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Speech and OT Q and
A's
Disclaimer: the advice given in our Q and A section is NOT a substitution
for medical advice. Please consult your physician or the early intervention
specialist in your area.
| Q. My son is
two-and-a-half and only has a few words. My pediatrician suggested I
take him to be evaluated for speech therapy. Is this really
necessary? I hate the thought of my child receiving "speech
therapy". Can't he just be a "late talker"? |
Answer:
Your pediatrician only has your son's best interest in mind. It
certainly won't hurt to have a speech therapist evaluate your son.
It may turn out that based on his/her evaluation that your son
doesn't qualify for speech therapy. If that's the case, then the
speech therapist can give you some suggestions on things you can do
to at home to help your son along. If, however, your son does
qualify for speech therapy, it's not a death sentence! The stigma
associated with any kind of therapy, whether it be speech,
occupational and/or physical therapy has long fallen by the wayside.
Sometimes children only need these therapies for a few months. It
doesn't mean your child will have a label for the rest of his/her
life. Many times with early intervention, children no longer need
therapy before they even reach school age. |
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| Q: My
three-year-old daughter has difficulty eating. While she can manage
using her fork/spoon okay, she always overstuffs her mouth unless I
am there to assist her and make her wait until she swallows before
taking the next bite. She also seems particularly messy during
mealtimes, much more so than my other children were at that age. She
often has food falling out of her mouth, almost as though she can't
tell it's there at all. She makes no attempt to put it back in her
mouth like most children do. Is this a problem? |
Answer:
It wouldn't hurt to have your daughter evaluated. She may need some
occupational therapy. It's possible that your daughter may not have
the body awareness to be able to feel that she has overstuffed her
mouth or that she has food falling out of her mouth. You won't know
this, however, until you have her evaluated. |
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