Use Your Words
For months I’ve had concerns about Cakes’ speech. I’ve been sweeping them aside, saying she’s just busy doing other thing (her gross motor skills are incredible) and not wanting to be a hyper-vigilant worrywart who’s constantly comparing her child to other children her age (it’s so hard not to do this, isn’t it!) I’ve had the number to call for an assessment for weeks, but have been putting it off, but Mrs. Chicky inspired me to finally make the call.
She is talking, though not nearly as much as her peers. She doesn’t say a lot of common words, like no or mommy (she calls me buddy) and rarely uses pronouns, descriptive words, or phrases. She babbles a lot, but little is understandable.
My doctor wasn’t concerned and suggested we take a few months and try to encourage her by forcing her to ask for things instead of instantly responding to her gestures (we always know what she wants, so she rarely has to ask). But I didn’t want to wait that long—-and it’s a good thing I finally did make the call: the waitlist for an assessment is 6 months. Isn’t that pathetic? In Mass, Mrs. Chicky is having a team visit her home within two weeks of the phone call!
Though I honestly believe she’s just a late talker, I want to rule out the possibility of a problem--looks like it will take six months to do so.
Will keep you posted.
Labels: Cakes
posted by metro mama @ 5:12 PM
22 Comments:
Can't hurt. And if six months proves you wrong, than all the better.
Not to be alarmist, but have you ever had her hearing checked? My understanding is that it is one of the first things 'they' will have you do.
You will probably hear plenty of this, but I've known several kids who were speech delayed and it all worked out fine. It is definitely something children do on their own timetable. I agree with you though, that it is a good idea to get her on the list for assessment. Keep us posted!
I think you did the right thing by booking ahead, but I also believe you should force Cakes to talk to you. Make her ask for something, and if she doesn't have the word(s), offer them, but expect them to be repeated before she obtains what she is asking for. It may be difficult, but in the long run is the best thing for her.
Good luck, although I'm sure it will all turn out fine.
I'm glad you made the call -- and I think both Kgirl and SciFi Dad made good suggestions. Definitely keep us posted.
good for you for checking it out. of course it will be fine, but still. we need to do these things.
buddy? i so love that.
Ya, after watching her wrestle my 9 year old down I would say her gross motor skills are just fine.
Anyhow, good on you for being so on the ball.
Brave woman, you made the call! I'm stunned by the six month waiting list but I'm glad you put your name in there for an eval.
Aw, buddy - that's cute.
My oldest kid has been in speech therapy since she was 2 1/2 - I knew in my gut that something wasn't right, despite everyone around me shushing me about it. She's fine now - popular, bright, and articulate.
In the six months you have to wait, you might want to find out your early speech patterns and your husband's - one of my friends was very concerned about her children's late speeech development and then found out that her husband, his brothers and HIS father were all late speakers.
When we put Scooter on the wait list last year, we were told it would be 8-10 months. As it turned out, we got a call just over 2 months later with an appointment for the next month. It worked out that way because they had people cancel/not available for the open appointments and we jumped on the first slot they had.
Our current policy is that it doesn't hurt to get on the wait list. If things take care of themselves, then they can just move onto the next person on the list. If not, then you don't lost any (more) time.
6 months is unbelievable. I suppose if we were paying for it it would be faster but that's another story altogether.
I also think you made a good decision as hard as it was, I'm sure she's fine but it's always good to get peace of mind.
6 months!!! Man, do you live in the wrong province. Come west to the land of milk and honey, darling. The wait is SIGNIFICANTLY shorter here.
I had the same speech worries with my daughter. Happily, she started talking by herself just past the age of three.
My youngest though, not a word out of his pretty mouth. I was very familiar with the speech therapists in our area.
Good luck. And good on you for making the call.
I'm betting you won't need that appointment in six months from now..but I think for peace of mind it's a good idea that you called.
I was in a similar situation as you, not for speech but for another issue with my youngest. Our pediatrician gave me the option of a second opinion with a specialist (I think because I seemed so concerned). All worked out, there was nothing wrong but I was happy with my decision to make the call. Not to mention proud of myself that I listened to my gut feeling.
Looking forward to hearing all about how Cakes is talking your ear off...you know a time is going to come when she won't stop right?
6 months? Ugh. Sounds like the UK's medical wait list times, too: ridiculously long waits for things that will likely end up costing them even more for failing to step in sooner.
Someday she'll be a little chatterbox, I have no doubt, and you'll be wishing she would just.be.quiet.for.a.whole.minute.so.you.can.think! :-)
I second getting a hearing check. As well, does she still drink from a bottle or use a pacifier? Sometimes it's all about the shape of the mouth.
I would encourage her to ask for things as well, make a game of it. Have her repeat words, and ask her questions that would require words for answers.
Being on the waiting list is good. There are also things you can do. And who knows...you probably won't even need it when the time comes!
it's so hard not to worry about things like this.
I'm getting pretty freaked out about how slowly lulu's teeth are coming in.
I know kids that are half her age and have way more teeth than her.
how can you not compare?
I'm trying not to worry to much though, but if in a few more months she is still sporting a jack-o-lantern grin, I should probably take her to her dentist..
good luck, I'm sure cakes will be chatting up a storm before you know it.
My newborn is on the waiting list for everything. Like everyone else has said you can always cancel later.
I looks to me like she just has her own words there buddy. Where ever does she get that from I wonder?
Never hurts to be on the waiting list - good call. You can always cancel. The Boy is the opposite - he talks a lot, but I would say that he can't do many of gross motor skill things that others can/should do at his age. The temptation to compare is overwhelming. But everyone develops at her/his own rate, right?
I love that we spend so much time trying to get little one's to talk & "use their words"....and then they reach that age where the questions are endless and the talking (rambling) doesn't stop.....
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i would guess she's just a late bloomer...i know lots of kids cakes' age who aren't huge talkers...but it's a good idea just to get it checked out :)
Hi,
No worries. In grade school my teacher called a parent conference concerned about my total inability to grasp anything related to math ...and look who earns their living as a professional number cruncher now :)
AEH
I read Mrs. Chicky's post too and I think that you check into it just for your own piece of mind. I'm sure they'll find that she's perfectly normal, but sometimes it helps to hear a professional tell you that! Little Guy wasn't talking much at all until a couple months ago and then, as if overnight, he is jumping in leaps and bounds. That could happen anytime to Cakes too!
We're in the process of evaluating Rosie, ourselves. Our pediatrician and our school district have confirmed that she is a late talker, and we've been paying for private speech therapy. It's helped a lot, and now the school district/county will be supplementing it. I will keep you posted -- I still need to write about it if I ever get back to blogging. ;-)
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