[oo_let_me_see]

My daughter was in speech for 3 years starting in the 2nd grade. At the end of 5th grade, her speech teacher said she was ready to "graduate". We thought it would be a nice thing because she would be starting middle school, so it would be like a fresh start, speech free. Anyhow, it's been 6 months since, and I've noticed a big decline in her speech. (Her problem areas are s, sh, ch, and z sounds.) I'm thinking about putting her back in speech at her middle school, but she's so upset about it. She has two electives that she truly enjoys, and one of them would have to be taken away and speech would replace it. I don't know what to do. =( Does anybody know of any other resources outside of school? I know it would cost us, as oppose to being free therapy at school, but I'm willing to check it out just to see what our options are. Anybody have a child in speech at school?

[merika]

My son was in speech, but he's in normal schooling now. He was in speech from preschool to 1st grade (now he's in 3). I have no suggestions, but maybe you could PM tPF member Ghost55 ? I believe she's a speech therapist and may be able to provide some advice.

Good luck!

[oo_let_me_see]

Thanks merika. I will def PM Ghost.

[oo_let_me_see]

Oops, I meant this for parenting, not here. Mods, can you move? Thanks.

[Ghost55]

Originally Posted by oo_let_me_see

My daughter was in speech for 3 years starting in the 2nd grade. At the end of 5th grade, her speech teacher said she was ready to "graduate". We thought it would be a nice thing because she would be starting middle school, so it would be like a fresh start, speech free. Anyhow, it's been 6 months since, and I've noticed a big decline in her speech. (Her problem areas are s, sh, ch, and z sounds.) I'm thinking about putting her back in speech at her middle school, but she's so upset about it. She has two electives that she truly enjoys, and one of them would have to be taken away and speech would replace it. I don't know what to do. =( Does anybody know of any other resources outside of school? I know it would cost us, as oppose to being free therapy at school, but I'm willing to check it out just to see what our options are. Anybody have a child in speech at school?

Let me start from the begining. Just to clarify if anyone else reads this: I am a nationally certified speech-language pathologist with national, Illinois state and education endorsements. I also carry an endorsement in Education Administration in the state of Illinois..

Speech is interesting because most of the "fixing" is truely on the child. We provide the tools (like teachers in the education setting) and it is up to the child to utilize the tools they have learned.

Having said this, I have graduated a child from speech. Best practice states that if a child is no longer making progress with you as a therapist the child is to be dismissed. Due to lack of progress. The child is then to "carry-over" what they have learned into every day life. The class room teacher and parent are to help "remind" the child to utilize their strategies. After graduating a child, and the child regresses, I have been asked to take the child back. I have done this. But honestly, the child did well again with me, went back into regular education and began regressing again. The difficulties remain with the child to follow-through. I have not taken any more children back because of what I have witnessed a few times over of it not working.

Ok..next~ she should NOT be missing ANY electives to go to speech. I am not allowed to pull children from music, PE, ART etc.. due to the fact that it is sometimes seen as punishment and the children are to be in the least restrictive environment, Also~ children are to not have to stay in for recess etc.. because they missed class for speech.

Speech-language is a disorder and can only be classified as such by a speech-language pathologist. This is why it is listed under special education and there are provisons for it. It is not supposed to be a punishment, as they are already suffering from a disorder.

I would keep her out of speech, request some material to utilize at home (it sounds like she is a lisper) and you know the sounds she needs work on. Help her carry this over into her daily life.

But~ the decision ultimately relies on the child to "fix" it or not. This is a hard one to swallow for their parents as some children never quite "fix" it. This is due to orthodontics, lack of will or lack of mental capability.

I hope this helps a little???
~Best regards
Ghostie

[merika]

^^Thanks Ghost! That was very useful information

[Ghost55]

Merika~ I hope it helps

[oo_let_me_see]

OMG, very useful info!!! And a sigh of relief. I hadn't thought about the orthodontics issue. She got braces at the start of summer, and just as she finished speech. I asked both her speech therapist and orthodontist if this might affect things, and both said they did not think so at all. But honestly, I saw a quick decline (and after she had been doing so well) right after she got her braces. Ghost, I'm actually nervous after reading your info, because my daughter tends to be a lazy spirit. How can I motivate her to help herself? I just don't want this to be something that isn't corrected and affects her speech and self-esteem in the future.

[merika]

Originally Posted by Ghost55

Merika~ I hope it helps

Actually it did immensely. My son has a friend (parents are from S. Asia) who has the same problem as the OP described. He still does receive speech therapy but 'regresses' during the summer. He also wears some kind of hearing aid, and the teacher also uses a special sort of microphone during class lessons, just so this child's hearing aid can pick up certain sounds (??).

