Book to help with speech.

[PinkDaydreams]

Morning all!
I am wondering if anyone has any reviews on two books I have seen recommended on here a lot. One is It Takes Two To Talk and the other is More Than Words by Fern Sussman. I am wondering which one to purchase or if I need them both?
My 28 month old is awaiting SALT and ASD diagnosis. He did have a handful of words but they’ve all gone and not returned. We have completed a chatterbox course, twice, but no development.
Thank you :)

I have also seen Learning Language and Loving It recommended too.

Bump!

While I cant help, we ordered More than Words and just got it yesterday. From skimming it, it looks very good. Dont know if it will offer a magical solution, but can let you know in a few weeks how we found it. We're in a similar boat, language gone missing, and we're not sure if we'll be able to get it back :/

Thank you for your reply! Just before lockdown started I actually won an auction on eBay for it takes two to talk but the seller is social distancing and won’t send it to me so has refunded me. Then I remembered about more than words and so thought I’d ask on here what people think of all three books and which one to get. I’m not sure if they are al similar?

It Takes Two -Absolutely amazing book if you’re looking for a book that you can leave on the coffee table and also introduce to other members of your family who might otherwise feel a bit awkward and not sure how to help and how to communicate with your little one. My husband loved it so much because it was so positive. It’s essentially a training manual for parents on how to change their own speech and it’s powerful stuff

More than words goes deeper. It’s fairly unusual for children like ours to respond purely to their parents changing their language. And that’s because our children are not processing language in the way we wish they were. The focus is on the things that are underneath language such as what the children are seeing. I confess I should I shied away from getting this book but once I got it I filled the house with photographs and other visual clues and it made such a difference to my child. I wish I got it sooner.

So honestly I can truly say I would’ve gone without buying new clothes for three years to have these two books. Probably the most important money I have ever spent.

Good luck.

Also do an advanced search for “Moondog calendar”

Thank you for your reply @huntinthehornybacktoad I really do appreciate it. So the books are different then, that’s good, I’ve no problem buying both. I just didn’t want to buy both and them turn out to have similar content.

Great.

It Takes Two is the one to read on the days you are feeling fragile and anxious.
More than Words is the one to read on the stong days when you are read to delve a bit deeper :)

It is so awesome when you get progress. Best feeling in the world. Keep going!

Thank you so much! Honestly feel like we’ve taken a massive step (jump) backwards due to this lockdown. I understand everyone on waiting lists is in the same position but I’m getting myself worked up now as I just want to do whatever I can to try help my little one to develop. Had a nosey on eBay and it frustrates me how expensive the books are, I tried early this year to borrow them from the library but they didn’t have it. The librarian couldn’t believe the price of them! I’ve seen one on eBay yesterday for over £100!

It will be you that does the work anyway Pink so absolutely don't let lockdown stop you.

It's a real shame the Hanen books are so expensive but I think they fund some of the work they do,etc,etc,.

I gave both mine away years ago to other mumsnetters. We ought to have a mumsnet library of them

I don’t have the two Hanen books with me but I recall that one follows on from the other. One is for children just learning to talk and the other is for when they can talk but need to learn better conversation skills. Somewhere it says the second one is for children around age 4-7.

I think you may be misremembering a bit city. unless I am :) which at this point in the day is more than likely.

Talkability is the Hanen book for slightly older verbal children on the spectrum.

The books seem to have been resold at higher and higher costs over the last few years. IMO they are still worth it though as they are much cheaper than private speech and language therapy which is £75 per hour where I live.

I think if your DS is awaiting an assessment for ASD, then I suspect he is exhibiting social communication difficulties. I would recommend you get the "More than words" book. It takes two to talk is okay but it's more gear towards children who have a language delay and are likely to catch up. The more than words book is very comprehensive, it has lots of information, activities, games you can go through. You will not regret buying that book.

We had More Than Words for DS when he was 2, I would recommend that one.

I think the more then words book sounds like it’ll be suited more to him then, I’ll order that one first and see how we get on. He hasn’t had a formal diagnosis yet which was making me sway more toward the other book, but I am seeing a lot of autism traits so I think he will end up with a diagnosis. Im not worried about that at all, I just want to be able to do as much as I can to help him and to understand. DH is worried though but I keep trying to put his mind at ease.

For the people that have got More Than Words, will it help with just a speech and language delay or is it specifically for autism? Like I said, he’s showing mild traits of autism but hasn’t been diagnosed as yet. I’d like members of the family to read it too but If he doesn’t get a diagnosis then I don’t want the “I told you that book was only for autism” negativity that I’m currently receiving

I’ve ordered it, can’t wait to receive it! Thank you for your help.

Op here’s the back cover blurb and index incase you haven’t seen them.

It’s a large book, a working manual, so you may struggle to get extended family to read it but you never know.

“For the people that have got More Than Words, will it help with just a speech and language delay or is it specifically for autism? Like I said, he’s showing mild traits of autism but hasn’t been diagnosed as yet. I’d like members of the family to read it too but If he doesn’t get a diagnosis then I don’t want the “I told you that book was only for autism” negativity that I’m currently receiving hmm”

Yes it because it’s looking deeper IYSWIM.
“It Takes Two” is ideal for extended family to read.
I used to liken my situation to being a football manager. You have to get all the players on your team to play their best. And anybody in the family who cares about the child is part of that team. So you do what it takes to get them being useful!

The other thing is, whether he gets a diagnosis or not is not the most important thing right now. The important thing is to make the right interventions as soon as possible. Because right now what matters is to alter the trajectory in a positive direction. And thankfully the interventions you need to make are the same whether it’s language or autism – the only thing you don’t know is how deep you’re going to have to go. Some parents have regretted doing what they called faffing around with Hanen and then when later realised that they needed to go deeper sooner .So I wouldn’t make decisions based on a dichotomy between language to learn autism.

Imagine for instance that he gets a diagnosis when he is six. That may be all very well and good and help you and help his school but it will never give you what you have now – a 28-month old child.

And then later realised they had

Dichotomy between language and autism

@huntinthehornybacktoad you’re exactly right. I’m getting frustrated with family being negative and dismissing my concerns, “he’s fine, he’s a boy, he will catch up, he hasn’t got autism”. Then when I point out certain things I’m observing (which the health visitor is also seeing) I’m fobbed off. Anyway, I’ll stop with the negativity now! I’m looking forward to receiving this book and putting it into practice

Yes ! Absolutely will more than words help with speech. More than words is not just for Autism, it's geared towards children who have social comm difficulties, and children who are likely to have persistent language disorders, learning disabilities etc. Basically that book goes in, it is very comprehensive. I own both books and honestly, it takes two was a waste of money.

@buildingbridge thank you for your honest reply More than words is due to arrive tomorrow and I can’t wait to get reading!