Update on Jackson: Speech Therapy

Since so many of you have been asking about Jackson’s speech therapy I thought I would write a quick post about it. On Tuesday we had the last private speech therapy that we will have for a while. She said Jackson has progressed a good bit just in the last three weeks with her. He says bubbles all the time, pop, blow, yucky, oh boy, golf, etc. He could not or would not say these words a couple weeks ago. We went to the private speech therapist for three sessions, and yesterday was our last visit until we see if the insurance will cover it (I have to file it myself). Also, yesterday we finally got our speech therapist from Babynet. Major Praise! She will be coming to the house weekly until he is three years old (he will have a big evaluation again at two and half to see if he still needs the speech therapy and then when Jackson turns three the school district that we are in takes over if he still needs therapy)

Resources if your child is having speech issues:

• Main book recommended by my private therapist is: The Language of Toys Schwatzer, Miler (she says this is the like the Bible book for speech therapist working with kids Jackson’s age). It explains what is going on, and give you exercises to do with your little one and places to write when they accomplish certain speech tasks
• Superduperinc.com (private speech therapist gave me tons of handouts and this website has some free handouts)
• One of the best resources I have seen that my Babynet therapist recommends was the dvd serious Signing Time. Charlie went and got this dvd yesterday at the library and it teaches them “more, mama, etc” plus hand motions. This week we are working on “m” words that are not just descriptive words. We are really working on “more” (with the sign language) and making him ask for more when he wants more. We have also ordered Baby Signing Time off Amazon for a really good price. I really wish I had known about this resource when Jackson was a year old. It is the best teaching tool I have seen for speech issues! Jackson tells us all day long what he wants and what he has done through hand motions so this dvd is really helping him communicate. Once he sees the power in telling us what he wants through words, he will want to use his words. That is why it is good for Jackson to be in the two year old room at church and see other kids using words to get what they want. This dvd has kids doing the signing motions and Jackson likes it. We have learned that Jackson definitely does the best in the morning when he alert. Here is their website but Amazon has the best prices on dvd. I will definitely be using these dvds on Abigail. I would use these dvds for learning even if your child does not have speech delay. http://www.signingtime.com/?gclid=CKDutZXrl5YCFQpjnAod7BZ96A
• I am just so thankful that we have resources now and a speech therapist from Babynet. Again, I started this process at the beginning of August and next week will be the first real speech session we will have from Babynet. I have seen improvements in Jackson and I am just very thankful (he is about 6 months behind in speaking which we knew already). I am learning so much and some days I feel like I am getting a degree in speech therapy with notes and homework assignments. This is a good thing because I really do not know how to teach preschool age children and I know I feel like I really am starting to get a grasp on teaching little ones. God is teaching me so much…especially with patience!
• Today the Babynet coordinator (different from speech therapist she comes once a week as well to work on preschool goals) got him to ask for more with sign language and saying “mm” all by himself. This is a major deal for Jackson….he has come so far already!

Ps-when Jackson’s diaper gets full he rips it off…no we are not ready to potty train probably will not try till he is 2 and half or so (we want to potty train him when he is ready not just when we want him to).

Do yall recommend anymore resources for speech development?