The Late Talker : What to Do If Your Child Isn't Talking Yet

Rating:
Summary: Good- if your child has apraxia.
Review: The subtitle of "The Late Talker" is "What to Do if Your Child Isn't Talking Yet." This is misleading, since it is not what the book is about.

The focus of much of the book is apraxia, and there are descriptions of other conditions which cause late talking. It is well written and medically sound, and probably a great resource for parents seeking a diagnosis. It also does a good job of explaining the procedures followed by early intervention programs.

However, my son doesn't have apraxia or sensory integration dysfunction, and there was no advice or activities suggested for the child who simply has a developmental delay.

The foreword of this book (written by a Ph.D. from Rutgers, not the author) is vaguely threatening. Aimed at parents who adopt a "wait and see" or "he'll grow out of it" attitude, she states that the consequences of such inaction are "academic failure...juvenile delinquency, drug abuse, unemployment, depression, and even suicide."
Personally, I found this incredibly offensive.




Rating:
Summary: Subtitle is should be What to Do if Your Child has Apraxia!
Review: This book is an excellent resource if you suspect your child might have apraxia. But its subtitle, "What to Do If Your Child Isn't Talking Yet" is misleading, since it implies that the variety of possible speech and language disorders will be addressed. Instead, 95% of the book is devoted to apraxia, a very specific disorder, with perhaps 5% relating to other speech disorders. Language disorders as such are barely touched upon.

It's a fascinating book full of helpful information, certainly, and interesting in its own right. But for me, the mother of a child with a language disorder, it was $14 dollars largely wasted.

For the next edition, the publishers should be encouraged to change the subtitle and give a clearer description of the book's subject on the back cover.



Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: This is a wonderful book! I am so glad that I found it and can now help my son with his speech therapy and oral motor therapy.


Rating:
Summary: The Late Talker
Review: Upon reading, The Late Talker, I began to recall my own trials and tribulations raising my youngest daughter, Gage, who suffered from Apraxia. I am an R.N. and the mother of three children; however, nothing could have prepared me for the challenges of each day in dealing with my daughter's frustrations as a result of Apraxia. It would have been a godsend to have a resource like this book which outlines symptoms, provides direction for a remedy and comfort for a concerned mother.

Many children have speech impediments, which over time, they often grow out of. On the other hand, I believe many children are misdiagnosed in the realm of speech. I cannot stress the importance of early intervention. Knowing where to find help, what questions to ask and what to look for are all things that I had to struggle with and are clearly and collectively outlined in this book. I believe The Late Talker will be a guide for mothers struggling to find ways to help their speech impaired children.