[Ghost55]

Originally Posted by oo_let_me_see

OMG, very useful info!!! And a sigh of relief. I hadn't thought about the orthodontics issue. She got braces at the start of summer, and just as she finished speech. I asked both her speech therapist and orthodontist if this might affect things, and both said they did not think so at all. But honestly, I saw a quick decline (and after she had been doing so well) right after she got her braces. Ghost, I'm actually nervous after reading your info, because my daughter tends to be a lazy spirit. How can I motivate her to help herself? I just don't want this to be something that isn't corrected and affects her speech and self-esteem in the future.

Why did she get braces? Overbite, underbite, too many spaces... Does she have a lisp?
Let me know the answer to that and I can advise further~

The orthodontics may play a small role, but definitely try to discuss this with your daughter.


Explain the possible ramifications of her not continuing to take the time to attend to her speech. You may have to get a little tough-love with her. Ask her if she wants to be made fun of ...I know this sounds terrible, but sometimes as a last resort this must be addressed outright. It is a habit...she has the tools (knows what to do). She has to use those tools. This is an on-going battle. Thank god she doesn't stutter..that is truely very hard to fix (I believe that is psychologically based).

I have had the tough love discussion with some of my older children. It worked with a somewhat lazy child. He was Bombing his test scores (mental impaired range) and blamed his ears! I had a tough love discussion with him...mom was kind of upset with me. Guess what..His scores skyrocketed! She apologized.

Now some other children have just shaken their shoulders at me "like..I don't care". Then it is done...

[Ghost55]

Originally Posted by merika

Actually it did immensely. My son has a friend (parents are from S. Asia) who has the same problem as the OP described. He still does receive speech therapy but 'regresses' during the summer. He also wears some kind of hearing aid, and the teacher also uses a special sort of microphone during class lessons, just so this child's hearing aid can pick up certain sounds (??).

That is an amplification device that allows for the speech signal to get closer to the brain as fast as possible. If the child only wears a hearing aid in one ear the other ear is picking up most of the sound. The amplification device is used to amplify. It depends on what he is receiveing speech for.

If it is auditory processing disorder, it helps the brian receive the signals for language quicker. To speed the process of what he/she hears to the understanding of what they heard to processing it and putting an answer back out effectively.

It may be just because he/she has a hearing loss. And the more amplification the better to hear you with

[merika]

Originally Posted by Ghost55

That is an amplification device that allows for the speech signal to get closer to the brain as fast as possible. If the child only wears a hearing aid in one ear the other ear is picking up most of the sound. The amplification device is used to amplify. It depends on what he is receiveing speech for.

If it is auditiry oricessing disorder, it helps the brian receive the signals for language quicker. To speed the process of what he/she hears to the understanding of what they heard to processing it and putting an answer back out effectively.

It may be just because he/she has a hearing loss. And the more amplification the better to hear you with

He wears them in both ears. His mom said he had difficulty in processing the "s" and "ch" sounds. Those are the sounds that he has trouble pronouncing also.

[Ghost55]

Originally Posted by merika

He wears them in both ears. His mom said he had difficulty in processing the "s" and "ch" sounds. Those are the sounds that he has trouble pronouncing also.

he must be missing the auditory speech sound range for those particular sounds. It would help if mom and dad in the summer get a little amplification device from radio shack and practice words with those sounds in the summer. That will keep him diciphering them accurately and should hopefully increase his reliability to hear them and produce them.

[oo_let_me_see]

A slight overbite, some spacing (front two) and some lining up issues...like the top front two didn't line up with the bottom front two.

Sounds like tough love is the way to go with her. Thank you so very much for your help. This has been heavy on my heart and it's time to act. My daughter is intelligent and supermodel gorgeous (yep, I'm bias...lol) and if it doesn't change, I picture her in 15 years as a business women, making a presentation in front of a crowd...with a lisp and low self-esteem because of it. It just seems like it's not a big deal to her right now, but later on in life, I know she would regret her inattention to it.

[merika]

Originally Posted by Ghost55

he must be missing the auditory speech sound range for those particular sounds. It would help if mom and dad in the summer get a little amplification device from radio shack and practice words with those sounds in the summer. That will keep him diciphering them accurately and should hopefully increase his reliability to hear them and produce them.

Thank you very much for the help. I will let his mom know tomorrow. I always kept meaning to ask you about him, but never got around to it. Thanks again!