So I have 2 1/2 year old triplets. Thre are 2 boys and 1 girl. I decided that I should take them in for a speech evaluation and was told they are moderate to severly behind in speech. They scored good on non verbal speech, but not verbal speech. The chatter all day long, but they really aren't saying any words. Has anyone else experience this? What did you do? They want them to start speeach therapy, but there is a waiting list. I also dont know how easy it will be for me to get them the therapy when a spot opens given that my husband and I both work full time. I am trying to see if there is a speech provider that can come to the house. We had Help Me Grow, but they do not have a speech therapist. I wasn't too concerned since they are talking to one another, but the Dr said they are about a year behind.... Now I feel horrible.. Advice?

Although one of them was a year behind at 22 mo., after months of therapy, ours were on target by age 3. Where did you have them evaluated? At 2 1/2 (if you live in the States) it is a little late to be getting an eval. through Early Intervention, but the next level where you are should be picking up, although usually it's harder to qualify. At age 3, it's possible the school system would pick up the therapy, but they will want to do their own evaluation.

We took them to Akron Childrens. She did mention that if they dont speed up our school system has a great preschool at age three that might help. I just ordered some DVDs that are supposed to help as well. They have never been kids that want to watch TV, so the only interaction they have is with us and sitters. Its hard to do one on one with them

Not sure what DVDs you ordered, but the Baby Babble 2 (focuses on p,b, and m) did a lot of things our SLP did at first. We also used the Signing Time videos quite a bit. The signing really cut down on some of their frustration and therefore the tantrums. You will be amazed at what they pick up. Ours didn't watch TV until we started the Signing Time videos. Even now, their TV is connected to a DVD player so I have more control over what they watch. While they were in therapy under Early Intervention the SLP came to the house, so no schlepping them somewhere. At 3yo though if they have some sort of program under the school system, they generally expect you to take them there. I researched it here, although we ended up not qualifying. My kids are the general ed part of a blended program for 3yo through our local elementary school and the SLP is there 3 days a week working with everyone (part of speech is learning about turn taking among other group activities) and then doing pull outs for the kids who qualify. Their teacher signs and says everything so they do learn communication skills even if they're still behind in speech and language.

My only suggestion would be that if you don't already have them in any activities with other kids, especially slightly older kids, that can really help. I know it is hard when working full time, but some things like library story hours the sitter can take them to. Ours were behind on speech with really no real words, just babbling, until they started school 2 days/week when they were 20 months. Now just 2.5 months later they have really skyrocketed. They aren't quite caught up but have 20 words at least and using short sentences.

Our pediatrician had also recommended trying to enforce them using their words. Ask them at least three times if they want their cup before giving it to them, for example. We're still not to the point of this working for us but trying....

Lara
Mom to GGG born at 25+4 on 12/25/09

My only suggestion would be that if you don't already have them in any activities with other kids, especially slightly older kids, that can really help. I know it is hard when working full time, but some things like library story hours the sitter can take them to. Ours were behind on speech with really no real words, just babbling, until they started school 2 days/week when they were 20 months. Now just 2.5 months later they have really skyrocketed. They aren't quite caught up but have 20 words at least and using short sentences.

Our pediatrician had also recommended trying to enforce them using their words. Ask them at least three times if they want their cup before giving it to them, for example. We're still not to the point of this working for us but trying....

Lara
Mom to GGG born at 25+4 on 12/25/09

My only suggestion would be that if you don't already have them in any activities with other kids, especially slightly older kids, that can really help. I know it is hard when working full time, but some things like library story hours the sitter can take them to. Ours were behind on speech with really no real words, just babbling, until they started school 2 days/week when they were 20 months. Now just 2.5 months later they have really skyrocketed. They aren't quite caught up but have 20 words at least and using short sentences.

Our pediatrician had also recommended trying to enforce them using their words. Ask them at least three times if they want their cup before giving it to them, for example. We're still not to the point of this working for us but trying....

Lara
Mom to GGG born at 25+4 on 12/25/09

It depends how delayed they are. My oldest DS was 24 months when he was evaluated, he was at 28 months cognitive but 20 months with expressive. So I opted to do things at home, books, activities and videotapes. He caught up by the time he was 30+ months.

My trio were significantly delayed so we did speech therapy. By significant I mean at 16 months, we had one who was testing at 9 months level for expressive.

If you do decide to take them to speech it will be a juggling act. I did not work outside the home and it was one appointment after the other. However, it was worth the sacrifice to try to bridge the significant gap in delays.

There are companies that do group speech therapy so you can drop them all at the same time. You can also consider part time preschool which will benefit them being exposed to kids who are not delayed. I am currently doing this for one of my trio who is only slightly delayed and I have seen an improvement in his speech.

Good luck!