Speech and Hearing Assessment for Erin

At 2 years 8 months old, Erin's speech development has been rather slow. She doesn’t really talk much but when she does, it comes out like this -

  Theh Theh go Tool, Eh Win go Ah Mah Ome.  (Jie Jie Go School, Erin go Ah Mah Home)

 Thee Yan  (This One)

 I want to Chleep (I want to Sleep)

 Back chide (Back side)

I was still at a “wait-and-see” approach. Afterall, I’ve heard so many stories of little kids who started speaking late but had no problems picking up later.  But as usual, hubby got all panicky and kept pestering for a professional assessment.

So, 2 weeks ago I brought Erin for a Hearing and Speech Assessment at Sunway Medical Center.

First part was the Hearing Assessment (since speech delay could be due to hearing issues)  -  In the room, there was a simple toy. The type where you put in a marble and it goes round and round down a chute. The therapist let Erin play for a while, and then told her she could only drop the marble once she hears a sound. Initial sounds were quite loud and then it got softer and softer.  Erin passed this Hearing Assessment with flying colours.   This assessment lasted only about 15 minutes, including checking of ear pressure with a special equipment.

Second part was the Speech Assessment which took about 1 hour. The therapist asked her questions and played simple games with her. (like asking her to feed the bear cos it’s hungry, asking her to pass the yellow duck, put little cubes into a cup etc). She also took out some charts and asked Erin to name the items in the chart.

Later, Elyssa asked “Why this doctor just play and play with Erin only?”  hehehe.

Speech Assessment

Luckily, Erin was very co-operative that day

 

 

At the end of the assessment, the therapist said Erin’s speech progress was slow for her age. L   By now, her conversation should be comprehensible to a normal 3^rd person. Not considered a severe case, but it is a sign to ring the alarm bells. She asked me to do some speech exercises with her like “KKkkhhhh, HHhhhhhh, Ghhhhhhhh” and to return for therapy sessions.  (since this session focused on assessment, not therapy). Next appointment set for 2 months’ time.  

Bill amount?  RM 100 for hearing assessment, RM 200 for speech assessment, RM 15 for registration, so RM 315 in total.

My thoughts – I am still hoping that she doesn’t need to go for therapy sessions. Just a few days ago, she said “one” correctly instead of “yan”. And she been speaking more and more too.  *fingers crossed*!