Question about speech therapy
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| Fri, 10-07-2005 - 3:36pm |
Hi Everyone,
I hope you don't mind another question from a newbie. I am confused about what to do.
My almost 4yo ds doesn't have a formal diagnosis of PDD yet. His evaluation was just completed by a psychologist and part of that was also an evaluation by a speech pathologist. Both the psychologist and speech pathologist said that he definitely has speech delays and needs speech therapy. So we went ahead and signed up with the therapist that works at the psychologist's office but it is on Friday's from 12-1. This means that I pull him out of school early, give him soemthing quick to eat in the car, and get him there by 12. Needless to say he is tired. I have a couple of other options but don't know what to do.
I should mention that I am comfortable with the psychologist but didn't get a good read on the speech therapist. They were not recomended by anyone and I just found them online.
Here they are.
1. Continue with what we have.
pros- he's met the therapist twice (one session and once during evaluation) and been to that office 3 times so he has some level of comfort developing.
Cons- He is exhausted and my dh has fridays off so we usually do family stuff after school which is very important to us.
2. Do fridays 8-9 with the same therapist and take him to school late.
cons - He'll be exhausted and I have to get him up, breakfast etc really early.
3. Do 30 minute sessions at a well established speech school every tuesday and thursday from 8:30-9.
pros- highly recommended by his teacher who's had other kids go there. Doesn't have to get up quite as early
Cons- will be late twice a week.
What do you think?
Thanks,
Sonya.

I am assuming these are private psychologist and speech therapist? Are you from the US? Have you tried going through the school district yet to see if he qualifies for speech services through them? They would be free of charge and may offer it where he is or more programs for him through their preschool program.
Either way he is going to miss a bit of that school. It sound like the end of the day or after school isn't an option because he is tired, and 8am which is about the earliest they would have, would make him late for school.
In that situation, I would go to each of the places and determine in which place do you think your son will make better progress. Also, what kind of speech/language needs does he have? Think of those times as what is going to be most beneficial for him. Will he learn more by being in his class or more by getting speech therapy. If he will make more gains by having separate speech, then don't feel bad about pulling him out a little. If he were in public school (even in grade school) that is what they do because they have to do it during the school day. They try to pull kids when they don't have anything really important, but they always end up missing something.
Even now in 6th grade, Cait gets pulled for speech during her social skills class. It is done during her SDC time so she doesn't miss academics but she is still missing something important. However, it is even more important for her to work on language skills in small group and 1:1 to really get the skill.
HTH
Renee