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Join
the Cherab's free email support discussion list:
For more information about communication impairments, see Cherab's partner informational site, Speechville Express
Read more about The LateTalker, a new book for families of children who are late to talk. |
Every parent of a child with apraxia should be armed with a copy of
the book The
Late Talker: What to Do If Your Child Isn't Talking Yet. Author Marilyn
C. Agin, MD, a pediatrician and former speech-language pathologist, and
co writer Lisa F. Geng, A Florida mother of two late talkers, are so instinctively
in tune with their subject matter that their book comes across more like
a conversation among supportive friends than a medical 'how-to' manual.
Yet make no mistake the information provided in its 221 pages is comprehensive,
concise, practical, rational and non-patronizing. The authors assume parents
have already heard the "wait and see" response as to why their child cannot
talk and are trusting their own instincts to delve further.
Chapters include warning signs of a speech disorder, ways to obtain
an evaluation and treatment, services offered through the school system
and health insurance, at home activities, and advice from parents who've
been there.
The professionals parents have encountered are not always portrayed
in the most flattering light. Many will cringe when they read the story
of the parent who was told at an individual education plan (IEP) meeting
that she had "too much time on her hands" for putting together a comprehensive
plan as to why her child needed one-on-one therapy.
Parents must be their child's biggest advocate, the authors continuously
stress, and this book backs up the reasons why with research, resources,
and real-life examples.
While parents should find the information in the book invaluable, therapists
will benefit from its wealth of resources, including a list of children's
books dealing with disabilities, fun therapy exercises, a guide to ICD
codes, where to order sing-along music for children with speech disorders,
and an appendix of support tools.
Malcolm J. Nicholl, the third author of the book, contributes a chapter
about the use of omega-3 fatty acids to help stimulate speech. While there
is limited research on the effectiveness of giving late talkers fatty
acids he notes numerous parents provide evidence of its success with their
children.
The questions and concerns for parents of late talkers are endless. This
book offers reassuring and realistic advice while providing a comprehensive
map through the maze of terms, techniques, and troubles they will encounter. Armed with this knowledge, both parents and professionals will be able
to help late talkers find their voice.
This book can be obtained from St. Martin's Press (or online through
Barnes and Noble or Amazon...or ask for it at your favorite book store)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alice Rhein is on staff at St. John Health System in Detroit, MI. "ADVANCE for Speech-Language Pathologists & Audiologists is a weekly publication, reporting on up-to-the-minute developments, the latest technology, and current trends in audiology and speech-language pathology."
Family Picture from top left, Glenn, Dakota, (our first "late talker,") Lisa (Founder of Cherab), and Tanner, (our second "late talker" who we used to call the "Serious Babe.") What nobody knew then, including Tanner's first pediatricians, or his first Speech and Language Pathologists, was that his lack of facial expressions was one of the warning signs of oral apraxia, a condition that can be diagnosed earlier than verbal apraxia.
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