Hi Cat!

Not speaking can have so many reasons. Hearing, autism, sensory issues, or as pp said dyspraxia/apraxia. I went to a conference on apraxia last year. VERY informative. the website is www.apraxia-kids.org

The main thing I would say is that he needs to be evaluated by the
local school district and be placed in a SDC preschool for services. As well as get him evaluated and put in Speech Therapy throughtheir insurance if possible. Unfortunatley, this may not be easy if the new doctor isn't helping, but have her go to the new doctor and TELL him to give her a referral and that she WILL NOT wait until he reaches 3.5. Of course by the time all the referrals happen and the appointments are made, he may very well be 3.5 years. It's a slow process. But she needs to call her school's principal or Special education office.

This website may be helpful (though overwhelming).

http://www.kidsource.com/NICHCY/infantpub.html

A bit of a warning, I may be biast because my DD and others with Down syndrome do not get many of the services they're entitled to, so we pretty much have to "fight" for everything. Example: Malena is also not speaking. As you know, she is 4 1/2. When she was four I had her IEP for the following year. I had to "fight" for them to give her FIVE minutes a week of one on one speech therapy. SHE'S NOT SPEAKING. She has about 5 words. So it is a bit of a battle, and you have to have your ammunition when you go in, so to speak. But like I said, this may be due to Down syndrome and this may not be the case with other kids.

Good luck, and let me know if you need any more help. Oh, where is she? Is she near me? I can get her in touch with some people directly.

Maryann
Mommy to
Malena, Joshua, and Jacob
born 12/20/03 @ 34w5d

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