Today, I decided to change pediatricians. Audrey turned 2 on August 5th, and at her 2 year check up, the PA who examined her asked my husband if he wanted to put her in speech therapy. He said he'd discuss it with me and we'd call back if we thought it was warranted. We talked it over, and we know she's a little slow on speech, but we don't think that it's a problem. Certainly not one requiring speech therapy.

When I took Audrey in a couple of days ago for a rash that was spreading, the same woman started pushing me to put her in speech therapy, too.

I called the office to talk to someone about this woman. The more I think about it, the more ridiculous I think it is to say that a two year old (who, by the way, DOES speak, just not in sentences yet) is in need of speech therapy. The office manager (who is the doctor's wife) wanted me to talk to her instead of her husband, and argued with me that the woman was being totally reasonable in telling me to take my daughter to speech therapy at this point, that she was probably just preparing me for the inevitable. She also wouldn't let me finish my sentences, didn't want to listen to me in the least, so I basically told her that I was taking my children to a doctor who looked at the big picture.

Audrey is actually pretty advanced for a two year old. She understands everything that we tell her. Yes, she still ignores it when she wants to, but I know that she understands me. I checked out where she should be according to the AAP, and she's not really very behind at all. Her vocabulary is about 40 words instead of 50, but I really don't think that is such a huge gap. Neither the PA or the office manager asked me about that. And she does link two words together, like the AAP says she should be doing, just not noun + verb yet. She says "Ok, baby" to her little sister, stuff like that.

Am I crazy, or do you think it's the pediatrician's office?

I would definately take her in for a second opinion first of all. Also keep in mind that 2 year olds typically are still developing their speech. What gave her the impression she needs therapy? Most children I know, including mine, don't talk a lot around strangers. My 2 1/2 yo talks, but not a lot around people she doesn't know. Doctor offices can be intimidating for children and therefore may not speak up alot.

Secondly, if there is a concern about her speech I would think that they would have her hearing checked first. That can be a cause for speech delay.

I would also follow your gut. But just to put your mind at ease it wouldn't hurt to have her seen by another ped.

Angela had to be tested for ADD, ADHD, and autism when she was 2 just so a daycare would let her back in..Have you had her hearing checked? I tell all parents that just to be safe..Mine was losing her hearing and only catching bits and pieces of sentences so she'd sort of "babble" out one word phrases to get her point across..I think to her, they were sentences and we were just supposed to understand..

Other than that, I wouldn't worry with speech therapy for a 2yr old...Lots of 2yr olds just "take it all in" so to speak and one day you just wish they'd stop talking or at least take a breath...If the few words she'll say come out clearly, then I wouldn't worry for a few more months...But if you catch her staring at your face when you talk, or seemingly ignoring you when her head is turned away, then I'd have her hearing checked..

I don't see a need for speech therapy with one so young. Especially in a case such as yours where it's obvious the child speaks. She's just at a different 'level' All kids mature at different rates. Chances are, she'll pop off here shortly, speaking in complete, clear sentences hehe

Not to make light of any real speech delays and the like. I just think that at *2* you cannot yet determine that. Just keep talking to her at home. Encourage her to use more words. Which simply means, when she says something in 2 words, you repeat it back in a full sentence. Easy as that.

If your 'gut' is telling you there *may* be something to this, then have her checked by another ped. and possibly even another.

Bev
This is a subject very close to my heart right now, so I will pray for you as you make decisions. I think it is important to follow your instincts. I think I would have been upset too, b/c it sounds like they didn't really want to hear your side. If you feel it would give you peace of mind then maybe you could get a 2nd opinion.
Let us know how things work out!

One of our sons was barely understandable for a long time. We had him tested through the local school district around age 4, I think, but they assured us he would grow out of it. He mostly did except for the "r" sound. Later he went to speech therapy which was offered at the public school (a little embarrassing for him, but necessary) and he is fine.

