[Barksum]

I was curious if there is any studies showing a link between certain kinds of language delays or disorders and cognative delays. Anyone know? I ask because I always just assume that my Ds2 (second son, not 2yo) delays are due to drugs/alcohol, but don't know that for certain. He is a couple of years behind his chronological age, and didn't talk until about age 4, and still has some 'immature' speech patterns, and also continues to work on articulation.

I'm on dial-up so my internet is suuuuuupppppeeeerrrr sllllloooooowwww, making research a real trial. Those little video clips that are 4 minutes long take me an HOUR to download! Like who has that kind of time?!?

[ajjhmf]

Barki, I just saw this. Sorry.

I don't have actual stats, but during J's MFE testing, they said his language issues were likely a huge part of his learning issues. The speech pathologist said that speaking late, for whatever reason, can cause major troubles with reading and even math later on. They said even when J's speech issues are resolved that he would likely still struggle because his brain wasn't able to make those early connections.

Because of that I'm starting Ei stuff for M. He's showing a moderate delay now that he'll likely recover from in time, but I don't like the idea of him missing braing connections because he doesn't really start talking until 2.

Jenny

[Barksum]

Interesting, Jenny. Thanks! Ds2 does have a time with math. He is not yet able to count without help, not quite able to pick out letters, even with help, etc. We keep working on things and I'm not worried or upset, but he definitely doesn't get some of this stuff yet.

[Ethans_Mom]

a late response here...

My son didn't say ANYTHING (not even mama or dada!) at 18 months old. We got him hooked up with our local Birth to 3 - they did the eval and set him up for speech therapy in our home. (1x week until he turned 3) Then he had a guaranteed place in preschool 2x week. This next school year he will go 4x a week.
He is still behind his peers in speech. I'd say we understand him easily (not having to think about everything he just babbled and make sense of it) about 60% of the time right now.

He is SO bright though. He knew all the upper case alphabet at 24 months old and by 25 months also knew lower case. (you could point to any letter and he'd identify it correctly 100% of the time at these ages). He had maybe 20 words at that point but had the alphabet down pat. He knew advanced shapes like trapezoid and pentagon as well at about 29 months old. Granted, very few could understand he was saying trapezoid or pentagon... If it was a direct question "What shape is this?" people could figure out he was identifying it correctly, but if he just saw one and said the word, people wouldn't get what he was saying.

Because of his annoying obsession with my computer, we dug out an old computer and set it up for him to play/learn on. After having computer access for 3 days he knew how to turn it on, open the specific game he wanted (there are a few educational games on there for him to choose from) and even figured out "click and drag" all on his own! He completed the Reader Rabbit Preschool game in one week and is now working on Reader Rabbit Kindergarten. (He's 3 1/2 now)

He is also learning to read already. He loves his Hooked on Phonics books!

I'm not saying all this to brag on him (well, maybe a tiny bit. I AM proud of him after all... ), but my point is that delayed speech does not necessarily have ANY bearing on cognitive ability.

[kxl164]

I don't have stats, but my foster son (soon to be adoptive son) has a speech delay (diagnosed with Apraxia) and has congnitive dealys.

He is "interesting" because his ability levels are scattered, he tests average in some areas and significantly below average in others. Part of the reason for this IS the speech dealy, and type of speech delay that it is, so they told me to keep in mind that his scores probably reflect a lower ability than he actually has. However, they are not suprised by the congnitve delay results either given his neglect situation early in life. They do feel that with the right help and support he can overcome most of his delays, but that he will probably have learning issues throughout his life. Not necessarily a congnitive delay, but issues.

We think that our foster son was exposed to drugs/alcohol in utero too, (call it gut feeling) but since he has no physical traits there is no way to really know that, not that it matters as long as he has the right help anyway.

[kxl164]

I don't know if this helps you or not, it is not really stats:

http://come-over.to/FAS/PDF/Overlapp...cteristics.pdf