My daughter has not officially been diagnosed seeing she is still very young they will not test her. However she has been diagnosed with a learning disability. She will be 4 years old in August and she has the speaking ability of a 1 year old. This majorly concerns me because she will be starting prek this coming year than kindergarden the following. I dont understand why this is happening. Now I am new to this because she is my first out of three children and so I am still going threw the emotions of adjusting. I get sooooo offended by people in the public because they will hear her talk and look at me funny and I than explain that she has a learning disability or as the doctor put it "special needs" and they than assume she is mentally handicaped. There are the people also that think it is my fault that I am a lazy mother and do not try to teach her. Which is not the case. I'm not sure what to do and to be honest I get soooo frustrated with her and upset and I know I shouldn't because it is not her fault, however, we are all human and these things are normal. She mixes up words to for examble anything to do with water (ex showers, baths, rain, pools) is "why" when she wants something to drink it is "go" I constantly repeat things to her and I am just at my wits ends at this point. Could I please get some feed back on advice and maybe if any one here thinks it sounds like some kind of add or adhd?
Hi, Miranda. I am sure you are a good Mom. Both of my twins had speech delays and my DS has ADHD. Your daughter is not too young for diagnosis of a learning disability or speech delay! Please call the Preschool Intervention service for your school district or county. The best place to start is with your school district - they will be able to tell you where to call if they don't handle it directly. Federal law requires that every county provide FREE testing and services for children 0-3 (early intervention) and 3-5 (preschool intervention). All you have to do is call and say your daughter is 4 and you have a concern about her speech. They will provide you with a free evaluation and, if she needs it, intervention services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, etc. The services are provided in your home or the preschool or day care your child attends. My daughter did not talk until she was 3.5, and when she did she had such a bad lisp that no one could understand her. Now she attends a magnet school that is the best in the state. My DS has a disability from the ADHD and OCD, and had trouble with his speech also. He also received speech therapy for free for two years and is doing very well in school. Don't give up! Please call the Preschool Intervention service!