[dustspot]

i have a 2 year old with mild language delay. is there a good software or book that would help me improve her speech at home?

[leenab]

When he/she gets older there is earobics (software for 4-8 yr olds) that our therapist recc. Before age 4 I don't know of any software. I can tell you what our therapist basically did in therapy was read and interact with our son. She used a mixture of story books and small animals to hold his attention. Our son had recpetive and expressive language disorder. And the most helpful thing that we found for him at home was constant interaction. I homeschooled him and read constantly, had him repeat a lot of things which I said (learning through example is wonderful for children), we also worked a lot on oral motor skills and planning. Check out your local library for books on children's speech therapy. I know there are some great books out there on at home activities for children. Blowing bubbles is great for motor planning.

[Cobb]

leenab,

I was just wandering how old your son was when he started to recieve therapy services. Our 14 mon. old foster daughter will start speech therapy as soon as she is home from the hospital. Right now, she can make repetitive vowel sounds, but that's about it. We know that the delay stems from not using her mouth in normal ways as an infant (she has never been fed orally) and that speech delays are very common for kids with her circumstances. She also has an aversion to anything touching her mouth.

Not knowing when she will actually be home, I've been searching the internet for what therapy at her level would entail and ideas that I can utilize in the meantime. If you or anyone else is able to direct me to resources, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Cobb

[Wolfpack]

Our middle son had several speech issues and began therapy just before turning 2. The muscles in his mouth were not developed enough for clear speech. We did the blowing Bubbles as well as...OK...don't laugh...we Licked spoons! He would eat Fruit mixed with rice cereal or for a treat pudding...he had to lick the spoon. His tongue muscles strengthened unbelieveably...he hardly ever hushes now! LOL!

We also sang A LOT (by three he could sing The Star Spangled Banner LOL!) We did sounds...LA/LO/BA/BO/PA/PO ok...you get the idea!

I am not sure what computer platform you are using...but Macintosh has wonderful software that is pretty inexpensive (pm me and I'll tell you where to get it! LOL!) There is also the ability for them to use speech recognition software with a microphone, while he could not yet read what he writing, I would read it to him, and he would "tell me a story", then we would print it out, and draw pictures to the story. He still loves to do this and he is now 7.

OK...this is getting way to long...but it's a subject near and dear to my heart!

Best wishes and please let me know if I can help.

Becky

[Cobb]

Becky,

Had to laugh when I saw your name come up... I should have known to come to you first. Afterall, I'm borrowing your map here, six years later!!!

The tongue strength issue I think is right on with A. With not eating she hasn't had to use it much. I'm trying to connect with the nutritionist to see what foods we can try with her. At last check, we could only use meat, which was so dry, it wasn't appealing. Considering she wouldn't swallow much, I'm wondering if we could try something that tasted better.

We have been working repeating sounds with her. We're getting a bit of an "mmm", but it's inconsistent. One of the positives I've seen is that she's alot more interested in my mouth when I'm talking. Not only does she watch, but she's been exploring my lips and face with her hands.

BTW, Anna sang the Star Spangled Banner by three too... I had borrowed the tune when she was a baby to sing her name to her (also sang mine and dh's so by the time she was two, if someone asked her our name she gave first, middle and last... ). But, my mom mentioned that I needed to teach her the real words, so that she didn't grow up thinking it was "her" song... LOL!

Finally, what age does the software you mention become appropriate. I know that dustspot, having a two year old, might find it valuable. At what age, do you think Miss A might?

[Wolfpack]

I almost pm'ed you rather than post!! But I'm really trying to get better about posting! LOL!

I was just thinking about what else I did at home...I can't believe I forgot J's favorite! A hand held mirror, we used the one that has a handle on it, he would actually put his mouth on the mirror and make the sounds. He absolutely love to do this.

I would say the sound while looking in the mirrow (he would hold it for me LOL!) Then he would try it. I think he liked the way it felt on his mouth when he tried it!

As far as the software...I'm kind of a computer nut, so I had him in front of the computer from the day we got him finally home!

I brought Disney's Magic Artist Studio...it has lots of colors and animation, he has always loved the computer, so I don't think its ever too early to start...but one little hint...I would let him touch the screen so before you introduce our little slimey fingered guys to the computer...I put a peice of Acetate (clear plastic) over the screen. I taped it and made it a flip up piece so he could goo it up if he wanted to!

I don't want to violate any T.O.S. but there are three stores that I know of that sell software at really low prices...so just pm me if you want me to tell you!

I'm still smiling Cobb...You bring out the "poster" in me!

LOL!
Becky

[Cobb]

Becky,

I think that she's really love the mirror thing, which would also be something fun to get her used to having things touching her lips... Our big success so far is that she puts things up to her mouth to "taste" them, so we're trying to build on that.

I was thinking, I'm going to have alot of physical, occupational and speech therapy questions. Maybe I should just start a new thread to pull you out of your shell some more! Afterall, with all the success you've had with J, everyone should get to benefit from your experiences, not just me!

[leenab]

Cobb,
Becky's ideas are great. Raj arrived at our home when he was 3 1/2, quite a bit older. But we found blowing bubbles very helpful. He also love putting on chapstick (the pucker lips way) and chewing on everything (crunchy foods like carrots & celery are great.

Does A currently have a feeding team or assessment done? They will should you how to encourage various foods and make sure she laterizes (chews food properly).

The frozen teething rings are really great too for chewing. Yes, we have a chewer on our hands here. If A is able to use a straw sucking through a straw in a great way to improove oral motor skills. Thick things like applesauce are great. But you may want to start with really thin applesauce first.

We also went through OT with Raj, which was quite the experience for Sensory integratoion dysfuction. Not a fun thing to have, but a fun thing to treat at least.

[csw]

Our speech pathologist recommended Reader Rabbit software..good thing we already had it for our son years ago! I think its good for phonics etc...oru daughter had no speech problems at all and was testing 12 months ahead before she got 3 flu shots in an 8 week period (they gave he 2 by mistake) all with mercury in them..from that day forward (after shot no. 3) she has a 9-12 month gap between her expressive and receptive (receptive thank God is at age level)..she is in ST 2x a week, making very slow progress..so sad..anyways..we finally upgraded our computer and will install Reader Rabbit and see how it goes..she's 2.5 years old..

[tobemoms]

Hi there~
Im a future adoptive mom and a speech therapist..try Bumble Bee videos. A lot of my parents swear by them. Also, for oral motor planning..look up Sarah Rosenfeld-Johnson's talktools supplies. I use some of her stuff for treatment in conjunction with therapy.

[janicem02]

Hi, I'm new here. I wanted to tell you that www.starfall.com has some awsome stuff. It's a learning to read website, but it has helped my son a lot. So has the Baby Einstein DVD's. His vocabulary finally started to really grow sometime between turning 3 and 3 1/2. Now he says a lot of words, but has articulation problems, so we have to work w/him on that(any ideas????). He doesn't qualify for state speech therapy b/c his articulation problem isn't bad enough(so they say.. They don't have to live w/him. ugh), so we might have to find a private speech therapist.

Good luck,
Janice, hoping to adopt soon and bio-mom to Cias(ky-us)-3 yrs. 9 months.