I would take the once per week timeslot. Then I would fight for speech (1 on1) in school, twice a week. And in the ABA program, you will find they do alot fo things similar. Your son sitting still in the chair and engaging, for example, he will continue to do and get better at. There is also a ton of speech help in ABA therapy.
I guess my best suggestion is to look at this from both ends. We have had many therapist who have not been good but our speech therapist was the best we had. For us we stuck with her because we were getting only an hour once a week so the hour drive for us was worth it to go and see her. My oldest is five and is talking in full sentences which I accrediate to her because he was noverbal when she started working with him at 3 1/2. I think with two younger kids three times a week for that long in a car seems like a long time for half hour of speech. I would try in home and just stay on the waiting list with your current therapist and see what happens. I currently have in home teacher for my youngest and think she is as good as the speech that we paid for privately. So again it is looking at your options and trying things out to see what works best for you. I think you may find a good aba therapists offers the same kind of therapy she is giving you, that your son is responding so well to. Fifteen hours a week is not bad, the half an hour you are getting there just won't justify the journey once you have the other therapies in place. I also have three kids and I drive them around an awful lot but for half an hour,I wouldn't do that journey. if I was you I'd ask her to train you on what to work on with him and then go to her once a month to update and discuss particular problems, if she's willing to do that of course.
What would you endure for good Speech Therapy?
We've been seeing a speech therapist who seems to be wonderful. She has extensive experience with autism and has a son with severe autism. Texas Children's Hospital refers many patients to her. She uses ABA and a method called Links to Language.
She says my son WILL talk eventually if he's taught in a systematic way. In the 2 weeks we've been going to her, my son has done really well. He now sits in his chair like he's supposed to, he's stopped throwing his chair and other items while he's there, he said several words for her last week, he responded very well on the whole.
Medicaid has approved 3 sessions per week. They were originally 50 minutes long, but recently Medicaid has cut them to 30 minutes.
Now the problem is that we live way across Houston from her and it takes over an hour to get there and way over an hour (1 1/2 hours or more) to get home due to traffic. I also have 2 younger kids (age 2 and 21 months). It's very hard on the kids to spend nearly 3 hours in the car 3 times a week. I would really like to stop going.
We can get the therapy through a service that comes to our home. They say they have experience with autism. But I am not convinced they will be effective. My son is 3 and almost nonverbal. I feel that his speech is an urgent need. We need effective therapy. Especially since we wasted 16 months on non effective therapy with Early Childhood Intervention.
My son is in Head Start with a one-to-one aide and we're about to begin a home ABA program (10-15 hours per week), plus he's about to begin OT with a service that comes to our home.
What do you think we should do?
Would you be able to go 1 x week for 60 mins, or 2 x week for 45 or anything? That may be something to consider. Perhaps, go a few more weeks, if you continue to see great things--you may be willing to handle the drive & all. Or, try one of the in-home therapists & see how that goes. If after 2 months, you don't see any progress, then you may want to head back to the other therapist.We did 1 x 60 for speech and it was GREAT!
Keep in mind, it is not forever ... a year or even six months of therapy can make a HUGE difference.
Thank you both so much for your opinions. I really appreciate it. I like the suggestions from both of you.
Well, I would love to have more time on fewer days, but she says she can only do one 30 minute session per day because Medicaid would not approve it. I would love to have all three 30 minute sessions on one day. That would be worth driving for, I think.
Linda,
She says my son will need intensive therapy for years!!