Parent Testimonial…Help for Late Talkers
Best testimonial ever…. Thank you!!! Hats off to this ULTRA-committed mom! She made a HUGE difference in her son’s progress. Read her journey with her son and how she helped her own late talker learn to talk.
“Laura Mize!
First off let me start by saying you are one talented, smart, generous lady!! Thank you so much for sharing your talent in such accessible formats. Your books and DVDs are amazing! I have been using your materials for two months now and would like to share my experience with you:
My son just turned two. As it happened, I had recently quit working my full-time job as an attorney (which is really more like two full times jobs). The timing couldn’t have been more beneficial for our family.
Even though I suspected something was going on earlier, it wasn’t until I took Evan to our first mommy-and-me class at his preschool that I realized he wasn’t talking anywhere even remotely close to the level of the other kids. At his two-year old appointment I explained what I had seen to his pediatrician. She gave us a recommendation for a developmental pediatrician to receive a full evaluation. I scheduled the evaluation for the first available appointment, nearly three months later (we just had that appointment last week).
So since I knew at the very least my son’s speech was delayed, while waiting for the appointment I scoured the Internet for ideas we could implement at home until we got some professional help. I bought every book off Amazon that anyone on any site recommended. I spent hours a night reading about everything and anything: ADHD, sensory integration, autism, etc. I started putting what I could to use, but I had yet to find a comprehensive strategy I could follow. And then one night I happened upon your site. Everything you said just clicked and I stayed up all night reading through your posts. The next morning, the second my husband woke up I asked him to please, please, please purchase your full therapy set (the one with 5 DVDs and 3 manuals). He was a little hesitant considering everything that we had already purchased that month, but my enthusiasm won him over. And that’s when everything changed…
After reading your site I realized for the first time that my son wasn’t a little behind in speech, he was a lot behind in every developmental area. As you know there are a gazillion websites online that explain developmental milestones, but yours was the first that truly explained what the milestones meant (they were the age ranges of when 90% of kids had reach those milestones and that most kids were far exceeding what was listed!!).
The first week after I received your materials (that I had been staying up late every night reading and watching), I started first by using the “Teach Me to Play With You” manual. The games you list seemed so basic and were things I had played with my son many times (and I knew the nanny previously had too), but that he had never seemed interested in playing before. Using them as you recommended with high affect, slowing down, and lots and lots of repetition made a world of difference! I really had to go against my shy nature to continually “ratchet it up a notch”, but my son was finally paying attention to me! I know this sounds unbelievable, but by the end of that week for the first time ever, Evan looked me in the eyes and said “mama”. It was the first time he had ever looked me in the eyes while saying that word and I knew he was actually connecting that word with me! I was bawling on the spot and tear up even thinking about it now.
At the point when I started using your materials my son used less than 10 words (spontaneously or imitated) and even those words were difficult to understand. He avoided social back-and-forth. I had become very used to anticipating what he wanted to avoid his whining. He had difficulty with transitions. His play was very immature; his main focus being putting objects in and out of containers/spaces, though he often would also just knock everything in sight onto the ground. Evan’s frustration in not being able to communicate was palpable.
Wanting to make up for lost time, I started using your strategies for one-on-one interaction with Evan 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. However, I quickly realized that Evan did best when we did about 6 hours of therapy, 5 days a week, leaving the remaining time for unstructured play and what I can only describe as “processing”. We use one of the remaining days for errands and an activity that involves high sensory input (which Evan seems to crave, but in manageable bits) – Disneyworld is our favorite. And on Sundays we just relax.
Everyone in Evan’s preschool class noticed the changes in his speech and behavior over the 10 weeks of the class. Even though we were doing the therapy consistently and intensely, I thought that since I’m not a professional therapist (and also likely due to the guilt I felt for not being at home much the first two years of his life), that his improvements were due to the simple fact that I was now at home and he wasn’t constantly anxious that I was going to leave at any moment and was thus able to focus more. I still believe Evan’s decreased anxiety is playing a factor, but after having our appointment with the developmental pediatrician last week I realize how adept of an unprofessional speech therapist I have become, which I fully credit to your generosity in taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences, and putting your strategies into a manageable model for someone with zero experience to be able to implement. We met with the developmental pediatrician for two hours, during which time she observed how Evan interacted on his own, with her, and with me. She was amazed at the strategies I was employing and said that I was doing everything a professional speech therapist would do. And compared to the survey we had filled out when we first booked our appointment, she was quite impressed with Evan’s improvement in such a short period. She seemed adamant that if I kept doing what I was doing for the next 2-3 years and with the assistance of a professional speech therapist and OT, that Evan will be able to “really turn things around”. While she feels that autism spectrum disorder is the underlying concern, she isn’t going to diagnosis him at this time, and will instead continue to monitor his progress. I don’t know that Evan won’t ever be diagnosed with ASD, but I took her optimism as a sign that we are on the right track. My husband and I are meeting with her again at the end of this week for a more detailed explanation of her analysis.
