PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

Hi all,
I am not very active in posting, but I did a search and found some helpful topics on here.

My DS just turned 2 and has no words. He is receiving EI special instruction services, which have helped a bit, but he is still not waving or independently doing most non-verbal cues (pointing, etc.).

I am kind of lost. I feel like he exhibits some PPD-NOS symptoms (I took the online M-CHAT test, and while he did not score in every area, he is deficient in several areas). The therapist wants to wait a couple more months until his 3 month evaluation of services before recommending a psych eval. And she said if he does qualify, it would be 10 hours of services a week!? Is this the norm for PPD-NOS?

Any advice, success stories, etc? I normally handle this really well, but last night I started crying when thinking about DS being 2 and never calling me mama.

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

My DS started in EI with speech and PT. IT was the PT that recommended another special ed eval, which led to the psych eval. He was diagnosed with PDD-NOS shortly after he turned 2. When he started receiving services related to his diagnosis, he did qualify for 10 hours of ABA a week, in addition to the services he was already receiving.

Personally, I wouldn't wait. I would call your County EI service provider, tell her you have concerns and want an evaluation - either special ed or psych. IMO, things happen slowly in EI and it's better to ask for the eval sooner rather than later. If it ends up that he is diagnosed on the spectrum, you want to have therapies in place and benefit from the advice and experience of the therapists and special ed teachers before you transition out of EI and into the school district program.

I waited a long time for "mama" too, but it did come eventually.

Message edited 4/7/2011 9:36:47 AM.

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

You are describing my daughter, she is now 33 months.

Do not wait for a psych eval. Will it be a fun experience ? No, but the quicker you get a diagnosis the more ability you have to select proper services. Do diagnoses change as a child develops ? Yes ! So don't be 'fearful' of the diagnosis, just use it as a ticket to get the services.

Do you have to have 10 hours of services ? NO, you choose exactly what you want, and how you want it. I started off really slow with my dd when she was two. As soon as she had a strong team in place, I have slowly increased services. (I don't want to mention how many hours she gets now lol but it works, and it works well only with the 'right' therapists).

What your child needs is a great OT (can't say this enough !) Not waving and not pointing has a lot to do with motor planning and usually low tone in those extremities. Motor planning affects everything...speech, play skills, imitation etc.

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

Posted by sapphire

What your child needs is a great OT (can't say this enough !) Not waving and not pointing has a lot to do with motor planning and usually low tone in those extremities. Motor planning affects everything...speech, play skills, imitation etc.

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

Thank you both for your responses! OT wasn't even suggested at his initial eval--were there other symptoms to check for for an OT/muscle deficiency? He CAN clap hands, wave, etc., and will do it for her when prompted, but will not do it independently. He was an early walker, can stack blocks, etc.

Were your DC babbling? When did you see words?

I don't know how I will handle all of that therapy--I work P/T and MIL watches DS, and I've been scheduling it around my work, but I just don't know how to do it all day, every day. I want the best for DS, but that is like a F/T job when it gets to be that much.

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

Just wanted to say, yes I agree with the other posters. Have an evaluation done now if you suspect other problems. I waited with my DS, and I'm sorry I did. At this point we have to go through the school system since he's too old for EI, and I wish we started sooner. Though better late than never.

My DS had a speech delay and some trouble eating. He did point, clap, wave, etc., but there were some social issues starting around 18 months and some big issues with transitions and changes in routine. Also some sensory issues, all of which may (or may not) point to PDD-NOS. He did respond well to speech therapy though, and says a lot of words now, so don't despair that your child will not speak.

I agree, do it now. You won't regret it--if they determine he's fine, you can exhale.

Message edited 4/7/2011 10:07:32 AM.

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

My ds had no speech at that age and originally when he was evaulated the therapist and I thought he had symptoms of pdd. It turned out that he was misdiagnosed and when I took him to an outside SLP he was diagnosed with severe CAS (childhood apraxia of speech). He did not do well with a full year of traditional speech therapy. It was not until he started PROMPT therapy (a type of speech therapy) that he started to speak. He didn't speak until he was almost 4 years old.

Now he is 5 1/2 and we are finding that he may also have some auditory processing issues which can coexist with apraxia. After doing a tremendous amount of research and seeing many therapists and neurologists I have found that there are many disorders / disabilities that can present itself with some symptoms that look like Pdd-nos.

My advice is do not wait to get the evaulation. I waited on the advice of many people thinking that my ds just needed time and now I wished I hadn't. He is doing great now, but sometimes the initial evaluations are not always absolute fool proof and sometimes other things happen along the way. I would get whatever evaluations done that you feel you need, it can't hurt.

In terms of the amount of therapy, I'm not sure...I'm sure the ladies on here can help with that. They have been a wonderful supportive resource to me.

Good luck!

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

The county rep should have given you the consumer's guide to autism which you should definitely open up and read. In it you should find all the different types of tx approaches to children...Unfortunately the several EIODs do take a one size fits all approach to a PDD-NOS diagnosis and this is really unfortunate...But consider what treatments are best....I do agree that finding a good OT to work on any sensory integration issues if the present and/or motor planning issues as well and a good SLP who can explore and work on how your child exhibits his/her intentionality, affect (emotional states) and levels of cognition are essential in working through your child's particular needs. Alot goes into a child's using those first words....emotional experiences, oral motor planning, intentionality, and so on. Alot needs to happen before a child can learn to speak and if you're skipping steps you will encourage the development of scatter skills....HTH

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

The county provided me with a long list of people to choose from for his evaluations. My Social Worker didn't even recommend one because she said they aren't supposed to. Eventually I asked a few Special Education teachers in my school and they suggested one. We got speech, special ed, and psych all done within a few weeks. He is PDD/NOS and receives 15 hours of ABA a week. Our psych doctor had to argue with the County to get all those hours, but said he would rather give him more hours than less becuase you can always scale back. He also said he would rather over diagnose than under diagnose because he has been on the other end of not giving the right diagnosis and it is a horrible feeling for him. He said it was my little guy's job to prove him wrong. I love that. So we always say to DS Prove 'em Wrong!

he's doing great. It will be a year in May since he started EI and he is starting to point a little and has some words. He babbles a lot (which his teachers say he will speak soon), his eye contact is better, and his social interaction is a lot better. His progress is great. Don't wait. Get the evaluations done now.

Good luck and stay strong!

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

I'm an ABA therapist so I am biased. Where special instruction works well for some children, other children need much more intense therapy to meet their goals. Are the therapists using high reinforcers to motivate your DC? Are they taking data on when your DC is responding appropriately?

I would definitely talk with your service coordinator and develepmental pediatrician about a plan of action. Good luck

Re: PPD-NOS/lack of speech?

Your story sounds similar to mine. Last year after ds started services he still wasn't talking. I thought I had to wait until his second birthday to have him reevaluated. My coordinator called me to check up on his progress. When I told her my concerns she immediately jumped on it. She started the process to have a psych eval. He was the given a PDD-NOS diagnosis. He was aproved for 20 hours aba, speech, and a class at a center based school. Now one year later he is doing amazing. We have also add the diagnosis o Apraxia.