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Any parent with more than one child knows how much of a juggling act it can be to balance your time evenly amongst all the kids. Being the parent of a child with special needs has an even greater impact. Much like a new baby who abruptly diverts time and attention away from the older siblings, a child with a speech disorder necessitates a period of adjustment for the rest of the family.
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The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed into law in 1990. It was intended to ensure that all children with a qualifying disability have access to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE). That means that it provides for special education services within the public school system. If your child qualifies under the IDEA, his school must tailor an education program that meets his specific needs.
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Selective mutism, sometimes called elective mutism, refers to the abrupt cessation of speech in certain social situations, although the child can speak well in other situations. It is a severe type of social anxiety disorder. The cause of selective mutism is unknown; however, some children with the disorder have a family history of anxiety disorders.
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Every child develops at his own pace; however, there are certain language milestones to watch for. For example, many children begin to form short, simple sentences by the time they turn two years old. You can help foster your child’s language development by using some simple communication techniques.
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Tongue thrust is an orofacial myofunctional disorder (OMD). Formerly called reverse swallow or deviate swallow, tongue thrust refers to the tongue pressing up against the teeth or between them while swallowing. Some tongue thrusters move the tongue inappropriately to the sides, rather than forward to the teeth. Improper tongue positioning can also occur while the tongue is at rest, in which case it may lie too far forward.
