Stalled Progress-How would you change DS' help?

[furrowed]

I feel like my son's speech has stalled out and would love to hear some suggestions to get it jump started.

He is 5 and he is verbal and somehwat conversational, but recently I have noticed a lot more scripting than ever before. He is increasingly disengaged, I'm sorry to say. I'm really scared about Kindergarden!


A lot of his speech still consists of commands "I want some juice" "I wanna go there tonight" - but often without really any of it aimed at anyone in particular.

I have noticed alot more predictable things in his speech, ie "Tomorrow is Wednesday and we go to Ms. Susies" (the OT). It's all sort of cause/effect speech.


His speech is just always so flat and one dimensional. He almost never asks questions about anything other than his needs/wants. He has very little curiosity or imagination.

I don't think speech can develop until he advances to that greater awareness/curiosity about the world around him. I just don't know how to do that. What would you switch up/start/stop/etc?

THANKS!


Currently receives:
Speech 2x week (1 hr private, 1 school)
OT 1 hr week (private)
Inconsistent Floortime at home

Starting RDI Program in July
Meet with DAN Doc/biomedical next week.

[Aridel]

I think RDI will do a lot to help with this, and you will probably see a broadening of his awareness through both that and the Floortime. I would also talk to his SLP and OT to see if there are any new things you could try at home. Some kids do better with social conversation and interaction in the middle of physical activity, like an adult pushing them in a swing, or after a period of sensory activity.

One trick they had us use with dd was to try and change her routine or be deliberately silly. Never to the point of really upsetting her or causing meltdown, but enough she had no choice but to notice it. Things like putting shoes on hands, instead of feet, or putting on a coat and then offering a sweater. (DD was very clothes-motivated at this point, lol) The goal is to wait, see if your child comments by gesture or word, and if they don't, model and guide them through how to talk about it. "Uh-oh. Shoes go on feet! Silly Mommy!"

I think it's also tough, but important to remember that all kids, our SN kids especially, have times where they do stall for awhile, and take in all the skills they have learned. It can be tough to tell if this is a natural pause, or an issue that needs to be addressed therapeutically. DD sometimes, to this day, becomes much more prone to meltdowns right before she gains a big new skill.

It's late here, so sorry for any errors or babbling!