Toddler Speech Therapy

My 2 yr old just started speech therapy (through Early Intervention) because he's not saying as many words as he should be at his age, even though he understands everything. The speech therapist just brings toys and plays with him. Is this the typical way to teach a toddler? It just doesn't seem like anything special or would require a professional to do. I think I'm just anxious to see some progress. Has anyone's child been through this and what was your experience? Thank you for any help or info.

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

I did speech for my undergrad degree and am certified in it as well as special ed. The therapist sounds like she is doing the therapy right. Young children and even school aged children are taught through play. She should be getting him to request toys using words while she is playing. She should also be talking to him a lot and labeling things. I don't know what your son's goals/levels are but that is my first impression of what should be going on.

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Play therapy is commonly used with babies 0-3 for speech. She should be eliciting sounds and words through play, however , the therapist should be talking you through everything and explaining the rationale for the toys she is using and the goals she is targetting. She should also be training you to use specific behavioral techniques to get your child to use sounds, words approximations, and words to request, reply, label, etc. If you have concerns that there are no real strategies being used you should contact your ongoing service coordinator and let her know. If you have anything else you need help withyou can FM me.

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

My pedi recommended we call for Andrew to be evaluated too, more so or pronounciation of words, but nonetheless, speech therapy. I am interested in hearing how it will all work out. Kathi, I may be asking you tons of questions soon!

Message edited 6/15/2006 11:07:34 AM.

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

My daughter is in EI, has been since Sept due to lack of speech development. When she started, she wasn't speaking at all, except for the basics. Our therapist is great, comes 2x a week and we are really noticing a difference but it did take awhile.

Our therapist uses toys (she brings her own bag of goodies) and tries to use items that the child will relate to, for example, blocks, small building sets, play dough, play food.

After each visit she explains what she went over and what we can work on with her too. We also get quarterly reports and testing to see where she is at.

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Message edited 3/30/2007 12:20:34 AM.

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Thanks everyone, I feel more reassured about the technique. We've only had a few sessions but the first day she said she was going to bombard him with language, which has so far only been playing with toys, puzzles, and blowing bubbles (this one I really don't get). At the end of the session I just sign the report to show that she came to teach him. She takes notes but doesn't really share them with me. She did say that it would help if he had more interaction with kids, which is kind of hard right now but we're looking at getting him into a playgroup on the weekends. We'll give it some more time to see how things progress. The coordinator said the therapist should be leaving notes with the babysitter for me since I'll be at work. I was just there for the first few times to get my son acclimated. We'll see how things go from here. Thanks for everyone's help.

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Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Message edited 3/30/2007 12:20:46 AM.

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

The funny thing with the bubbles is that he puts the stick in his mouth and eats the soap.

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Message edited 6/15/2006 5:49:03 PM.

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Posted by kelly4

I did speech for my undergrad degree and am certified in it as well as special ed. The therapist sounds like she is doing the therapy right. Young children and even school aged children are taught through play. She should be getting him to request toys using words while she is playing. She should also be talking to him a lot and labeling things. I don't know what your son's goals/levels are but that is my first impression of what should be going on.

same with me....yes, I agree with this

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Re: Toddler Speech Therapy

Aidan is in his 3rd week of speech therapy, its funny cause everyone asks what they do with him and I say "hmmmm PLAY!"
I totally respect her training and education but she does all of the things I have been doing with him on a daily basis, so nothing really new.

Except they do concentrate for about 20 minutes on Oral Motor Skills. So during that time they are blowing bubbles, blowing all types of whistles, horns and party blowers, feathers and using a mirror so that he can also see what he is doing. This builds the muscles in the mouth and helps to form certain sounds. My Ped also told me around 14 months to only use sippy cups with the flip up straws as the way you form your lips to su ck it helps with this too.

I was very pleased that she got him to say and sign "more" - but I think its that he knows she will not be giving what he wants until he says it, whereas with me he gave up or knew I would give it to him!
His vocabulary builds each day (even while waiting for a SP), but not stuff the SP does with him She was shocked that he knew his alphabet and numbers, and tries to "spell" , can very clearly ask for an ice cream cone but had refused to say more LOL... honestly I think he needs to be re-evaluated.

I think its a good program and it definitely can't hurt! He loves her!

Message edited 6/15/2006 11:50:33 PM.