Ep. #8 Getting a Proper Diagnosis

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the intricacies of getting a proper evaluation and diagnosis and the parent's instrumental role in that process. There are several components to an excellent evaluation and diagnosis. Getting as complete and well-rounded an understanding of the child as possible is crucial. Many children present differently, to a greater or lesser extent, when they are the subject of a clinical appointment. Add to this that late talkers are most often not adept in their communication, and many have particular temperaments, and the magnitude of the parent's vital role is plain. Your knowledge of your child is crucial, and it should feel that way. Still, there are many additional pointers presented to help assure that the parent(s) and the child experience a quality evaluation where insight, help, and the benefit of a dedicated professional's expertise are gained. There is a lot in this episode. You may want to listen twice! Please feel free to contact the LATE TALKERS FOUNDATION at: - [email protected] - 615-866-9457 - https://latetalkers.org/ "Late-Talking: A Symptom or a Stage" is a best-selling book by Stephen Camarata, Ph.D., about late-talking in all its variations. The 2nd edition of the book is about to be released. In these videos, Collette Wieland and Stephen Camarata discuss and explore the questions on the minds of many parents of late-talking children.  About Dr. Camarata: Stephen Camarata, Ph.D. CCC-SLP is a late talker himself and is an internationally recognized expert on child development broadly with a focus on how children learn to talk. His clinical and scientific expertise includes speech and language intervention in children with autism, down syndrome, hearing loss, and developmental language disorder (DLD). Dr. Camarata is a professor of Hearing & Speech, Psychiatry, and Otolaryngology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Special Education at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. He has written two books related to development, "Late Talking Children: A Symptom or a Stage" MIT Press 2014 and "The Intuitive Parent" Penguin 2017, and has a regular blog on Psychology Today. Chapters in this podcast 00:00 Welcome! 00:38 Why is getting a diagnosis important 01:40 Should you seek a second opinion 02:55 What if there is disagreement or question 06:06 Treatment indications 12:57 What is included w speech and language evaluation 13:57 Use widely accepted diagnoses 17:17 Steps for every parent 20:50 Questions every parent should ask 23:23 Is there truly "denial" 26:10 Experiences in school 30:16 Encouraging parent's voice