DownSyn Forum

MyBabyBoy · Posted: January 12 2008, 11:18 AM Post subject: Speech Therapy for babies

I'm currently reading, 'Babies with Down syndrome : a new parents' guide", and while reading one of the parent quotes the parent talks about speech therapy, or more important, the lack of, in the early years. I'm assuming he is talking about the first three years, because that is what the book is focusing on. The quote went on to say that while children do learn how to walk, run, etc., most children do have issues with talking and speech, so he/she felt speech should be focused on more.

I haven't been able to get this concept out of my mind since I read it last night, What are your thoughts on this statement.

I talked with someone at the EI in my county and she mentioned physical therapy for muscle development and for feeding issues are the two that are focused on at first. And I know eating and talking are linked.

Thanks!

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ecki · Posted: January 12 2008, 12:09 PM Post subject:

Our county doesn't provide speech therapy in Early Intervention until 1 year unless there are feeding issues.

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EliasMom · Posted: January 12 2008, 2:42 PM Post subject:

Elias started therapy don't remeber when... he was a baby

we put him in front of a mirror and just talked to him and make lots of funny faces and let him watch himself doing all the expression and sounds

then a little bit older, with lollipops, making him to lick it

also putting on the lips some liquid chocolate, also tyring to encourage him to lick it

and repeating sounds too!

ALSO you don't need to do some kinf of "exercise" just be part of his world.... http://www.jamesdmacdonald.org/Articles/ParentQuotes/DownSyndrome.html

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MyBabyBoy · Posted: January 13 2008, 12:10 PM Post subject:

Ali,
thanks for the ideas! I never thought of a mirror. With my daughters I would talk to them and click my tongue and do silly things with it. They always thought it was very, very interesting ! (lol!)

Thanks

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Melissa & Tim. Parents to Katrina (9/86) Clara (12/06) and Nathan Bradley, Ds (5/26/08 )

ginnym · Posted: January 25 2008, 8:48 PM Post subject:

We started EI with Maeve at around 6 months. We would have started sooner, but she was in the hospital for most of her first 5 months. Anyhow, we started with PT, OT and DT but after 2 months I requested ST. I could have had it from the start, but I tried to work with OT with her feeding issues, but it wasn't working.

If your child has feeding issues, you need to work on that in correlation with getting ready for speech. Maeve's feeding issues are all resolved, but speech is her weakest area.

She just had her yearly EI review. She did great and even tested at her age in over half the areas, except for speech. She has great receptive skills (understanding) but not so good communicative skills. She tested at 11 months for communicating. Her ST and I both wanted to increase services to once a week, but her score didn't qualify for more time. She would have had to score at 8 months or lower. Lucky we have the other therapists, so we will put the DT on those goals also to help cover speech.

If you can get ST from the start, I would reccomend it. I know each state is different, so it can be challenging negotiating services. Good luck!

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Icareaboutkids · Posted: April 29 2008, 9:08 AM Post subject:

The term ‘speech therapy’ can be misleading. Some people may shy away from receiving speech therapy until kids are 12 months old and “should” be starting to say some words. Actually, speech therapy should be named ‘communication therapy’ because it involves much more than talking! Kids need to feel the power of causing something to happen. For example, when they reach or point, the adult gets what they want. Or when they jabber, an adult interprets what they may be trying saying. This empowers babies to keep trying. It is easy to see what kids need to do before they learn to run: weight bearing, cruising furniture, taking independent steps, walking… but it is more difficult to see the steps that are important before talking: turn taking with actions and sounds, pointing, imitating actions and sounds, enjoying interacting with people… Teaching babies some very simple sign language (drink, eat, popcorn, cheese…) can give them a way to feel powerful and have some control over their environment, even if they cannot say words yet. Other strategies to encourage communication can be found at the James MacDonald website given in a previous post above. I love empowering parents! YOU can be your child’s best speech therapist by interacting with them every day. Parents are awesome!!

Karen · Posted: May 09 2008, 12:52 PM Post subject:

Alexis started speech at 5 months as part of EI and I believe it's never too early to start. I agree with the post that it is more about communication than actual speech. Our SLP used pudding, different oral stimulators, and of course the mirror. Also, lots of bubbles (and yes, even spit bubbles), funny faces, and making sounds. In addition we started from day 1 using sign, gestures etc. to express needs and wants. Good luck!

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violettesmom · Posted: May 09 2008, 8:00 PM Post subject:

My daughter has been seen about 4 times by a speech therapist (she's 10 months old now).

She's done really well with feeding and eating, she can drink from a straw, and has basically made age appropriate sounds. We've been learning to sign, and have signed key words with her since she was about 3 months old. She signs sleep, bottle, cheerios pretty regularly and has been working on milk, all done and more and will do them occasionally. I could have more speech at this point if we felt we needed it, but so far, I think she's been on target, and I know enough from what I've read so far that I've opted to keep speech to a minimum. This first year has been so full of doctors apts and PT, I've felt like those are more important given where she is, and we'll focus on more OT and ST after she turns a year.

JanAndFamily · Posted: November 27 2008, 9:27 PM Post subject:

If you can't get speech therapy (or even if you can), the book Early Communication Skills for Children with Down Syndrome by Libby Kumin will give you lots of tips on what a speech therapist would do at this age if you did have one. We don't have one, and the book has been a life-saver.

Jan

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