Speech Therapy

Children and adults with cleft lip and/or palate issues

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Speech Therapy

Postby heather » Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:31 pm

Eyson's pediatrician has recommended that we start him on speech therapy. I think it's a really good idea, as well. The service that she suggested we go through is called Child and Family Connections. It's out of Illinois. Anyway...that's beside the point. When I called them to set up Eyson's initial meeting and evaluation they acted like i was weird for starting him already at 14 months. Does anyone else think that it's too early to start his therapy? I thought that he needed to considering the only thing he can say is mama. Or what were the ages that everyone else started their children with the speech therapy? I'm just trying to get a ball park figure here to see if I'm a nuts as they made me feel. Thanks, Heather
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Born 11/8/06 UCL BCP
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Postby chicka-monkey » Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:29 pm

Skylar has started at around 18 months and still needs extensive therapy. The doctor's at the hospital and even suggested I start her two times a week instead of once. She is 26 months old right now.
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DD - 6/9/96
DS - 7/6/04
DD - 11/3/05 ~ bilateral cleft lip & palate ~
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Postby jacksmom » Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:49 pm

Heather, we started Jackson in speech therapy around 15 months. Right now we're just going through our state's Early Intervention, so our therapist comes to our house once a week. At first they were mainly teaching him sign language, which I had a hard time understanding. But, I think it has helped with his frustration level. The only word that is COMPLETELY understandable is Mama. I can decipher a few other words, but a stranger wouldn't know what he's saying. I don't think it hurts to start early. I'm finding that there doesn't seem to be a lot they can do at this age other than play games and try and get them to imitate sounds. (which I do all of the time anyway) WE go back to cleft clinic on Feb 7th and I'm VERY interested to see what their take is on the whole speech issue.
I got brave and asked our therapist last week if she felt like she was wasting her time with Jackson (for now), and she said that at least when Jackson got old enough to "really" benefit from speech, that he would be used to her coming, and would be more comfortable. I'm not sure what the right thing is. I guess it definitely can't hurt anything!
Sorry for the long answer...I could vent forever about speech! I am SO ready for Jackson to talk! (Then I guess we'll spend the next 18 years trying to get them hush!! :lol:)
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Griffin- 6/22/04
Jackson- 6/29/06 (Bil cleft palate)
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Postby mia's mom » Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:02 pm

heather- I'm not sure if that program is the early intervention program (it sounds like it). early intervention is a state run program that provides services to kids free of charge to parents. In our state (NY) cleft palate automatically entitles a child to services. I think intervention at an early age is excellent. Trust your pediatrician. I referred Mia at 7 months (at the recommendation of the director of the state early intervention program in NY). If he's eligible for the program, under law he MUST be evaluated. There has to be at least two evaluators who are professionals - for speech delay it should be a speech language pathologist and like a psychologist or other professional. They will tell you where he should be and what he scores on standardized tests and whether services would benefit him or not. With Mia, the evaluator said that she didn't need services because she was making vowel sounds and we resolved her feeding issues. They are keeping track of her though and are going to re-evaluate her after the surgery. I would insist on the evaluation at least to know where he is and where he should be.
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Postby Linda S S » Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:24 pm

Early Intervention (EI) is for birth to 3 years. In some states there is a waiting list.
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Postby chicka-monkey » Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:08 pm

We are in early intervention, but they do not provide speech therapy.
Carrie (user name chicka-monkey)

DD - 6/9/96
DS - 7/6/04
DD - 11/3/05 ~ bilateral cleft lip & palate ~
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Speech

Postby michellebeau » Tue Jan 29, 2008 4:20 pm

Hi,
My daughter Kylie will start seeing a speech therapist through the Early Intervention program when she is 10 months. (Right after her soft palate repair.) I don't think it's ever too early to start. The therapist told me on the phone she will give us some exercises to work with Kylie on. Baaa Baaa, Daaa Daaa, Maaa Maaa, etc. She is not making any other sounds right now besides giggles, crying & squeals. No babbling. I'm told it's due to the fluid in her ears & cleft palate.
Anyway, Kylie's pediatrician was the person who put us in touch with the Early Intervention program @ two months. We've been very pleased with them.
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Postby mia's mom » Tue Jan 29, 2008 7:07 pm

early intervention is kind of my area- I've been on the administrative end of it at work for about 6 1/2 years now. Its pretty sad to hear that some states don't cover speech therapy and there are waiting lists. The feds would be very upset to hear about that- I believe speech is a required service for states to provide. Parents have due process rights if they don't agree.. although, personally I found it hard to complain though- with my own daughter, I know what she is supposed to get and my rights, yet I still let some clear violations go because I didn't want to get in an adversarial relationship with the service coordinator. Overall though, it is an excellent program and the evaluation they give was so worthwhile- if anything for piece of mind.
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Postby rainhawk » Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:14 am

Hi- my son Devon just had surgery on his hard palate 3 weeks ago. he has now said Ma Ma twice. I'm just wondering what the speech therapists go over with kids just starting to talk? (he just turned 12 mo today)
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Postby jacksmom » Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:45 am

We are in speech therapy once a week, and the main things our therapist works on right now is getting Jackson to imitate mouth movements and sounds. He still hasn't said any real words other than Mama.
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Griffin- 6/22/04
Jackson- 6/29/06 (Bil cleft palate)
www.babysites.com/sites/astand/
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Postby scaredmother » Fri Feb 01, 2008 9:43 pm

Speech Therapy seems to very common with the cleft palate, and my PS did say he may need it. Right now he's only 6months (Well he'll be 7months in a few days) and will have is palate repair done on the 7th of Feb. How will I know if he will need speech therapy or not?
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Postby heather » Mon Feb 04, 2008 10:47 am

Mothers just know when their babies aren't doing the same things as other babies. Your pediatrician will probably ask you some questions at his one year checkup to get a feel for his development as well as find out more about your own concerns.
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Postby chicka-monkey » Wed Feb 06, 2008 7:49 am

Most children with palate surgery will need speech therapy. My Early Intervention specialist said she has never had any child go on to preschool without speech that has had a cleft palate. Ohio law (maybe the whole country?) must provide free preschool and speech therapy for children that qualifies. Children that qualify for speech can start preschool when they turn three years old no matter what time of year it is. My daughter will start preschool in November of next year on her birthdate.
Carrie (user name chicka-monkey)

DD - 6/9/96
DS - 7/6/04
DD - 11/3/05 ~ bilateral cleft lip & palate ~
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Postby heather » Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:53 pm

The speech therapist met with Eyson the other day for his evaluation. She said that he didn't need therapy. I for one am extremely surprised because he's 15 months old and the only sound he makes is ma. Does this sound funny to anyone else?
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Postby Amy » Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:13 pm

My daughter Ashlie started at 6 months....we went through the school service unit in nebraska...it was free...and they worked with her up until she started school....They also worked with her other development...she was slow at pushing her self up when laying on her stomach....they said it was from wearing the arm braces from her surgery (the timing of those was the same as when the she normally would have been trying to learn to crawl)....It's never too early
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