SPD and Speech Delay connection in a 19 mth old

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SPD and Speech Delay connection in a 19 mth old

by Gigi

Feeling a bit overwhelmed... Today my 19 month old son was diagnosed with SPD. I knew something was up but had never heard of SPD.

He is constantly trying to get into 'tight' spaces, very clumsy, likes to squeeze me and my husband very tightly. He doesn't yet speak but comprehends everything and makes continuous eye contact so I am hopeful that autism isn't in our diagnoses.

We start with an OT next week and a speak therapist tomorrow... as I understand it, his speech could be delayed due to the SPD... once we get on top of his sensory needs, the speech should improve... has anyone else encountered the speech delay-SPD connection? I am venturing into a new realm.. any information would be terrific and much appreciated.

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SPD and Speech Delay connection in a 19 mth old

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Mar 29, 2009
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been there... it will get better
by: Jenn

Hi,

Both of my daughters have SPD and speech delays. The early years are very intense with this, but if you have your child in both Occupational and speech therapy you will see huge changes.

My oldest had a huge link between her SPD and speech. She went from 18 months to nearly 2 1/2 without learning any new words. We went to stay at her grandparents farm for a summer. They had a huge yard and bouncy toys and swingsets and stuff that just wasn't often available from our apartment life. She would wake up, strip out of her pajamas every morning and run out to the swings. She craved the motion. Over one weekend, she went from a vocabulary of about 20 words that she'd known for nearly a year to adding the words 1-10 and being able to recite them in order. With a new focus on sensory things, she went through huge leaps and then leveled out a bit but continued learning. She's going to be five next month, and still has some language delay, but not so much that the common observer in her life would notice.

Her other SPD issues, for the most part, have also dropped off and improved. The screaming is gone, she does okay with changes to schedules now, she can grit her teeth and allow me to trim her nails now. Before, it was so bad that when we had new neighbors once we went over to let them know that we'd be cutting her toenails and there would be so much screaming it might worry them. We didn't want them to wonder if they should call the police!

My younger daughter also had a link between the two issues, but not so dramatic.

You'll have to have a lot of diligence, and you have a good deal of work ahead, but you and your child can get through this!

Good luck!!

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Mar 29, 2009
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Submitted by: Jenn

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Hi, Both of my daughters have SPD and speech delays. The early years are very intense with this, but if you have your child in both Occupational and speech therapy you will see huge changes. My oldest had a huge link between her SPD and speech. She went from 18 months to nearly 2 1/2 without learning any new words. We went to stay at her grandparents farm for a summer. They had a huge yard and bouncy toys and swingsets and stuff that just wasn't often available from our apartment life. She would wake up, strip out of her pajamas every morning and run out to the swings. She craved the motion. Over one weekend, she went from a vocabulary of about 20 words that she'd known for nearly a year to adding the words 1-10 and being able to recite them in order. With a new focus on sensory things, she went through huge leaps and then leveled out a bit but continued learning. She's going to be five next month, and still has some language delay, but not so much that the common observer in her life would notice. Her other SPD issues, for the most part, have also dropped off and improved. The screaming is gone, she does okay with changes to schedules now, she can grit her teeth and allow me to trim her nails now. Before, it was so bad that when we had new neighbors once we went over to let them know that we'd be cutting her toenails and there would be so much screaming it might worry them. We didn't want them to wonder if they should call the police! My younger daughter also had a link between the two issues, but not so dramatic. You'll have to have a lot of diligence, and you have a good deal of work ahead, but you and your child can get through this! Good luck!!

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Mar 11, 2009
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my 9 yr old boy
by: Anonymous

My son is 9 we found out about his speech when he was 24 mo but didn't find out about the sensory disorder until he started school in the first grade.

We were never really told about it because he has been in speech since he was 3 and it has gotten better. We also found out that part of the speech problem was do to with fluid in his ears so when he got the tubes in we noticed a difference right away so make sure you rule that out.

Feb 19, 2009
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SPD and Speech Delay
by: Carrie Miskawi

Yeah!! So glad to hear the speech therapy has started for you! My daughter did not show it until around 24 months, it just took a while to find the right therapist and until she really started speaking a lot, I didn't notice a problem.

We bought a small bounce house from Toys R Us and this helps regulate her a lot! We also do as many park trips as possible-the swinging is great for them-try to swing as much as possible for at least 20 minutes, you will notice a difference!

We also enrolled her in a gymnastics class-they have an obstacle course that promotes "heavy work"-(the styrofoam pit, climbing in and out of) and lots of summer-saults and hanging from bars, jumping on trampolines-this all makes a difference in how she is for the rest of the day!

I do the brushing program and the listening program and these together with the "sensory diet" of stuff above and other things I have thought of have helped a lot. Ask your OT to introduce you to the brushing program and the listening therapy we do with the help of our OT and Vital Sounds-the company who makes the modulated CD's.

Hope some of this helps, it is tough day to day, but I have hope eventually they will thrive without a lot of change in their day to day activity :)

Feb 19, 2009
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a few more questions.
by: Anonymous

Thank you for your comments and encouragement. We just got my son into speech therapy today... I am sooo excited because up until today he has only said 5 words... the therapist got 2 more out of him today.

When your daughter was 18 mths, did you notice a speech delay or did it start to show itself later on. How is she doing at 28 mths? What activities did you find most helpful? Thank you in advance! G

Feb 18, 2009
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SPD and Speech Delay
by: Carrie Miskawi

I have a 28 month old girl, who was diagnosed when she was 18 months old and she started speech therapy three weeks ago. There is a distinct connection and I was told by two OT's this is not uncommon with SPD kids. My advice is to fight to get a speech analysis by someone who is familiar with both speech and SPD and start therapy now. It is already helping my daughter!

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SPD and Speech Delay connection in a 19 mth old

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SPD and Speech Delay connection in a 19 mth old