All About Delayed Speech

[phtthp]

Oops! sorry, should be on page 17:-

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=10024&start=160

[cnimed]

Audvis:

botakgundul:

[quote=\"deminc\"] It is unrealistic to worry about their speech from 0-2.5 because there can be so many developmental differences even the doctors will just tell you to observe

I agree w/ u. My baseline is after 3 yrs old. 0-2.5 yrs old r considered very young & too early to tell. During these ages, they still can grow.

This is provided there are no other more disturbing signs, e.g. drooling, resistance to eat solid foods (which shows lack of control of muscles in jaw/ mouth that are necessary for talking), or signs of autism). For a whole list of autism symtoms, refer to this:
http://autism.org.sg/resources/articles/FeaturesOfAutism.pdf
[/quote]These are certainly important red flags that need looking into. What I mean is when the child actually speaks is in itself not such a big deal in the early years because there is a wide variation. The red flags you mentioned should be looked into even if the child CAN speak a few words. Instead many people are concerned only about speech and do not pay attention to other red flags.

But agree that human-to-human interaction is very important and educational programmes and Ipad are no substitution for human interaction. In many cases, in the absence of other red flags that you have mentioned, a child may simply not have enough clear \"input\" or a chance for meaningful 2 way interaction.

I have a friend whose 4 yr old was diagnosed as delayed in every domain by 1.5 years. Her home environment was very unstimulating because both parents are working, only grandma and maid at home, grandma anticipated all her needs and did everything for her. After speech therapy, speech and drama, physio etc, mum told me the best \"therapy\" was still a lot of attention and interaction from mum and banning TV. After a few months mum cancelled all the therapies and speech and drama and became a stayhome mum instead. The child is now in primary school and doing well. Totally cannot see any signs of delays.

But also have a friend whose son has moderate speech delay in the form of unclear speech. He needed help from a speech therapist to work with the tongue muscles at aged 5. No drooling or other signs, but inability to enunciate. This is pretty technical and definitely need the expertise of a speech therapist.

A family member also saw a speech therapist for a very short time to work on certain syllables at the age of 6. It took just 10 sessions to iron out the kinks.

[phtthp]

perhaps find out when is the next talk other school also conducting, can attend:-

http://www.anglochineseprimary.net/2011Corres/Supporting_a_Child_with_Learning_Difficulties_by_Dr_Daniel_Fung.pdf

[EASON MAGPIES]

Just read an article by in the Sunday Times by a columnist Gerard Wong about his daughter who had mild ASD. She cannot speak even at 18 months and then was diagnose with ASD at age 2. My DD is now 20 months and also still cannot utter a single word. Now I am getting a bit worried.


Will probably bring her to the polyclinic very soon.

Can we diagnose this by going to KK ?

I heard Speech Therapist are every expensive and doing it 3 times a week will probably be hard on finances!

[justcoping]

Hi Eason,

I’ve sent u a pm

[EASON MAGPIES]

justcoping:

Hi Eason,

I've sent u a pm

Thanks for your reply

[Audvis]

Dear Eason

You can do an initial self check whether yr child has ASD by going thru the checklist I gave earlier. As for speech therapy, it costs 135 and up, depending on the seniority and experience of the speech therapist. As for frequency, it really depends on how severe the Child’s issue is, how fast parents want to see results and of course parents’ budget. In general, more severe case eg with drooling and refusal to eat solid food will need more frequent therapy. Indeed, speech therapy is very draining on the family’s finances and can cause a lot of conflict betw the parents, esp if they disagree on the frequency of therapy. But bear in mind that the earlier u provide intervention to the child, the easier it is for the child to overcome his or her difficulties. All the best!

[phtthp]

my heart cries out to those poor families who earn only around $2k, with kids suffering like this … got to feed family, etc. where got $ to send child for expensive speech therapy treatment costing > $100 per hour ? not forgetting that this is for life.

[laughingcat]

EASON MAGPIES:

Just read an article by in the Sunday Times by a columnist Gerard Wong about his daughter who had mild ASD. She cannot speak even at 18 months and then was diagnose with ASD at age 2. My DD is now 20 months and also still cannot utter a single word. Now I am getting a bit worried.


Will probably bring her to the polyclinic very soon.

Can we diagnose this by going to KK ?

I heard Speech Therapist are every expensive and doing it 3 times a week will probably be hard on finances!

Hi eason magpies,

To reduce your anxiety, just bring your child to see the speech therapist asap. If at the end of the day it is a false alarm, then be it. At least an early intervention on your part not only ease any doubts or if you really needs such help. To reduce the cost, just go to polyclinic to get a referer letter to KK. But do take note that the slot to speech therapist is very long. It was mentioned that SGP is lacking speech therapist for the masses. So don't wait anymore, just go with your guts feeling. To me no point waiting for baseline of 3yrs or whatever especially the queue is so long.

I have a cousin that used to complain to me that she needed to wait at least 6 mths for the appointment.....that was last year. After many sleepless nights and crying silently, in the end she went to the private clinic which is even more expensive.

Take it easy and just work fast. :snuggles:

[Audvis]

I agree that poor families' kids are at significant disadvantage compared to rich kids. Poor families have to rely on subsidized intervention provided by KKH. But this intervention sucks, because there is LONG waiting time. At best they give u package of 6 lessons, after that u hv to go back to polyclinic get another referral and wait again for a few months for your slot to start.