Head Start for a child who needs speech therapy?

[Joie]

Hello Mommies.

My 3 year old, Trinity, was evaluated today for hearing and speech. The speech pathologist determined she has Expressive Language Disorder and Articulation/Phonology Disorder. She needs speech therapy, and we are low income. We do have health insurance through DH's employer.

I had not considered preschool before, in part because of the cost, and in part because we have been considering homeschool. The SLP said that preschool would be a good choice for Trinity, given her speech issues. She thought that the preschool setting and therapy should could receive at school from a SLP would be beneficial to Trinity.

What can you all tell me about Head Start as a preschool option?

[Gwenn]

Did the SLP recommend the Head Start program specifically? Or did she just recommend a preschool setting for her, and it's up to you to find one?

I almost always recommend a preschool placement for little ones with expressive language disorder or delay. It helps them so much to see other kids and interact with them, particularly when they can be in what we call a "language-rich" environment where the teacher is really focusing on getting kids to talk. You really do see a big change in a setting like that, where 1-1 sessions may take a lot longer. I think the headstart program really depends on the teacher in terms of whether that specific teacher will provide that language-rich setting that will be most effective. I would want to know the specific teacher and program before I would have an opinion as to whether it would be good for a language delay kid.

We have preschool classes that are really set up for kids with language issues, that also have "typical" language peers, and for kids who are more verbal, we send some of those kids out to community preschools that also include Head Start. Like I said, it depends on the kid and the teacher.

[Joie]

She didn't recommend any preschool in particular, although she did think going through the school district was a good idea. She called back with a number for the school, and I asked about Head Start. I really don't know much about preschool or head start. I've just started researching today.

[Gwenn]

I would highly recommend going through the school district. If they have a classroom set up specifically for the needs of kids who are learning to talk, it will be more effective for her than a Head Start program. However, if they don't have that to offer or it doesn't work for some reason, you can look into doing something in the community like a Head Start. My two cents, of course.

You can also see if there is a program in your community funded through the Scottish Rite - they fund a lot of preschool programs with the intention of providing specialized help with language development in the preschool years. They are not part of the school system, but may or may not charge you to enroll her. It's an idea worth looking into.

[Joie]

Thank you so much. This has all been very overwhelming today. I am definitely looking into Scottish Rite as well as other low cost or free options. I wish we had the money to spend on a wonderful preschool.

[futuresoccermom]

My daughter went to speech therapy when she was 3...it was her expressive language that she needed help with. I highly recommend buying the book

It Takes Two to Talk — The Hanen Program

The book is full of tools that help you, help her. It was SO very helpful. I attended the hanen program work shops but everything we did 'in class' was right out of the book. She made a world of difference in 6 months. Now she is 4 and is considered 'at par' with her peers.

good luck mama! Our speech therapist also stressed the importance of friends her own age (which my daughter had several of) but its important for them to have one on one conversations with friends without an adult 'talking for them' in social situations. That is why they recommend preschool, but dont stress over which preschool or what have you, I started leaving my daughter with my parents more often, which forced her to speak up more. The problem I had was that I was always one step ahead of her, getting her everything she needed that she didn't have to communicate with me to get by. I knew every que, every look, every grunt, and would cater to her every need. She doesn't get that sort of treatmen in a preschool setting (or well, any setting that I wasn't involved in) my daughter learned to communicate to get by! And she made progress by leaps and bounds by me leaving her with my parents, or sister, or her friends for a few hours and also not talking 'for her' when she was with her friends. I was basically her enabler!

The book I mentioned also has day to day tips and tricks that help 'bring out' expressive language.

good luck! I dont know what 'headstart' is, but where we live we have 'strongstart' which is a parent participation class, which was helpful for her to meet a lof of the little friends she has!

[TripMomma]

Xander has been in EI for speech delay since 18mo. Now he is there more for pronunciation issues. The girls are not in EI. All three got into the Head Start PreK as peers, they have been going for almost a year now, and will go for one more year. It has done great things for all three of them.

[Babidol]

Just make sure that you check out all of your options and interview the pre-schools. Head Start in many places across the country is poorly run. My colleague and I were just talking yesterday about what a failure head start has been.

[preciousnd98]

This was a long time ago, but I volunteered in a Head Start classroom when I was in college. The particular classroom I was in would not have been a good environment for your daughter as far as aiding her in speech development. The head teacher was very nice, but her own grammar was questionable. And there was a particular aide for a child with special needs who had no business doing her job - she had little to no patience with him and it was very hard to watch.

Like I said, this was a long time ago (at least 15 years ago) and it was one particular classroom in Indiana. I would definitely talk to the people at your local Head Start program and observe the class or meet with the teacher if you can before making a decision.

