|
|
Rank: Newbie
Joined: 2/23/2010
Posts: 5
Points: 15
Location: Montreal
|
Hi,
I'm new to this forum and hope someone can help me.
I live in Montreal, my husband and I speak spanish at home (we are from Argentina) and french and english in our every day life. Our 29 months old started Daycare (mostly french) when he was 11 months, but at home we spoke mostly spanish, except for tv that we usually watch in english. By 16/18 months he was babbling and saying some words that we could understand in spanish and sometimes french. When he was 20 months old I had another baby and it's not that I'm making excuses for him but it really affected him and he stopped even saying "mama" and "papa". By 24 months he had a vocabulary of 6/8 words. At that point we tried to be more strict about languages at home and we do everything in spanish, and for the last 2 months he's staying at home with me and his younger brother (he will start a new Daycare that has spanish teachers next months). Now he has a vocabulary of 30 words. He's not repeating them too often, he doesn't say things that he knows for sure "milk", "water" which he would say before, he just points at things when he wants something and if I ask him to say what he wants he just turns around and goes to play like he doesn't want it anymore (cookie, milk, water, banana or whatever).
There are some words that he clearly said a couple of times but never repeated again...and I don't know if he doesn't want to or can't.
I can ask him to give something to his dad, put something on the table or look for something and he will understand.
My doctor knows the situation and he was not worried but mentioned that we could look for a speech therapist for him. Until now I thought this was just the multilingual environment and the new baby affecting his speaking. I don't want to put more pressure on him but should I start doing something?
thanks for your help!
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/28/2009
Posts: 71
Points: 213
Location: London
|
We have similar situation; used to have 3 languages in the house with English being the 3rd and since we changed this around we are seeing results..now I am speaking 100% in English with him and my husband tries his best to be near my target.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 1/22/2008
Posts: 737
Points: 1,947
Location: Colorado
|
Hello Laurag,
I am sure your son's response to language interactions is quite perplexing. As you can imagine, though, there are many children being raised in bilingual and multilingual families. The research suggests that this is not harmful in any way to children. Most learn all of the languages they are exposed to when quite young. And, many children have younger children born into their families and do fine with that.
As I read and reread your post, what signals concern to me is your son's loss of words and his turning away from things he wants when speech is requested. At his age, with his limited ability to communicate, I strongly urge you to have him evaluated by a speech-language pathologist. He may need some different techniques used to help him acquire language and communication skills.
I hope my comments will help you consider that there may be something about your son's own system to learn more about and that his delays are not likely due to anything in your family environment--multiple language exposure and having a baby sibling. You are wise to be thinking about getting him some help--you are not putting pressure on him by doing so--you are helping him.
Mary Lou
Mary Lou B. Johnson, M.S.,CCC-SLP
http://www.helpyourchildspeak.com
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Joined: 2/23/2010
Posts: 5
Points: 15
Location: Montreal
|
Thanks Mary Lou,
I didn't see your reply before, sorry about that. I understand your point and that's what I thought to, the sooner we know what's going on, the better. I was feeling uncomfortable not doing anything and I realized I was making excuses for him, so I contacted the ST.
I have an appointment next week to get him assessed, we'll see how it goes.
thanks!
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Joined: 4/1/2010
Posts: 6
Points: 18
Location: MONTREAL
|
hi Laura I have decided to organize a support group / playgroup for parents with kids with language and speech delay as i have been part of a group funded by the gouverment for 8 weeks and I saw a great improvement with my son and want to continu it except once te 8 weeks are up it is over and the next step is private help as I was unable to find another group in the private sector I decided to create my own it is in Montreal and I can not do it on my own I am looking for parents as myself to help me http://www.meetup.com/Kids-withDevelopmental-Delay-Ages-2-to-5/
my 3 year old has a speech delay http://www.meetup.com/Kids-withDevelopmental-Delay-Ages-2-to-5/
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Joined: 2/23/2010
Posts: 5
Points: 15
Location: Montreal
|
Hi,
I just wanted to update you with the news I have. After a couple of cancellations (Luca was sick and after the SLP was sick too) he was finally evaluated at the end of March.
