Customer Reviews

The Parent’s Guide to Speech and Language Problems

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I went ahead and purchased this book even though some reviews panned it for concentrating too much on apraxia. I disagree; there was plenty of advice, straight from the parents interviewed, on many speech disorders. I liked this book because not only was it an easy read, but the author included invaluable information such as how to deal with insurance companies, how to find a lawyer, seeking financial aid for therapy and even provided information on finding speech disorder Web sites and how diagnosis codes affect insurance claims. The author really did her homework and it shows. This book has been my only written resource so far, and it has empowered me to have intelligent and productive conversations with the many speech therapists, occupational therapists, and developmental interventionists that I have dealt with thus far. Great resource.

I wish this book was around five years ago when we started our journey into special needs! The author covers a lot of ground and does so in such a way that the reader is helped (a lot!) rather than overwhelmed. Ideas are presented concisely and with neutrality -- there is no hidden agenda. She covers everything from coping with the diagnosis, to how to evaluate the different types of therapies and interventions available, to dealing with insurance issues, to getting financial aid for therapy, and much more--all very practical and helpful. The information is presented in an easy-to-follow format, combined with humor and plenty of thoughts from real parents who have been there. Knowledge is power; consider this your power source.
I have been on this road for a while now and still learned from this book. I cannot recommend it enough. It should be selling for twice the price (and I'd still buy it!).

This book is very well written. It gives tons of information about the process of being evaluated to different types of therapy to web sites with more information... The list goes on and on. It is written in a way that is easy to understand and not full of technical terms that make you fall asleep. I highly recommend this book to anyone whose child is about to enter the speech delayed evaluation process.

I have just begun my journey of educating myself more about my son's speech delay/developmental delay. This was the first book that I purchased and couldn't put it down. It is so easy to read and understand, not to mention interesting. Since finishing the book, I have moved on to other ones - they just don't hold my attention. I don't want a book that you need a degree to read! This book is very informative and gives you very important information. I will definitely use it as a guide/resource for a long time! The author herself has gone through the same issues with her two kids, so she has more perspective and emotion about the topic.

This is the book that I wish had been available when we first started trying to find help for our son with his speech delay. Debbie has clearly done her research, and lays things out in a informative but accessible way. More importantly, she's been there herself, and she has helpful insights included throughout the book from other parents who have experienced raising a child with speech and language problems. The chapter on dealing with insurance companies is especially helpful. Debbie has provided an extremely useful tool for families to use!

This book is has tons of useful information about all types of speech and language disorders. I would definitely recommend it to the parent of any child with a speech delay or disorder.

HOWEVER, it's pretty "gloom and doom"- there is not a whole lot of positivity re: the outcome of language disorders. Perhaps the author is just being honest, but if you're expecting to read about how children with these disorders prevail against all odds, this isn't the book for you to read. Then again, maybe our kids with language disorders are indeed for the long haul after all. My son is only 3, so we're really just starting out and who knows- maybe we'll delaing with this rest of his life, or maybe not? I hope not!!!!

Another part of the book that bothered me was the the idea that parents of higher socio-economic status spend more time talking to their children and therefore their children tend to have fewer problems with language. I am a stay at home mother, by no means wealthy, but well off enough to not be considered socio-economically challenged and I have spoken to my child and spent tons of time with him, taken him to speech therapy by 18 months of age, etc and he STILL clearly has some language issues! Meanwhile, there are kids whose parents hardly pay attention to them at all and they develop language JUST FINE.

I believe it's all in the way the child's brain is wired and I found it insulting that it was suggested that I did not "talk" to my child as much as I should have when he was an infant, or spent enough time with him, therefore causing his speech problems, because that's simply not true. He just is not developing language typically and it has nothing to do with me, as his mother. I take offense to any author of any book who claims otherwise. There are other books that suggest the same theory and it really chaps my hide when I read it!

We have a son with severe expressive language disorder (apraxia) and this book combines humor and honesty about speech and language disorders. It felt like the author was sitting at my kitchen table drinking a cup of coffee with me and explaining all about my son's condition. A lot of information about how aggressive you need to get with therapy and what kind of therapy will work best for you and your family.

I really recommend this book for anyone who has a child with a speech problem. Apraxia is mentioned a lot through-out the book, but it is good for any other types of speech disorders as well. Very informative and easy to use and understand. It has a lot of good suggestions and input from other parents who can relate to the difficulties that accompany a child with a speech disorder.

I just finished reading Debbie's book and would love to recommend it to you.
Because it's written from a parent's perspective, it "feels" friendly. But
it's also chock-full of useful information and support--especially for
parents just beginning the apraxia journey.

Cara Galleher
Co-Organizer, N. CA Apraxia Support Group

This book is an excellent resource for anyone who has a child with speech and language difficulties. There is an enormous amount of information but it is very well organized, and easy to reference in a hurry. The quotes throughout from parents who have "been there" make you feel like you aren't alone. It's very easy to feel overwhelmed when you first get a diagnosis, but this book helps the process of really understanding what you can do to help your child, and the support that is available.