[Ky'sMom]

Just make sure that you check out all of your options and interview the pre-schools. Head Start in many places across the country is poorly run. My colleague and I were just talking yesterday about what a failure head start has been.

I agree with this, but on the whole I don't think Head Start is a failure. I do think it depends on each area and each individual learning environment though and that a lot of time in specific areas they have certain organizations running the Head Start program who aren't...I'll just say very good. I honestly wouldn't send my kid to Head Start here in Atlanta to the one nearest to my neighborhood, it is run by the YMCA, which is odd because I currently send Elle to the YMCA Preschool (not Head Start) and they are miles above the YMCA Head Start program (nationally accredited curriculum, lots of support and lower class sizes and more qualified teachers).

But for any preschool, please check it out first. I went to Head Start as a child when I was 3 and 4 and I actually do remember it and it was a great time. They even assessed me and I got the "gifted and talented" title at 3 which I do think heavily influenced my education as I was referred to a lot of free programs for gifted children. They even wanted me to be skipped a couple grades (put me in kindergarten at 3) but my mom refused. I sometimes wish she would have went with their recommendation as I got burnt out on the boredom of school as a teenager, but that is another story.

My mom now works for Head Start as a PK3 teacher in her city and they have a very good program (is is pretty much the same as the one I went to as a 3 year old). The kids with speech delays or with other developmental needs are usually referred to a special preschool program though according to her. Those who are not do usually have other support, including classroom support and therapy provided by the school district outside of the classroom.

Erin

[Joie]

Thank you everyone

It looks like the school district preschool (normally over $200 a month) may be free to us through Missouri's First Steps program. We won't put her in any preschool without interviewing and visiting first.

She is always with me, so I probably do enable her. Even DH has trouble understanding, and needs me to translate. I'm nervous. She has only ever been with me, DH or my mom.

[Gwenn]

By law, if she qualifies for speech services through the school district's criteria and they recommend a placement through the public schools, it has to be free. So any placement they offer will be free to you. Where if you put her in a private preschool and have speech support provided to her there, you may have to pay for the preschool.

[LanceBabe]

Rather than head start (which Katie did last year and will be doing this year), you might want to look into special ed preschool. Erin had a developmental delay in speech and started special ed preschool when she was 2 years old. It is also with the public school and does not cost anything.

[Joie]

That is awesome. I am certain she will qualify. She's very delayed. I'd much rather have her in the public school preschool than Head Start. I think it would probably be a better environment for her, and I want her to have excellent access to speech pathologists who can help her.

Thank you so much everyone, especially Gwenn. I feel a lot better about having to send my baby to preschool and the options available to us than I did a few days ago.

[Inca]

Remy has always been behind in speech. We had speech therapists come to our home to work with him from I think 18-24 (ish) months. We saw improvement but not a ton. I figured it was him just learning, regardless of them coming over. They just did things like games, puzzles, and things I was already doing with him. Then, when he was 3 I opened my own in home daycare and I really saw his speech take off. So I do believe that being around other kids has helped him. Now, for the first time, at age 4, he will be going to preschool in a couple weeks. I admit, I am nervous because this is the first time he's really been away from mommy/daddy. But in the end, I know it will be good for him. His preschool is strictly preschoolers ages 3-5ish. It is in the public school system and we are also considered low income so he qualifies to go for free. He will be in with the regular classes (I think there are 4-5 total classrooms) and a couple times a week he will be pulled out to meet with someone to work soley on his speech.

I also wanted to add that I also planned on homeschooling. And in honestly, it is not like I can't homeschool him next year or the year after if I want. Right now, the important thing is getting his speech on track.

[Joie]

Inca...

That's essentially us. She's only around mommy, daddy, her 14 mo old sister and her 12 and 16 year old sisters. She hasn't had any therapy until now, and I do still want to consider homeschool. For now though, we agree that preschool is probably the best option for her.

[Gwenn]

Putting her in a public school preschool does not mean you can't homeschool later. But I agree with Inca that it makes such a big difference to get them around other kids at this age and get them talking. Once her speech takes off, you have plenty of time to reassess what you feel her needs are and what environment would be best for her. The school system basically forces you to consider that at least yearly if she is on an IEP. I personally worked with a family who did preschool through the school system and then chose to homeschool for elementary while bringing their son to me at school just for speech, and he also saw the OT for support with fine motor. Mom was in charge of his education and we supported her with whatever she asked for help with, but that wasn't often.

[CamaLamaMama]

Cameron was in head start this year, which takes place at the public elementary school. We had a great experience there. Her speech is a million times better! If that is not an option then there is always the option to just have her do speech therapy, I did that the year that there were no openings at the head start program here.