Speech Evaluation

Has anyone worked with Multilingual Therapy Associates to have a speech evaluation done for their child? Just curious what you thought of them.

It is time to have DS evaluated I think, and his doctor agreed. He has 4-5 words at 20 months, though he understand lots more than that. He also doesn't really try to imitate us when we encourage him to try a new word. He watches our mouths, but then, nothing.

I know he could be just fine or fine with therapy, but this still saddens me that we have hit this point. But it would sadden me even more to have him not develop with the other children this age and be able to express himself.

TIA!

Re: Speech Evaluation

I'm no help on that specific therapist because i live in NJ.

But I know how you feel otherwise. Getting him therapy though is going to work wonders. I went through months of mixed emotions about it. But let me tell you, most of that now is squashed by feeling of joy, happiness and exuberance for the smallest of progress. Trust me, if you had a typically developing child you wouldn't get halfway as excited when they say "hi" as you would go a special needs child. I have these overwhelming feelings of pride every day lately because it wasn't easy for him and he worked so hard to do it.

This past month has been amazing in terms of progress. FINALLY he is repeating things, imitating, saying new words every day. He's still not where he is supposed to be according to text books but the forward progress is how I have to gauge it.

Best of luck and FM me is you have questions

Re: Speech Evaluation

I didn't use them, but a different agency.

We were in the same boat - DD understood way above her age at 21 months in both English and Spanish. But had very few words. She wasn't approved.

FF to July, she is now 25 months and has been evaluated again. Again, receptive is very high but the discrepancy between what she understands and what she can express is so great that she has now been approved for EI. I have the first meeting to set up her schedule, etc on Aug 13.

Call, make an appointment. It can't hurt.

Re: Speech Evaluation

I do evaluations for Family Aides. They are great!! FM me if you have questions!

Re: Speech Evaluation

Thank you for the posts! I really appreciate the support.

Can any of you suggest questions to ask any agency I work with? I'm really not sure how to proceed. Of course I want to describe the situation, but I'm not sure what I should look for with an agency.

Thanks!

Re: Speech Evaluation

The first agency I used was recommended by my pediatrician. The second one I used was recommended by Diana1215.

Not sure where you are located.

Either way, it all starts with the County.

Re: Speech Evaluation

A lot of therapists work in several agencies.

I can ask my SLP tomorrow which agency she recommends for speech.

Re: Speech Evaluation

Thank you--I am in Nassau County.

Re: Speech Evaluation

Re: Speech Evaluation

It is Sad as a parent. I hate that my Son gets sooo frustrated not being able to express himself.

Speech has helped him a ton, but it didnt happen over night for us. Its been over 6 months and he still doesnt say many words. he has sounds that mimic words but arent constanant/vowel/constanant words like "dog"...he will say "do"..He is 26 months old now.

At 20 months he said nothing at all, not even mama, dada, baba, he wouldnt repeat any sounds nothing. He had ONE sound ( NA ) that he would repeat. And b/c his receptive language was so high in understanding he barely got approved for speech, I think ( they use a point system) he made it by like 2 points).... and again that was with not even babbling and testing in expressive speech at the 6-9 month level.

Once they get older ( over age 2)...the guidelines change and the difference between receptive and expressive speech plays a part so if you do get denied at first, try again if you dont see an improvement.

We used Marion Soloman agency too so I cannot comment on the agency you choose. The SLP's usually work for multiple agencies at the same time.

Good luck

Re: Speech Evaluation

C- we used Little Village school in Seaford, I was really happy with all of the evaluators from there and one of the therapists we use is from there as well. He also had a hearing test done there before we started speech.

FM me if you have any particular questions.

Re: Speech Evaluation

Many thanks to all of you for the recommendations. It's especially good to have them just in case one doesn't work out for us.

I have heard he may not receive services until he is 2 since his receptive speech seems to be average or above average. Someone else also told me to make sure they don't lump expressive and receptive speech together and average them out, but I guess different agencies have different ways of handling things.

I feel better about it today, and I'm grateful there is more attention paid to all of this today. When I was growing up, I don't think anyone got speech therapy until they were in school.