have always correlated to fluid in his ear or a clogged tube.  However I have wondered about his hearing or processing b/c he still has a lot of trouble (the only symptom we had that he had hearing issues, they were found during a routine hearing test b/c of speech issues) if he isnt closeto you or is in a crowd.  and I would love to rule out problems rather than assume it is just selective hearing.  however I was always under the impression they had to be older to be tested for apd?  and I wasnt sure if there was anything else I should be considering besides apd?  he is 3½ and is speaking now, his receptive is ahead and his expressive is probably close to normal but his articulation is at less than 1% (or was at his evaluation in October) put it this way, despite 1½ yrs of 2-3 days a week of therapy his 20 mo old sister has more consanant sounds than he does, his can be counted on 1 hand and most of those arent even used in words, he is maybe 10% understandable to others, maybe 30% to me.

 

since he has a sister with hfa it has always worried me but artic problems run in our family and I have a cousin who was unintelligible until K (and his only issue was adhd and he is profoundly gifted).  so I was kind of holding on to that b/c he had no other issues.  he was even so patient about not being understood.  however now the frustration of not being understood is starting to get the best of him, tantrums, not even trying to explain himself/use his words, and not talking to other people (even other kids).  so now my only hope to hang onto is that he isnt afraid of other kids (but he also doesnt actually play " with " them either, he more parallel plays but that could be a social issue or b/c of his talking).  i know everyone tries to say they wouldnt cure their aspie/autism and they love them to death etc and yes i do love my hfa but I think I would cure her and I sure as heck am scared to death at the idea that I could have another kid on the spectrum

On Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 3:01 AM, Dena Page <denapage@...> wrote:

 

Get his hearing assessed via audiogram.  Have the audiologist test all frequencies, not just most (which is the norm), and have her test ULLs and check down to -10dB.  She'll graph the results.  The results of normal hearing should appear as 2 approximately straight lines (one for each ear), approximately overlapping.  If they look more like mountain ranges or foothills, he has an auditory processing disorder which can be corrected with auditory integration therapy (www.georgianainstitute.org).

Definitely don't wait on this.  If his poor speech is because he's unable to hear accurately, he'll have to work extra hard to succeed in school, right from the start, and that's just not fair on him.  At best, he'll come home exhausted from school, at worst he'll do poorly in school and/or have behavioral problems.  Better to rule out auditory processing now and if it is the culprit, get it treated.

BTW, also get his ears checked by your doctor.  Some kids have an extraordinary buildup of ear wax for no particular reason, and it makes hearing difficult, and if you can't hear language accurately, you don't reproduce it accurately because you speak like you hear!

Denawww.listenbetterwithAIT.com

-- -mommy to Emma, Becca, , and Girl Scout cookies are coming!