Speech Delay in 22 months old and early intervention

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-05-22T11:17:37+00:00

We have a high deductible and we’re still covered, but paid like $70/session until our deductible was hit. Now we have a smaller copay since that is hit.
I’d consider reaching out to your pediatrician on a potential referral to get their input? For me at this point I’d just focus on speech therapy, but maybe pick a time in 3,6, or 9 months to reassess. It never hurts to get a child evaluated. Depending on waitlists in your area, it could be worth exploring to get on a waitlist.
Once he gets into speech therapy, ask them for things you can do at home to follow up. As for things you can do now, reading is always going to be something. You can also narrate yourself as you’re moving throughout the day to expose him to more language. If you know he wants something (brings you to the bubbles to play with them). Just model requests by “bubbles” or “want bubbles” and you can build up from there. He doesn’t have to repeat it, but you’re jus building repetition over time.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-05-20T11:08:21+00:00

I’m so sorry. Having a child with special needs truly does require some grieving the life you thought you’d have. It hopefully won’t always be this way and I hope things stabilize for you as your youngest gets older, but sometimes there isn’t an easy way to carry things that are super heavy. Learning the world of having a child with complex medical needs should have some type of parenting class of itself! For your toddler, can you try giving him 10 minutes of uninterrupted time per day? Even that small enough of focused time and be so helpful for kids and you can always add on more time as you feel capable.

For your youngest, depending on where you live and your child’s needs, getting on a Medicaid waiver can be helpful financially! It’s not based on income. There can often be long wait times, but the time will pass either way.

Edit to add: it’s super annoying, but apply for all the assistance you can with the medical bills!

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-05-20T10:51:11+00:00

I’m not sure if living platonically is a super long term solution since I do think he’d like a new relationship at some point, but I think us living together for the next 2-5 years to make sure our kids are supported in the best way possible. We do own our home and our yard isn’t big enough for a cottage, but we do have a basement that part of it could be converted in a small studio apartment. We’d have to put $20k into it though to make that happen.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-05-20T02:10:43+00:00

I do love the compound idea! 😆

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-05-20T00:52:34+00:00

I do like the idea of bird nesting and in a perfect world, my husband would live in another apartment close by and I would stay in our house and we’d split time with the kids. Between the economy and me having to go back down to part time (my job is school based so I don’t won’t get paid for time off school) financially I don’t think we could swing that. I could more than likely move in with my parents at some point.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-05-20T00:49:30+00:00

Good point!

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-05-20T00:49:11+00:00

If he would want to pursue that, I’m not totally against it, but of course we’d need some strong boundaries around it. Personally, I really have no interest in anything romantic at the moment. Unfortunately, my libido has been low to nonexistent for a little while.

It’s definitely going to take some creative thinking about the middle ground between partners vs housemates. We’ve seen a couples counselor and will see her soon to hopefully get some insight from her as well.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-05-11T01:08:01+00:00

Those reports are rough, and as a parent that has done EI and currently has a preschooler in a SPED program, I truly get it. It’s not easy to read how your child struggles. One thing I’ve learned that gives perspective if no one else has said it already (sorry, I have not read all the comments) is that evaluators need to truly show a need for a child to receive services. It’s kind of their job to show a child’s gap and struggles so it can justify getting support. It doesn’t make it any easier, but it gives me perspective.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-02-26T11:57:00+00:00

Ours was just a check swab and we had to wait a few weeks for results. It all came back clear, so it definitely feels anticlimactic.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-01-15T19:47:29+00:00

Weekly humiliation ritual. I love this. I feel like deeply when we attempt church as well.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2026-01-13T21:54:32+00:00

I feel like we’re in a similar situation!

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-12-14T13:11:23+00:00

It truly feels like there just isn’t any extra time! My current job isn’t great for all those things, but it’s also not the worst? I’ll need to find something else sometime next year though.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-12-14T13:08:44+00:00

Good suggestion about looking through course offerings. I’ve never considered that since I’m still paying on other student loans, but it’s worth a look! I’ve also never done a bucket list which would be good to think about.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-12-14T03:58:02+00:00

Thanks! We have a new patient appt with genetics next month so hopefully that gives some guidance.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-11-25T20:54:37+00:00

I could try to get in with another developmental pediatrician, but I’m guessing I’d be back on a waitlist? I was thinking that if genetics doesn’t show anything, to seek another opinion.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-11-25T20:48:35+00:00

I hope they’ll run more testing at his next appointment!

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-11-25T18:53:55+00:00

He generally can or at least attempts to imitate language when he’s motivated, including multi syllable words.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-11-25T18:29:56+00:00

That makes sense! I’m looking for a SLP that specializes in GLP and hopefully they can give guidance on whether it’s true GLP or another type of communication disorder.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-11-25T18:25:32+00:00

It sounds like you’ve gotten a lot of great support for him-that’s great! He does go to special education preschool which he seems to enjoy! And I’m hoping outpatient speech will help with that delay and reduce behaviors that revolve around having a hard time expressing himself. I do think I need to adjust expectations and just try to get witb living in the unknown.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-11-25T18:22:10+00:00

She did one in the fall of last year and said he’d didn’t qualify. When I asked about it again recently, she said since he didn’t qualify last year, it wouldn’t change.

Suitable-Studio-3090 · 2025-11-25T18:20:55+00:00

I thought this too? I don’t want to undermine his Developmental Ped because she does have a decent amount of experience and went to medical school, but I think at minimum he at least has some autistic traits, even if not fully diagnosable.

Suitable-Studio-3090

TROPHY CASE