We just had an eval completed on my daughter and I was told by the team that reflux does not have an impact on speech development. So I'm a little confused with what I should be on the look out for. Does anyone have more info?

I think it really depends on the child and on what is causing the reflux. Just because a child has reflux does not mean that they are going to have speech problems, but many kids with reflux also have problems in other areas, including speech.

Why were you having the eval? Was it just for speech, or an overal developmental eval?

Umm.. I don't know the answer to that. I think that katey said it, that some refluxers have other "issues" as well.
I know that with us, my little guy is 13 months old and is babbling. I don't know.

We actually were having Chase evaled for gross motor concerns. She has great difficulty staying on her tummy for any period of time (and therefore not building her upper body strength) . I suspect possibly there's pain possibly from reflux issues when she's in this position. I noted the section on the website that indicates there are often speech issues with refluxers. I just wondered if there were things I should be on the lookout for. Thanks for you input!

Tummy time was not good with us. I think when they are tiny, they are in so much pain and just don't understand why.
I know that it got alot better when Jack could roll over. He was actually early rolling over.

My child had a speech delay due to chronic esophagitis and bilateral vocal cord nodules caused by the stomach contents constant irritation of the vocal cords. He had speech therapy for a year and a half to learn to "talk past" the nodules.

In our case, I think D was speech delayed (but doing MUCH better -- yay!) because he doesn't eat orally. So his mouth doesn't get the exercise it should. His real problem was articulation. But now that he chews (but still doesn't swallow much) we're seeing great improvement.

http://www.infantrefluxdisease.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22191

check out this post. It explains why gerdlings have delayed speech, simply because so many don't like to eat.

I can't view the link you posted Emily. I'd really like to read it sounds interesting from your one line description.

For some reason when I try to access the info on speech issues with GERD children, it says I don't have access privileges. Is there something I need to do?
Thanks

That thread was in the R rated forum. Let us know if you want access to that section -- you can really let loose there if you're having a very bad day! ;-)

Anyway, here's the part Emily was likely referring to. It's from a post by Lesley (sixdogssixcats):

Speech delay in some children can be linked directly back to weak jaw muscles that are a result of delayed eating of table food. Eating solids strengthens the jaw muscles, and kids who don't solids "on time" can be speech delayed as a result. This by no means applies to all, or even most, kids who don't wolf down solids in late infancy; it's just a real cause of speech delay. Catherine's SLP believes this is why she is delayed -- as she didn't consume any solids of significance until after her first birthday and not enough to sustain herself until a good 8 months later.

LOL woops! Thanks Becky!!!!
I didn't even pay any attention. :dizzy: :rolleyes:

First time on this site I have an almost 11 month old who is not babbling and I amvery concerned and I wonder if it is related to his reflux issue (ie irration to voal cords) Has anyone had the ph probe study done my son also has a chronic cough due to reflux