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When you first begin to research speech therapy and speech disorders, chances are you will come across some misguided information. You might hear that your child will likely grow out of his speech disorder, that you should never use “baby talk” with an infant, or that living in a bilingual household is detrimental to your child’s language development. When in doubt, never hesitate to ask your child’s speech therapist about these issues.
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After your child is diagnosed with a speech disorder, you’ll likely spend your days looking for a speech therapist, going to IEP meetings, and Googling his speech disorder with every spare minute you have. Raising a child with special needs is a full-time job in itself. If you have more than one child, you’ll also likely need to help the sibling cope with the fact that his little brother or sister has a speech disorder.
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Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a child who qualifies for special education requires an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This is a written treatment plan that describes your child’s speech therapy needs and how they will be met within the public school system. After your child is evaluated by an interdisciplinary team of professionals, you will receive a notice for an IEP meeting. During this meeting, the team will discuss your child’s needs and write his IEP if he is eligible for special education.
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When your baby was born, you likely counted all his toes and fed him shortly after birth. Breastfeeding might take a little trial and error at first, but what if your baby has trouble feeding? Children with feeding and swallowing disorders can display a wide range of symptoms. Children who cannot consume food adequately are at risk for medical complications.
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The Individualized Education Program is a treatment plan for your child’s speech disorder. It is specially tailored to meet your child’s needs. An IEP is implemented within the public school system in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). While it’s not exactly rocket science, navigating the IEP process may sometimes be frustrating. You’ll likely have a great deal of paperwork to review.
