Toe walking and speech delays?

My DS will be 3 this month and has a speech delay. He was evaluated by CPSE in January and was found to have great receptive language but his articulation and expressive were low so he is receiving speech services for a few weeks and has improved already. He walks on his toes too. Not all the time but at home, pretty often. His speech therapist thought he should get evaluated for it since there is sometimes a connection. It was sort of chaotic at the end of his last session bc my DH was just walking through the door with my DD when she brought this up so I didn't get to ask her what the connection could be. I thought he was just walking like that because of the wood floors, I know I hate to walk on them barefoot too. Has anyone ever heard of a correlation between the two?

Re: Toe walking and speech delays?

Many children with autism are toe-walkers. But many kids with autism are not. My daughter is not on the spectrum, but she IS a toe-walker. Coincidentally, I am also a toe walker when I am barefoot.

The kids I've worked with on the spectrum who were toe-walkers did it ALL the time though- whether they were barefoot or in shoes.

ETA: I'm sorry if this was interpreted to mean kids who toe walk have autism. I thought I was clear. I was speaking about what I've learned and observed while working with kids with speech-language disorders. I don't want to edit what I originally wrote because I *hate* when people do that.

The toe walking could be because of a number of reasons. In my own observations, the only time I've seen toe-walkers who receive my services are kids on the spectrum. But like I said, they did it ALL the time. It was/is a sensory issue rather than a physical one. It could also be a gross motor issue. Do you have any other concerns other than speech?

Sorry I wasn't clear.

Message edited 5/4/2009 1:12:41 PM.

Re: Toe walking and speech delays?

My daughter has a severe speech delay and walks on her toes alot but I kinda thought she was just playing when she did that. The therapists have asked though if she does it all the time so maybe there is some sort of connection. I'll ask them tomorrow and get back to you.

Re: Toe walking and speech delays?

You can't base it on toe walking - I know lots of kids that are not toe walkers who have autism

Re: Toe walking and speech delays?

i think they might have ment that there could be other motor issues if there is a speech issue. but i could be totally off.

Re: Toe walking and speech delays?

DD has a speech delay and occasionally walks on her toes. Some have been concerened about it, other drs have not. They do feel it's part of a sensory issue. She's not autistic and not on the spectrum so they ruled that out. She doesn't do it too often but they told us that occupational therapy will help it, which she's in now.

Re: Toe walking and speech delays?

DS has autism and has a speech delay and only walks on his toes once in a while. He really did it more after he learned walking. It was about the time he was going through the evals with EI. He started walking at 16.5 months (after MONTHS of cruising). He started "some" toe walking at 18-19 months. But now at 22 months he really does not do it. Just once in a while when he is "gooffing" off in the LR.

Re: Toe walking and speech delays?

Re: Toe walking and speech delays?

Maybe the correlation is many motor delays occur side by side with Speech delays? ( I also heard of children with autism doing this)

My son has a severe speech delay and he doesnt walk on his toes at all.

I do know some kids with just sensory issues alone do...and my son DOES have some sensory issues.

I wouldnt worry or think too much about it , but ask her next visit what she meant by it.

Re: Toe walking and speech delays?

Nicholas has always toe walked. Not so much when he has shoes on. He has sensory issues and PDD. When he was younger, they thought maybe he had hypotonia and he went to PT for it to stretch the muscles, but the toe walking never ceased. It could be something, it could be nothing at all!