DownSyn Forum

momof3boys · Posted: May 30 2011, 3:15 AM Post subject: not talking

Hi everyone. Man it has been so long since I have been on this site I'm not sure if anyone even remembers me.
Anyway, I decided to log on to see if I could find any info on speech delay's. My son is Colton and he is almost 6 and not talking yet....he jabbers and says a few words like dada, mom, aus for his brother Austin.
I just read the post about the little boy who is 9 and not talking much either and I am planning on looking up all the sites you guys recommended but I was wondering if this is common for kids with ds. Colton's speech therepist told me that she thinks he has a motor comunication problem and may never be able to talk. I guess you can imagine my feeling on that. I told them to not assume that he cant and that I want him to have more speech therapy sessions. I just don't know that what they are doing is working because he hasnt progressed much or at least it is very slow. So, just wondering if anyone has any thoughts or insight about this.

_________________
Dee Dee

Wife to Jason and Mom of 3 Boys
Austin 12/28/93
Logan 08/12/00
Colton 7/12/05 DS

momof3boys · Posted: May 30 2011, 3:42 AM Post subject:

OOOps sorry everyone. I just read down further in the posts and found a thread on talking. Sorry for the repeat question.

_________________
Dee Dee

Wife to Jason and Mom of 3 Boys
Austin 12/28/93
Logan 08/12/00
Colton 7/12/05 DS

DanielsMommy · Posted: May 30 2011, 11:30 AM Post subject:

Dee Dee,

I totally remember you and Colton!!!!! My Danny was born the same time. He'll be 6 in June.

I know there have been several threads about Apraxia, not sure if that might be what you are seeing with Colton.

Sorry I don't have any advice...but glad to see you around again!! I'd love to see new pics Smile

. Are you on FB? If so, friend me and I'll hook you up with others moms who are having issues with speech.

_________________

Lisa - Mommy to Elayna 10-1-02 and Daniel (Ds) 6-7-05
Always have hope....Without rain, there can be no rainbows.

JanAndFamily · Posted: May 30 2011, 7:24 PM Post subject:

Not sure if this was in the other threads or not, but I would strongly suspect apraxia (which does NOT mean he can't learn to talk!) and check out Pam Marshalla's "Becoming Verbal with Childhood Apraxia." I imagine MORE speech therapy isn't going to help much if it's more of what they've already been doing; I would say a new approach is probably in order.

Jan

_________________
wife and mother of Katherine (2004) and Christopher (Aug. 2007, DS)

seansmom · Posted: May 30 2011, 7:56 PM Post subject:

Sean was barely talking at 6. He was doing only one word utterances and his vocabulary wasn't very big. He is now 9 and is talking way more. He is doing 2 word utterances consistently and moving into 3 word. His vocabulary is huge now. People notice a huge difference if they haven't seen him for awhile.

Don't worry he may just be a slow starter. Boys tend to talk later than girls but they get there. That's what I've heard anyway.

_________________

Kellie Mom to Sean 10 yrs with DS and Carly 14 yrs

Tigger · Posted: May 31 2011, 6:59 AM Post subject:

I remember you guys and Colton Very Happy

I don't have any advice for you, speech is Talitha's most significant delay. You have a good attitude, I think it is always important not to make assumptions about our kids. Just because Colton isn't talking now doesn't mean he won't. Very Happy

_________________
Karyn
Mum to Nikki (Jul 89), Stefanie (Sep 96), Joel [June 98] and Talitha (DS) (Nov 05) AVSD/PDA repaired 23 March 06

"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well." Psalm 139:14

momof3boys · Posted: May 31 2011, 8:05 AM Post subject:

Thank you all so much for your advice. I really appreciate it.
@Lisa - yes I do have fb, I will have to try to find you.
Thanks again everyone.

_________________
Dee Dee

Wife to Jason and Mom of 3 Boys
Austin 12/28/93
Logan 08/12/00
Colton 7/12/05 DS

rlstewart · Posted: May 31 2011, 10:30 AM Post subject:

Sorry, no advice from me, just a different experience.
My son is also pretty much non-verbal. Henry is 5 and has very few words. Mostly he just says the last vowel sounds. Henry’s speech delay may be physical. It was recently discovered that his submucus cleft palate (diagnosed at 17 months) may be the cause. He has a velopharyngial insufficiency (VPI). Apparently his soft palate does not move correctly for him to be able to make certain sounds (plosive consonants like b, p, k, and g). We hope that repairing the cleft will help.
One out of his 3 therapists has concerns about apraxia, but I’m being told he is not verbal enough to diagnose that.
I hope you find some answers for Colton. Not being able to communicate easily with your child is so frustrating sometimes.

_________________
Racheal
mom to Henry (01/06), Ramona (06/08), Cora (2/10), and Zane (08/12)

Don't underestimate my ability
Don't definate my character
Don't belittle my authority
It's time you recognize my quality

-Peter Tosh, I Am That I Am

EAS1971 · Posted: June 01 2011, 2:18 PM Post subject:

Hi!

First, he IS talking. Saying a few words is talking...just not as much as you'd like/expect. But it's a very, very good sign that he IS talking. Wink

Second, the average age for a child with DS to begin talking is 4. So if he's saying some words at 5, he's doing okay.

Third, yes, apraxia is definitely a possibility. It's VERY hard to get an ST to diagnose that, though.

And lastly, my son is 6 and is just now really, really talking. He had an occasional word here or there for many years. But we didn't see consistent talking and using 2+ words together until he turned 6. Then he went from rarely saying even one word to saying 3 and 4 word sentences very regularly.

Have patience. Find an ST you like and trust. And use the Communicating Partners approach with him. It'll happen in time.

_________________
--Beth
Mom to Oliver, 5 (DS, ADHD)
and Sebastian, 4