Pushing too much for new words/signs?

[numbbears]

DS has had several words over the last year, but lost all of them except "go." We were so excited when he started responding to "Ready, Set...." and then using it by himself to tell us if he wanted something. But he uses it for everything like asking for more is go, telling us to go somewhere, wanting something open, etc.

Last week his EI ST had been working on getting him to say "bubbles" and he would make a "bu bu bu bu bu" babble at first, but after a short while he got frustrated and just started yelling "Go" to get her to blow bubbles.

Similar thing happened in OT. He would sign "more" and we were really excited about it. But when it came time to sign open, he just signed "more" a few times. OT said she didn't want to push "open" too much since he just started signing "more" for her.

Now I'm scared that if we push him to say new words and signs too much, he'll lose the only word and possible sign he has. Does anyone have any experience or advice on how to make sure he keeps the old words when we work on new ones?

[hopecounts]

He is overgeneralizing the word Go/More because he had learned those get him things.

With DD of/when she used a word incorrectly that she knew she would be prompted to say the correct word.
Her speech therapist accepted BuBu and did the bubbles then built up to bubbles and then blow bubbles.

[KC thepouchh8r]

For a kiddo with one word I would probably reward any attempt at verbal language. I would be too fearful that holding out might discourage communication. We only started doing that when dd actually had multiple words. I would put the desired item near my eyes to encourage eye contact and model the correct word though before rewarding.


With that being said have you tried pecs? That helped with language development way more than signing.

[numbbears]

We haven't tried PECS yet. But I'm going to look into it. I think he'd probably catch on faster with that than signing.

[Deleted]

Jan 24, 2015 18:55:20 GMT -5 numbbears said:

DS has had several words over the last year, but lost all of them except "go." We were so excited when he started responding to "Ready, Set...." and then using it by himself to tell us if he wanted something. But he uses it for everything like asking for more is go, telling us to go somewhere, wanting something open, etc.

Last week his EI ST had been working on getting him to say "bubbles" and he would make a "bu bu bu bu bu" babble at first, but after a short while he got frustrated and just started yelling "Go" to get her to blow bubbles.

Similar thing happened in OT. He would sign "more" and we were really excited about it. But when it came time to sign open, he just signed "more" a few times. OT said she didn't want to push "open" too much since he just started signing "more" for her.

Now I'm scared that if we push him to say new words and signs too much, he'll lose the only word and possible sign he has. Does anyone have any experience or advice on how to make sure he keeps the old words when we work on new ones?

My experience lies only with my own kids that were late talkers. One clearly had a physical impediment (severe tongue tie) which once resolved surgically caught up with ST after 6ish months.

My younger DS had zero words at the age of 2 and we spend years in ST.

I would say that if you have one word and one sign that you have little to lose and LOTS to gain by pushing both ST and signing. There is great evidence to indicate that the same areas of the brain are engaged regardless of the type of communication used. So, if signing comes more easily, for instance, that does not mean that spoken words are dismissed.  Language is driven forward regardless of the method of communication.

Bubbles are exciting to a lot of kids, so using bubbles to inspire your DC to make the bu-bu noise is not a surprise. But that your son was so excited that he reverted to GO is not a step back, IMO. It suggests that he was well engaged with his therapist and that is a good sign.

Carry forward. Model language and signs ALL.THE.TIME. While you are cooking, while he is bathing, while you are driving (a favourite time of mine to try and inspire and model sounds and language).

Good luck. IME, ST takes a great deal of time. But it is well worth it.

[beaf12]

I also suggest looking into alternative communication (AAC). PECS is one example, but there are a lot of ipad apps. My sons language developed much faster once he had an app called "speak for yourself " and he learned to communicate. It is an investment, but think of it as investing in his voice. Check out the fantastic blog called "uncommonsense"