I guess it was an actual assessment even though I didn't ask for one. I'm not sure I understand exactly why the ENT needs a referral before he snips Brogan's tongue.

Brogan doesn't yet have any words other than "uh?" which is his "word" for what's that, who's that, can I have that... He understands a ton of commands and his occupational skills (taking off his socks and shirt, putting stuff into a hole in a bucket, fitting things together, etc is above average according to the therapist but she says he's quite delayed in his speech. I agree that he's not advanced in talking but I still think that he's within range. Oh well. She wants me to concentrate on repetition and naming things and ignore all abstract words. So I when Brogan shows me a ball, I should only be calling it a ball, not a red ball and certainly not just the colour itself. He has a picture book though where one whole page is just squares of colour and, as with all the other pages in the book, he points to each item and asks "uh?". I will still tell him the colour when he asks.

I can see her point in not using abstract words like it, them, there, etc. but I felt a little like she was talking down to me. Why do a lot of people feel that way? I know a few people who have had to work with speech therapists and they felt the same. Are we automatically defensive? "There's nothing wrong with my kid!" ?? She was nice but she drove me a little crazy.

She said to book another appointment for two to three months ahead (which I've done) and that there's no judgment if I don't come in before then but then if I feel that I need the support, I can come in every week if I want. I guess we'll see how it goes. I can sit on the other side of the one-way mirror and watch her with Brogan or she can watch me or we can sit together to see how we're doing, what things we could improve on, etc.

She's going to do up a report for me from our session. I'm assuming that once she fires off a letter to the ENT he'll call me about setting up the appt for the snip.

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Hi Peggy,

So sorry you were left with such a bad taste is your mouth after the testing...

I just wanted to pipe in and say that my ds Matt, was born on the same day as your son...and he says maybe 10 words tops and not consistently...I don't think your son is out of any range at all....

Take Care,
Chantale

That sounds like a giant PITA. I'm with Chantale, I wouldn't call Brogan 'behind' just yet. Neither of my kids have really started talking until 16-18 months. Marisa is JUST starting now but I wasn't worried because Joshua did the same thing and at 3 and 3/4 years old, he certainly holds his own vocally. When will people stop looking at the chart and having such a narrow version of 'normal'/'abnormal'. Sure it's good to be aware of delays and intervene earlier rather than later, but let's broaden our expectations of 'normal' just a bit, in my not so humble opinion.
I can't believe you have to go through all that just for them to repair a tongue-tie.

I'm with the ladies. Alex spoke in full sentences at 18 months (like, "Mama, big truck is coming", or 'What a freakin mess". ) That was my influence. Samantha just turned 1 and doesn't say didly. Not mama, papa, baba...nothing. But I know she understands me when I speak to her or ask her a question because she does what I ask.

It's weird for me because I always thought that all 1 year olds talk when Alex was little. Everyone we would meet would be so impressed with the way he spoke (I wasn't). Now I get it.

Don't worry (I know that you aren't), and you are not defensive. The therapists are just trying to do their job, but speak up if they make you feel belittled.

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Marisa
mom to Alex (Sept 2002) and Samantha (Jan 2005)

Keegan was not talking the way he "should" be at one either and now he talks perfectly. Glad to hear that you are not all the concerned. I wonder if the ENT wanted to be sure that the tongue-tie was an issue before he snipped it.

I agree with Marisa and let the speach therapist know if you don't like the way that she is talking down to you. Maybe she doesn't realize that some people would take offence.

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Co-Host of the Canada Board

hey Peggy... sorry you were left with a bad feeling after that appointment. i hope they get a move on with things!!

Josh doesn't really any words yet, only his own language which we can't decode - but according to my mother, i was exactly the same way and did not say a single recognizable word until i was 23 months old, and dh was a late talker too.

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Nope, I'm not worried. I was mentioning it to my daycare provider this afternoon (because we're all supposed to be on the same page, right??) and she thought it was ridiculous too that the SA lady said that he was "quite delayed" and that she wanted to have his hearing checked. The kid knows all his toys, several body parts, a ton of food items and clothing items, and can follow a whack of commands. He just isn't interested in talking. And I'm fine with that (though it would be cute to actually find out what his voice sounds like. )

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