Help for my sister please?

[Jennifer in MI]

My sister's son - 2 years, 3 months is not talking. He can say mama and lots of animal noises, but no other words. He used to be able to say "Christmas Tree Lights" (tis-tis-tee-I) around Christmas, but he won't say it again.

This child is VERY smart!! He obsesses about trucks. He has a book that my sis has been reading to him - it has all the technical names of the trucks. He can point to the correct one, when asked, every time. He can point out different types of trees - decidious fir, maple, etc - even if he hasn't seen the tree before. He knows most of the letters of the alphabet if asked (Where's the B?). He follows basic commands, "Hand this to mommy." Obviously, he understands things.

He is also very social - smiles for nearly everyone, but, obviously prefers mom or dad.

He didn't sit until 7 months, crawl until 13 months, and walk until 19 months.

Does this sound like anything to you? Anything for my sister to research? She's just starting to be open to the idea that he may benefit from some therapy.

Thanks in advance!!!

[Ottakee]

I would suggest an eval. Early On might do one--call the health department.

Some things are warning signs for spectrum disorders---no speech, loosing words he did say, obsessing on 1 topic, very bright, etc.

[Stacy in NJ]

If I were her, I would ask my pediatrician about large motor development, and maybe about the late talking. I wouldn't necessarily be concerned about it, though. Because he's pointing and smiling and generally engaged, I really wouldn't worry overlymuch. There's actually something called the Einstein syndrome. I think Thomas Sowell has written about it. It suggests that some really bright kids talk much later primarily because their so focused on learning other stuff their just not that interested in speech. If he's capable of learning sophisticated vocabulary with technical names, I would say he's probably pretty bright. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/Einstein-Syndrome-Bright-Children-Talk/dp/0465081401

[Cadam]

losing words is the hallmark of my son's speech disorder. It is called verbal apraxia and is a disorder of oral motor planning. You can find info at apraxia-kids.net

There is no way for me to know if this is what is going on with your nephew but I will tell you that if this is it your sister has to find an SLP with experience dealing with childhood apraxia. It is treated with different techniques than articulation disorders and other things, because the underlying issue is motor planning. Many SLP's have no training in apraxia (and a few backwards old-timers refuse to acknowledge it exists in children :glare: )

My son's speech is very normal now but we went to ST 2-3 times a week, individual sessions (group sessions don't work for apraxia) lasting about 45 min, for four years. We then did quarterly check ups for a year and then yearly check ups twice.

It is not something that ever goes away. It is part of their brain structure, but it can be remediated if it is caught early and treated properly. Sort of like you can treat and remediate dyslexia but the person will always have dyslexia. When my son is stressed it is harder for him to get words out but I think I am the only one who notices it now.

In contrast: the 10 yo next door has apraxia as well. He was given speech services through the public school. Various teachers, group sessions and short sessions. He is almost completely unintelligible. I am pretty good at distinguishing speech, after all we have been through, and I can only understand about 50% of what this child says. It is a tragedy.

hth

[Laurie4b]

I would definitely encourage your sister to get an evaluation. We are finding out more and more about the plasticity of the brain, but the younger they are, the more plastic! Remediation done at age 2 is far more effective, faster, than remediation done later.

A developmental evaluation center, where there is someone from medicine, OT, speech therapy, etc. all looking at the issues from their professional perspectives can be very helpful. Or, she could get separate appointments with a developmental pediatrician, a speech & language pathologist, and an occupational therapist. Whatever the issues, there will be a very different outcome with early intervention than waiting until later.

[Kathy in MD]

My sister's son - 2 years, 3 months is not talking. He can say mama and lots of animal noises, but no other words. He used to be able to say "Christmas Tree Lights" (tis-tis-tee-I) around Christmas, but he won't say it again.

This child is VERY smart!! He obsesses about trucks. He has a book that my sis has been reading to him - it has all the technical names of the trucks. He can point to the correct one, when asked, every time. He can point out different types of trees - decidious fir, maple, etc - even if he hasn't seen the tree before. He knows most of the letters of the alphabet if asked (Where's the B?). He follows basic commands, "Hand this to mommy." Obviously, he understands things.

He is also very social - smiles for nearly everyone, but, obviously prefers mom or dad.

He didn't sit until 7 months, crawl until 13 months, and walk until 19 months.

Does this sound like anything to you? Anything for my sister to research? She's just starting to be open to the idea that he may benefit from some therapy.

Thanks in advance!!!

I agree about getting an evaluation early. And don't let your sister brush off "minor" problems that the evaluators might uncover. I went in for a pre-school general developmental evaluation "knowing" that my ds only needed ST and I considered the rest of the tests a waste of time. The evaluators listened to me instead of pushing for further evaluations of areas where my ds was slightly behind. 3-4 years later we found those "minor" delays were actual indicators of major problems.

[JFS in IL]

He should be evaluated by a professional team, as mentioned. ANYTHING that needs therapy - be it speech, OT, etc. - the sooner the better. No reason to wait - the kid will still be the same kid - but if he does need help from, say, a speech therapist, there is no reason to waste time.

[Jennifer in MI]

Thank you everyone! I read her your responses and she is calling about an evaluation today. I've had my concerns about him for a while now, but haven't said anything. I have a ds who has ASpergers and if anyone had said anything to me about him before I was ready to hear it, I'd have been REALLY mad!! And, I have a dd who is 5 months older than her ds. I didn't want it to sound like I was comparing the two children.

When she finally asked me about him and what I thought, I jumped at the opportunity to tell her I thought she ought to have an evaluation.

So, thank you! I think hearing these responses really put her over the edge - it was the "it can't hurt and could help" line of thinking that convinced her!