Consonant Deletion (Initial and Final)

My DS is 25 months and we had his second EI evaluation yesterday. AT his previous evaluation he did not qualify for services because his receptive is normal although his expressive was considered delayed. This time I have the feeling it will likely be the same. The speech therapist said that he has initial and final consonant deletion but that EI does not really provide services for these issues. She suggested that if he is still having issues we have him evaluated through CPSE when he is 2y 8 months. So I have a few questions. I can't find anywhere the age for CPSE evaluations. Is it 2y8m or 2y6m? Do services start at that time if they qualify or do they have to wait until 3? Also, has anyone's DC had these types of issues that went away on their own? Edited to add that he has about 30 words and no two word phrases.

She did say that by 2 1/2 one of them should be resolved and the other by 3 (I can't remember which was what) so I know we have time but I just haven't see much improvement since he was 18 months to now.

Does anyone know if it is "easier" to qualify for these issues through CPSE than EI? I am felling a little frustrated bc I am not sure how to help my DS be understood! Thanks so much for any input!

Message edited 6/4/2015 3:22:10 PM.

Re: Consonant Deletion (Initial and Final)

I can only answer one of your questions- I had my DS evaluated through CPSE after he turned 2.5 years old, they would not evaluate him before then. He currently gets services through EI but will not start with CPSE until September (he turns 3 in August). If you are not getting services would you be willing to pay OOP for a speech therapist in the meantime? Sometimes insurance my cover some of the cost..

Re: Consonant Deletion (Initial and Final)

Not sure when CPSE evaluation can begin but you can always call the district and ask. The same with starting services although I think they need to be 3 for services to begin. My twins were 2 yrs 10 months at the beginning of the eval process and 3 yrs 1 month when services began.

That's being said I think it is very difficult to qualify for services through CPSE solely for speech (but of course I would still get the eval). My friend's daughter was having lots of trouble being understood at 3 1/2. She didn't qualify through CPSE for speech but went through her insurance. She got her daughter over 1 year of speech. She took her once a week to work with a speech therapist (the first 2 months was 2x a week). She still had to pay the co-pays which definitely added up but she said it was worth it. The therapist also gave her exercises and things to work on at home.

Re: Consonant Deletion (Initial and Final)

My son had initial consonant deletion.

He did not qualify through EI but did for CPSE.

His ONLY issue was expressive articulation but because it was SEVERELY delayed he did qualify.

After six months we have seen SO much improvement- I could cry!

I cant remember at what age we had him evaluated fro CPSE- but yes, it was before he turned three I think.

Best of luck to you and your little man!

ETA: I did take him for a few months to Janine Stein at two for speech. I wasn't happy there. I had to pay the co-pay and it was a fortune too.

He had overall oral motor weakness and the therapist has helped him greatly with that too.

I don't know if the initial consonant deletion would have resolved on its own.....

Message edited 6/8/2015 11:17:54 AM.

Re: Consonant Deletion (Initial and Final)

Thank you all so much for your input. I appreciate it!