I don't have the results yet, but we had a good conversation with the SLP that was really helpful. Luca is behind in his language development and that is no news...but she also mentioned a couple of things that we started paying more attention to. In terms of social maturity, for the way he was playing and the lack of eye contact (he makes eye contact but not as much as he's supposed to, which I wasn't aware) she thought we need to work also to help the non verbal communication and gave us some interesting hints. Something as simple as lower ourselves when talking to him, looking him in the eyes I think made a difference. Sometimes we don't see the small things...
About the way he plays, he's used to laying on the floor and watch the wheels of the trucks, trains and everything he plays with. He started doing that when he was 20 months maybe, but he's doing it less and less. At the Daycare, the teachers told me that the first weeks he was mostly playing like that but then he started playing more with the other kids and now he's almost all the time looking for the other kids to play with so I'm not that concerned about that. I think he's doing fine. Even when I take him to the park, he's always trying to find someone to play with and chasing the older kids.
The SLP also gave us a couple of pages with tips (taken from the Hanen Early Language Program) that I think are really helping us and I was checking my log with the words he's saying and from 6/8 new words he had in February and March, in April he already had around 12 new words, other 6 words he already had he's now pronouncing better and he also started calling 4 kids at the Daycare by their name, so I'm really happy that all we are doing is starting to work. Since the evaluation he's signing for "more" and "done" and now the "more" comes with the word too, he's even adding the more to some of the things he wants like "more bubbles", in spanish "más burbujas" he would say "mas bubu". He also had another couple of 2 words like "don't want" and "who is".
I know there's a long way...but it feels so good that he can start expressing himself and whenever he can say something he's so happy that it amazes me.
Thank you for listening (reading) and we have to keep working!
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Joined: 5/8/2010
Posts: 2
Points: 6
Location: Austin, TX
|
Hi- I found your discussion after searching for speech delay support groups. Ive had an awful day with my daughter who has speech delay and sensory processing disorder. But thought maybe I could offer some advice. The thing your son goes... lying on the floor while playing. my daughter does that. It is associated with her sensory issues. It gives her positive sensory input and is calming. It is not a bad thing. You should ask your pediatrician or the professionals about SPD (sensory processing disorder) it is often seen with speech delay. My daughter goes to occupational therapy 2x a week for sensory issues since last December. She has started potty training thanks to the therapy. Seems like your son might also benefit from speech therapy. His speech might have regressed due to stress of the new baby. Change can be very upsetting for children with speech and sensory issues. My daughter has been doing speech therapy 2x a week since last October and has improved tremendously. I hope my thoughts have helped! I live in Texas and thankfully there are tons of resources for kids like my daughter. She starts pre-k in the fall. Mary 512 Kidz blog http://512kidz.blogspot.com
|
|
Rank: Newbie
Joined: 2/23/2010
Posts: 5
Points: 15
Location: Montreal
|
Thanks Mary. It always helps. I started looking into that and I found this site: http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/I was going through their checklist and honestly there's no other behavior that applies to him. I will keep and eye on that and will let his doctor know. Luca was already playing less and less with the cars like that, and last week I went to a toy store with him and he surprised me by playing with a set like Playmobil (it was actually some Wow toys that I've never heard about, a mixed of playmobil and little people) that had some drivers and police men, and he would play with them, making them walk and interact so I decided to buy a couple of those and maybe it was the right time. I've seen a change in the way he plays, he makes them talk, walk, etc. Sometimes I understand a few words, sometimes I don't but I think it's good. Thanks again Mary, welcome to the forum and I hope it all goes well with your daughter. Laura
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 1/22/2008
Posts: 737
Points: 1,947
Location: Colorado
|
Hi Laura,
I'm glad you had your son evaluated and that it was a very positive session for you! It sounds like you got some helpful advice and that you are already seeing progress. I hope things keep moving forward for you and your son.
Mary Lou B. Johnson, M.S.,CCC-SLP
http://www.helpyourchildspeak.com
|
|
|
Guest |