I will never be able to fully express my gratitude at the impact you have made on our lives!!! Evan now has a spontaneous vocabulary of 207 words (I counted over a three-day period). He initiates interactions with gestures and words. He makes a lot more eye contact. And he is engaging in back-and-forth interactions for often two hours at a time! For example, we especially have a lot of fun playing together in the bathtub, singing songs, playing social games, imitating each other, basically all your techniques in one play space – my husband is amazed at the hours we spend in the tub. I think the enclosed space makes a big difference, so we also moved our tv and couch out of the way (and out of use!), in exchange for a large camping tent in the middle of the living room.
I know I don’t know you personally, but I will always hold a special place for you in my heart. I couldn’t have done this without you! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!”
*Names Changed for Privacy*
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Happy Therapists, Teachers, Parents & Children
"Hello Miss Laura,
First, I would like to thank you for all you do for us moms who are lacking support in the autism community, and thank you for providing tons of information and resources to help our bright children. I myself benefited so much from watching your videos and reading your daily emails. I cannot stress enough how much all this information helped my toddler. Of course, getting an autism diagnosis for your child is extremely scary (she was diagnosed at 2 years old) and I was depressed and did not know what autism was, how it affected children, and how to teach children struggling with this condition. However, your videos helped me to find light in my child and now I am your biggest fan! I rewatch your videos over and over again to make sure I didn't miss anything that can help my daughter. I even purchase two books- Autism workbook and Teach me to Play. My toddler was completely non-verbal, she didn't know how to imitate, no eye contact, no pointing.. you name it she didn't have any skills and I didn't know how to teach her! And that is until I discover ed You- my toddlers (Fairy: smiling_face_with_3_hearts:)!
Now she is little sweet 2.5 years old and she says "mama" (I cried when she said that magic word), she waves bye bye or hi, she points, she gives "high 5", her joint attention is great and overall she is doing so much better! And that's all because I have been doing everything you described in your books and videos! I. My mind I always play "repetition, repetition and repetition", teaching her everything through play that she so much enjoys!!! I can write forever explaining how much I taught her through yr videos and books! And the most amazing thing is that her speech therapist is a big fan of yours as well so it worked out perfectly since we understand each other and work based on your teachings! The therapist even owns the same books I own ...I am so grateful that my toddler has such an amazing therapist; especially the one that understands autism and is ready for a real challenge! God bless you for all you do and I cannot wait for my toddler blossom.. you gave me hope and lit the light inside me. And I'm determined to work with my girl :)"
"Dear Laura Mize and Team,
Thank you so much for all your hard work and publishing books! Our 17-month-old toddler suddenly exploded into speaking and imitating everybody's gestures and sounds, just a week or two after we 'completed' all activities that are listed under 11 pre-linguistic skills! Your method really works!"
Grateful customer.
"Hi Laura!
I absolutely LOVE all of your workbooks, especially your Autism Workbook. Starting with Social Games has been a game changer for many of my littles with ASD and their families. It's been the best way for them to finally connect and sustain shared attention and engagement, leading to longer social interactions, through play!"
Jodie, Dev, Therapist
"Hi Ms. Laura,
Thank you so much for the videos you have posted on your youtube channel. They are so direct, informative, and helpful. Thank you for being a resource for me to become a better therapist."
Dianne
"Hi Laura - I just wanted to say I received my copies of the Apraxia workbooks yesterday and I LOVED workbook 1 (not ready for 2). I'm on chapter 8 and going through the questions carefully so I'm prepared to help my son. I knew it was a great book when you acknowledged the fact that sometimes therapists and doctors don't bring a positive and supportive vibe when diagnosing. I remember being terrified at the mention of apraxia and ASD by both because they had these very concerned looks and made it seem like it was a death sentence. I know now (in LARGE PART, THANKS TO YOU AND YOUR VIDEOS) that it doesn't have to be!! I see a future for him now. You SINGLE-HANDEDLY, through your books and videos have empowered me to help my son after the doctors and therapists have gone home. You've given me strategies, play ideas, plans on how to keep moving forward. I don't always do things right, but I know I'm on the right track and I love that I can reference, and re-reference your books to help me keep going. As I was reading the book, I was so proud of myself because I've used strategies from your previous books and it felt good because I could check off a lot of the skills that you discuss. So, thank you for all your previous books as well!!"
