Joined Jul 2005
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Forum Thread
I'm frustrated....first it was speech therapy, now this!
January 6, 2012 at
10:18 AM
If you guys recall, it was recommended that my then-3-yr-old son get speech therapy because he was not often using complex phrases and sentences. For me, I was always convinced it was because he didn't speak English all that well yet. And, since we've been teaching him much more English, he's fine now.
As for the "speech therapy", we take him each week and it's like private tutoring on things we hadn't gone over with him when he was younger because we thought he was too young. For example, at 3 and younger, we didn't go over concepts like over/under, inside/outside, on top/under. After going over it once with the teacher and reinforcing it at home for a day, he's got it down now. So, you can say he's a fast learner.
However, the speech therapist is now suggesting that he has perhaps attention issues! For me, this boggles the mind. If anything, ppl who have seen my son have been amazed at how patient he is and how he has such a long attention span! For example, I can sit with him for an hour doing homework, spelling with him, writing with him, reading with him, etc. Since he was about 3 yrs old, he would often sit alone and use the foam letters that we got him and just spell out words on his own. He would do this for extended amount of time.
When we would take him to music events/concerts, he would contently watch for hours. And, when he would be in front of our piano, he would sit and play for 15 to 30 minutes easy. Yet, because he often gets distracted during speech therapy because there are so many toys in the room and it's towards the end of the hour session, the therapist now wants him to be tested for attention issues!
Am I being a protective father to think this is getting too far? Or, am I wrong to think that it's normal for young toddlers or pre-K kids to get distracted at times when there's a lot of toys around them?
As for the "speech therapy", we take him each week and it's like private tutoring on things we hadn't gone over with him when he was younger because we thought he was too young. For example, at 3 and younger, we didn't go over concepts like over/under, inside/outside, on top/under. After going over it once with the teacher and reinforcing it at home for a day, he's got it down now. So, you can say he's a fast learner.
However, the speech therapist is now suggesting that he has perhaps attention issues! For me, this boggles the mind. If anything, ppl who have seen my son have been amazed at how patient he is and how he has such a long attention span! For example, I can sit with him for an hour doing homework, spelling with him, writing with him, reading with him, etc. Since he was about 3 yrs old, he would often sit alone and use the foam letters that we got him and just spell out words on his own. He would do this for extended amount of time.
When we would take him to music events/concerts, he would contently watch for hours. And, when he would be in front of our piano, he would sit and play for 15 to 30 minutes easy. Yet, because he often gets distracted during speech therapy because there are so many toys in the room and it's towards the end of the hour session, the therapist now wants him to be tested for attention issues!
Am I being a protective father to think this is getting too far? Or, am I wrong to think that it's normal for young toddlers or pre-K kids to get distracted at times when there's a lot of toys around them?
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On the other hand... can't hurt to have him tested, can it?
My son's in kindergarten, and I help the teacher out for the entire day one day a week, and if she's REALLY lucky, she can get those kids to focus for a whole ten minutes.
Expecting a whole hour seems like a LOT.
We have a deep problem in this country where the only apparent solution is medication.
On the other hand... can't hurt to have him tested, can it?
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We have a deep problem in this country where the only apparent solution is medication.
I don't even expect my son to focus on homework for an entire hour now, (the teachers recommend 15-minute sessions) let alone be able to do that when he was three!
It sounds like your son is fine if he can just sit for an hour with you to do homework.
As long as you're confident in your son then u can skip this.
I think you should tell your "speech therapist" that you'll let your doctor make any assessments about your kid's potential attention issues and that (s)he should focus on speech therapy.
As for the "speech therapy", we take him each week and it's like private tutoring on things we hadn't gone over with him when he was younger because we thought he was too young. For example, at 3 and younger, we didn't go over concepts like over/under, inside/outside, on top/under. After going over it once with the teacher and reinforcing it at home for a day, he's got it down now. So, you can say he's a fast learner.
However, the speech therapist is now suggesting that he has perhaps attention issues! For me, this boggles the mind. If anything, ppl who have seen my son have been amazed at how patient he is and how he has such a long attention span! For example, I can sit with him for an hour doing homework, spelling with him, writing with him, reading with him, etc. Since he was about 3 yrs old, he would often sit alone and use the foam letters that we got him and just spell out words on his own. He would do this for extended amount of time.
When we would take him to music events/concerts, he would contently watch for hours. And, when he would be in front of our piano, he would sit and play for 15 to 30 minutes easy. Yet, because he often gets distracted during speech therapy because there are so many toys in the room and it's towards the end of the hour session, the therapist now wants him to be tested for attention issues!
Am I being a protective father to think this is getting too far? Or, am I wrong to think that it's normal for young toddlers or pre-K kids to get distracted at times when there's a lot of toys around them?
Like anything else, it's better to get things checked out sooner then later.
What if (god forbid) your child has add? This would only hinder the child going forward...so the sooner you can address these issues, the better for the child.
I hope it's nothing and your child tests out fine.
Like anything else, it's better to get things checked out sooner then later.
What if (god forbid) your child has add? This would only hinder the child going forward...so the sooner you can address these issues, the better for the child.
I hope it's nothing and your child tests out fine.