No ST for a month, should I be worried? | Autism PDD

i HAVE WENT THREE MONTHS WITHOUT ST. AND IT DOES HURT wE HAVE A NEW THERAPIEST NOW BUT THE TRANSITION IS TUFF WHEN THEY GET USE TO ONE PERSON THEN THEY LEAVE.i WOULD KEEP THE SAME THERAPIST AND DO THE EXERCISES WITH MY CHUILD EVERY DAY UNTIL SHE COMES BACK

Sally,

I know that the dx with your little one is pretty new (from reading the posts - I don't alway respond b/c so many others know more than I do) My dd is 4 (on 6/25) and I started EI when she was 2 years/ 5 months. I was hysterical with worry and even though she was what they considered "high-functioning", I was a basketcase. Callie was nonverbal until she was 3 1/2. Her 1/2 year falls on Christmas Day so I have a definite benchmark for her. I thought when she turned 3 that she would never talk. Since being in PPCD and through lots of (forced) interaction with daycare, PPCD, and siblings, she talks a lot now. Her speech pattern is different from others her age and sometimes she stutters or rambles, but she is verbal. We have seen miles of progress.

I am a little concerned that the ST says that she is interested in "regression". I think that "regression" is not something that any of us want to see. Do the worksheets, keep insisting that she point, sign, or speak to make requests. It is hard and very frustrating when she doesn't, but keep trying. Regression comes from lots of factors - change in routine, illness, new expectations. If you can get a new ST to come in to help, it might help, but from my experience, it can make things confusing and cause regression.

This disorder is so frustrating and difficult to deal with... You are doing everything that you can for her. I know one month seems so volatile, but you will be amazed at the progress your little one can make. Will she be attending PPCD in the fall (August, Sept.)? I found my dd's experience with PPCD to be very beneficial. Keep us posted.

I didn't tell you how sorry I am that you ST is out of pocket - That stinks! If your daughter has adjusted to her and responds well to her, then I might consider just working at home with her. If you feel she hasn't "bonded" with her, you might consider asking for someone else to work with your dd. That's your call. How do you feel?
"My GS is without speech therapy and all therapy for the Month of July.
This was my daughter's choice, as she felt that kids need a vacation away from the pressures and schedules.
A good ST always teaches you how to continue the therapy at home, to be consistent with what she is doing with the child at the time.
We are continuing some of the home therapy for July and nothing else.
My GS has not regressed.

We have had six days of ST a week for the first 10 years. John is very verbal now at almost 13. I had a Speech pathologist quit after her baby was born and from then on I kept two on the payroll. They worked together and seperatly so he never was without ST. I found that breaking up his rutine hurt him. I make anyone who works with me and the kids sign a contract stating they will give 24 hrs. advance notice of any time off. One so I can prepare my children for a change in rutine, and 2 so I can replace the hours of therapy with an anternate therapy. A whole month without a vital service is to much.

In my opinion, I don't think the ST meant she was interested to see regression, but to see if there IS any regression, and if so, how much. It helps therapists judge how long is too long for a child to go without services. Within the school districts, the therapists are interested to find out how their students did over their school vacations. If they regress enough, it actually helps the child immensely because that way they can receive more services over the summer to prevent regression. I hope that makes sense....

As far as what you can do for the time the ST is away, just work on whatever the ST was doing using the techniques that are the most successful. I always tell my clients that even though I went to school and got a degree in speech, parents are the primary therapists as they are with their children far more than I ever could be.
ames38557.5718865741That's an interesting way to look at it, ames, but as a therapist, I'd say one of the big roles of therapy is to see continued progression, not regression! I know what you're trying to say as far as getting the child services in the future ("if they regress enough"), but certainly she wouldn't have told the mother to do without therapy for a month just to see regression, right? I mean, in an ideal world, the therapist wouldn't be on vacation for a month, services would continue unabated, and the child would continue to make progress -- it doesn't make any sense to me to wait and see if the child regresses. As I said above, I would continue to seek speech therapy for my child for the month that she's gone (and perhaps stay with the therapist who doesn't take month-long vacations) rather than try to continue with training exercises in her absence. After all, if sallys felt comfortable being her child's speech therapist, why would she pay someone else to do it? Just "MHO".

Well...my ds missed 3 weeks of ST because she was out for 2 weeks and one week ds had a dr appt w/ a urology specialist and it was his only opening for a mth so we had to take it. And he did regress a little during that time. But now he has picked back up again. I wouldn't worry too much, but you may see some regression and loss of things she had gained because of the ST for awhile. Don't worry too much unless she still has probs once the ST resumes. And work w/ her on whatever you can during that mth. Whatever she's been learning or any new words, signs, etc just work on that with her yourself.

Amber

My dd's (3 yrs old, pdd-nos) ST is going to be on vacation in August, so that makes an entire month (more probably) with NO speech therapy. This makes me very nervous. The ST says she'll give me some worksheets/exercises, etc. to do but it's "up to me" how much I want to do. She also said "it'll be interesting to see how much she regresses or forgets." HUH?????? I don't think dd will regress or forget things without ST but then again everyone (meaning all those books I guess) is always saying how ST is the "cornerstone" to the whole intervention. And then you know me with my worry. I'm freaking thinking we're losing an entire month. I'll probably turn into miss speech therapist task master and drive everyone crazy all month.

Just wondering how it went when anyone else's ST took off for a month or summer or whatever and how the kids fared. Also worried about dd READJUSTING to ST when she does come back. SIGH!!!

If she is going away for an entire month or more could you ask for a temporary replacement for the meantime while she is gone?

Karrie

I was going to suggest what Karrie did. I wouldn't go a whole month without ST for Luke. Nor would I find it "interesting" to see how much he regresses without services!!

Who gets a month off these days?! She must work for the state!