"Gosh, I love all of your emails/podcast/website, just everything!! I work in early intervention as a behavior analyst and am learning so much from you!"
Thank you!
Hailey
"Laura,
I love your work! I am a professor of early childhood special education and a speech language pathologist! I have worked to help children learn to communicate and I know how valuable the information you share is for both early interventionists and pediatric speech language pathologists!
Thank you for systematically organizing and explaining essential steps for young children to learn and develop. You are having a great impact on our profession, the ECE profession and families!"
Sincerely,
David
"Thank you.
If this is Laura herself reading this email let me take this opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have put forth for us professionals. I own every manual (except the autism manual) and have watched every course on DVD. I have listened to countless podcasts. All of what I’ve come to be as an Early Intervention speech therapist was absolutely to your credit. With your resources at my side I have never needed to scramble for answers and strategies and above all the clear language I use when communicating with parents. My fun, animated affect and key phrases I use have been learned through watching your example. So….thank you! May you be blessed."
Chaya
"I just wanted to thank you so much for your incredible help! You are so kind and lovely and every time I implement something you've taught in your manuals or videos it is always a success, I cannot thank you enough. I really appreciate how specific you are in giving us examples of wording to use and how to use a toy in therapy with your videos, it is exactly what I need to properly help my little students. I also really appreciate your list of books of list of toys. I have seen my little students make significant progress thanks to you. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos, taking more of your CEU's, and reading more of your materials. From the bottom of my heart: thank you so much again!!"
Lauren
"Dear Laura,
What an inspiration!
Thank you for helping me be a better Developmental Therapist. I often listen to your podcasts which help me help families.
Your enthusiasm, professionalism and
the sheer volume of information is so great.
You are part of my team.
I just wanted you to know I appreciate you."
Margaret
"Dear Laura,
Thank you for your generosity in sharing so much knowledge in such a clear and enthusiastic way.
As a retired audiologist with a fabulous and language delayed grandson, I used your podcasts and outstanding publication, The Autism Workbook, to inspire and guide me over the past year.
It works!! He went from barely verbal, no gestures, didn't respond to his name etc etc to a verbal, social, curious, ready to imitate anything, fill in the blanks on familiar "set" speech, generate his own totally appropriate and mostly understandable sentences...not just short phrases anymore... full little paragraphs...about imaginary things, what he did during the day, what he wants. True communication!
You make a powerful difference in this world! ❤"
"Laura Mize, you are a Godsend. I don’t know how one human can have so many helpful things to say in a beautifully organized way, so often. Always amazes me when another super helpful email comes from you, and for free. With free YouTube videos and cheap CEUs. THANK YOU!!!"
Sheila, Canada
"I purchased the book on autism and have watched the #400s series podcasts. Laura Mize has been more effective in teaching autistic tendencies, than many professors, shadowing professions, and the 100s of books, articles and classes or videos, or live workshop speakers, have been at teaching effective practices for a child with ASD. Some of the many lessons she has taught, which I will now use, to be a more effective Interventionist, include but are not limited to: red flags, typical behaviors, self-stimulating behaviors, not taking away toys, rather showing child to play with toy appropriately. She gives examples of child's actions, "inappropriate," explains the reason for: why the child is engaging in these behaviors and how they can be replaced with more appropriate, effective fuctional and age-appropriate skills."
"I’m sure Laura gets these messages all the time, but I thought I’d share. I stumbled across Laura‘s "Autism or Speech Delay?" YouTube video when I really needed it. This video finally listed and explained some of the red flags my son was showing for autism. I share the link anytime a parent is questioning in my FB autism group. This mother I don’t even know said Laura's video changed her life. I know exactly how she feels because It changed families too. Thank you to everyone at Teach Me To Talk."
LINDSAY
"Good Morning Laura,
I received your book (The Autism Workbook) yesterday and it is absolutely amazing! As I evaluate young children (0-3) for developmental delays and write plans for them with their parents, there are a ton of ideas that are ready to use. Others that reinforce what I have been doing, and saying, all along. Thank you so, so much for writing this incredible book and pulling everything together in one place!"
FRANCINE IN MICHIGAN
"Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, experience, and guidance.
I’m a parent who bought the autism workbook and it’s the only clear resource I found to make a change in my son. I’m really thankful to Ms. Laura for helping out people like us all over the world."
"Laura Mize, all I have to say is that ALL YOUR STRATEGIES WORK."
ANNE, YouTube viewer
"We have 7 SLPs in our preschool (public) program for special needs children (ages 3-5) and we use your courses, books, and techniques every day! :-) We have seen our preschoolers make such great gains!"