As far as having speech therapy at 2, that seems a little early. Most 2 year olds aren't real clear in their speech yet. I think what would be concerning is how this was handled at your ped's office.

You could always call your school system. Ours has BabyNet for those under 3. They evaluate and then make suggestions. Instead of "therapy" they may have activities/games to encourage use of speech. I'm planning on getting Chadwick evaluated after Christmas, as Ryleigh had speech and developmental delays. They can perhaps refer you to an audiologist. I on't know about speech therapy. Ryleigh didn't start until 3, but then I didn't get her evaluated until she was 3.

That was one of my beefs with the pediatrician's office. No one ever suggested having her hearing checked or anything of that sort. And, no, they never asked about her vocabulary or anything like that.

At 18 months, they asked if she was talking alot. She really wasn't at that point, so I told them she talked a little, but not much. Then, at 24 months, they started pushing speech therapy after they found out she wasn't using sentences yet. She is linking words together, just not nouns and verbs, but did anyone ask about that? No.

I just don't feel comfortable with a pediatrician that is so ready to make a mountain out of a molehill. Audrey talks, all the time. It's not always comprehensible, and she's still babbling a lot. But she knows how to tell me what she wants. Like smacking me on the thigh with her sippy cup when she's out of milk, etc. :lol: Or if she wants juice, she'll drag me to the fridge and say, "Apple".

I'm pretty sure it's not her hearing, though. Because she repeats things after us. I got steamed when her dad told her he loved her, and she repeated back to him, "Love you". When I've told her over and over that I love her! Well, not really, but she told him she loves him, and never me! I'm like, what am I changing all these dirty diapers for, if you don't even love me, child? :roll:

And my husband's been reminding me of things I forgot that she says, so her vocabulary is actually closer to 50 words than I originally thought. After tons of prayer over this stuff, I just really don't feel that she needs to go to speech therapy. The fact of the matter is that she's the oldest child, and according to what I've observed, that's the case with many oldest children.

Anyway, I've discovered a new pediatrician who is a lot closer to my house than the old one. And that came after a little prayer, so I feel good about it. I'm taking my youngest in next month, and I plan to discuss my concerns about my oldest at that time, just to see what they think about the situation. I want to make sure that I'm not just exchanging a situation I'm unhappy with for another!

It sounds like both the PA and the office manager were very unprofessional and didn't address your concerns at all - it seems to happen too often at drs offices that they forget to treat us like their clients and not their underlings :( There should also definitely be a more formal process with an actual doctor before referring your child to speech therapy - an evaluation of child speech patterns/object recognition, hearing tests, etc.

Praying you have a more positive experience at the new doctor's office!
Even if the new ped does agree that it is worth checking into just to rule the need out, it would be worth it if they approach it properly - by doing a formal evaluation and not just making some rude offhanded comments.

My dd didn't use sentences until she was 2 1/2. As outgoing as she is, she still clams up around adults she doesn't know.

At 3 she's babbling away, telling stories and all. A school teacher friend mentioned she might have a small speach problem (she has problems with sh and th sounds). I figure with a little research I should be able to help her along.

Any c-mom's know any books or websights that can help us out?

It never hurts to have an evaluation by a speech pathologist. I'm pretty sure they are free in all 50 states for children under three through the states early intervention program. In KY it's called First Steps. I'm for catching things early. It's very difficult to "unlearn" incorrect speech patterns. My daughter has has speech therapy since she was 2. Some children have weak tongue muscles, or low tone in their face, or even incorrect swallowing patterns. Hope the change of pediatricians goes well. I have changed twice with my children and do not regret trusting in the Holy Spirit's urgings.
kymommy

It's not a question of money for us. It's a question of the competency of a PA to be sending us for an evaluation based on a couple minutes of observation and the answers to a couple of questions. I'm very upset that she doesn't seem to be considering any other possibilities (i.e. she didn't mention a hearing test). I feel kinda like we went in for an ear infection and left with a recommendation for a full body cast, lol!