"I just received Teach Me to Play With You, and it is ALREADY WORKING! WOW!
Girl…my son is 3 years old, and he NEVER asks for something using words. We were playing “Get Your Belly” (from Teach Me to Play WITH You), and after several times, he laughed and screamed "BEWIEEE!!!" It was a hoot. And I can't believe he said it! I have played with him like this before, but this time I took your advice and acted CRAZY!! I will act like a total lunatic if it will get him to talk to me! Now I can give him "the look" from across the room, and he will say it. That manual is so amazingly practical, and it is a GODSEND right now! Thank you SO MUCH!”
"I wanted to send you a quick email to say thank you. I started watching your videos/podcasts about 4 months ago. My son has gone from losing words he previously used, only having about 7 words at his 2 year check up in August (assessed at a blended 10 month language level) -- to now having so many words, increased social engagement, following commands, spontaneously requesting things, and naming letters & numbers (not in order) as well as colors. We had our monthly meeting with our SLP through the state infants & toddlers program and it felt like we were just bragging the whole time, but I knew in the back of my head it was because I have been using strategies you taught me.
We still have so much work to do with our sweet boy, but I know in my heart he would not have succeeded without the education you provided. I will continue to read your emails & watch videos as we go along this journey and face challenges, but credit is due to you, Laura.
Thank you so much, endlessly."
KATIE
"I just want to tell how fortunate I feel to have found your website and you!! I became a special instructor in EI almost a year ago and I started with hardly any applicable training. I felt so lost and confused as how to help the kids I work with learn how to use words and play. Honestly, I didn't even understand the importance of play, although I always played with my kids. But, once I started to watch your podcasts and get some of your manuals I felt a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and that I could finally teach these kids and their families something of value from a real therapist and based on research!. Thank you so much for seeing the need to help other EI service providers and providing a forum to share your knowledge and years of valuable experience. I'm sure you get a lot of these emails every week if not every day, but I wanted to make I could add to those notes of gratitude!! THANK YOU again!!"
SS
"Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for these emails and your books, I have them all and they have seriously saved and improved my sessions with my kiddos. Huge thank you."
REBECCA
"I was very frustrated with how speech therapy was going for my child. I would take him and drop him off and not hear much of anything from his therapist and teachers other than, "He had a good (or a bad!) day." Your materials were invaluable for us because I learned how to work with him on his speech. I learned how to teach him to talk and play. I learned how to pay attention to his cues and work with him to teach him to communicate. Without it, I have no doubt he still wouldn’t talk."
BRITNEY
"Hi! I just wanted to say (from an SLT perspective) how incredibly useful I am finding absolutely all of your articles, blogs and resources - I only discovered your site last month and have just received all your books which I feel I am learning more than on my entire university training course!! But also the way in which you give specific, realistic, fun, encouraging ideas for working with parents is really just fantastic, I only wish I have your site sooner! Thanks so much from the UK! Kind regards."
HANNAH
"I just wanted to reach out to say thank you for making things a little easier to manage for me this year. I made the transition from school SLP to private therapist about a year ago. While the change was welcome, it was a lot, and I was just getting my footing in the clinic when I began teletherapy full time. Your website has been a huge lifeline in helping me work with late talkers and coach their parents in an accessible but effective way, even remotely. I look forward to getting your emails each week. I am floored by the amount of valuable, free information that your website provides, and I’m looking forward to investing in your workbooks soon. A sincere thank you for all you do!"
ALLISON
"You are an inspiration! I am truly grateful for the way you put into words and writing how to do what we do as SLPs. At this time in my 13 years of practicing, I find your encouragement keeps me going. As a single mom, I find it a stretch to buy materials these days and I am so thankful for the freebies you so generously share that help me teach my families. I don’t have much time to put together lists or quick references for parents!! Much gratitude!!"
ANDREA
Laura thank you so much. Btw, you have transformed my therapy- I have become such a competent and strong therapist after watching probably like 350 of your videos and podcasts over the past few years. And I am a seasoned therapist with almost 25 years experience. (Yes prob 350 episodes ha!) But there was still a lot I learned from you. I have such a thorough understanding of birth to 3 development and how to properly incorporate appropriate therapeutic goals, techniques and strategies now, thanks to you. Kelly
Hi Laura,I want to thank you so much for the resources you provide, my daughter has delayed speech and though she qualifies for CDS. Honestly the most progress she has made in her speech/language development has been after I implemented your 5 top strategies for delayed talkers! She is now almost 2.5 and her vocabulary is well over 75 (I haven’t counted recently, could be over 100) words when at 2 she barely had four words. Honestly the last few months have been a transformation for her.
Ann
