4-year-old waiting for speech therapy deemed 'just a boy,' says Whitbourne mom

A Whitbourne woman who asked for speech therapy for her son two years ago says she was told he was "just a boy," even though the child now requires speech therapy. 

Stephanie Phillips told On the Go that her son, Bryce Fudge, was two years old when she tried to find him help, but she couldn't get him assessed. 

"I mentioned it to my public health nurse a few times, and she said, 'No, he's fine. He's where he should be for the age of two,' and they kept on saying that boys develop later," she said in an interview.

"He's just a boy, give him time, and unfortunately, that time actually hurt him more than helped him."

Phillips said her son, now four and ready to start school, substitutes letters.

"Instead of saying firetruck, he says dire truck or instead of the sun is shining, it's the dun is shining."

When people don't understand what he says, Bryce gets frustrated.

Pre-school check gets results

Phillips said she finally got the attention she was looking for during Bryce's pre-kindergarten checkup.  

Unfortunately, that time actually hurt him more than helped him- Stephanie Phillips

"I don't even say he had his coat off and the public health nurse had listened to him speak a few sentences. She looked at me and said, 'Stephanie, you know what, he needs to see a speech therapist,' and I was floored."

Phillips said she was disappointed, and close to tears.

"I did respond to her and said you know, I have asked repeatedly for help, and nobody gave it, and here I am today two years later."

The nurse told Phillips she could wait another two years for therapy through Eastern Health, but Bryce could be seen immediately if she went to a private therapist, something she wished she had known years earlier. 

"I left the public health office in tears, and I sat in my car before I even left the parking lot and contacted several different private speech therapists until I found somebody that I thought would suit my son," she said.

She got an appointment within four days.

Phillips said her son's speech has improved in the few months he's been getting help, and the therapist has helped the family work with Bryce on ways of practicing at home.

'Money well spent'

She said the assessment costs of between $200 and $300 and therapy costs of $55 for a half an hour session each week is "money well spent."

However, she feels the system has let her family down.

"I think it's horrible in this day and age that a mother would have to fight for something that the government should just be giving," said Phillips.

"If you cannot have enough therapists in the province to suit the needs of our children, then there should be some kind of compensation to parents to help alleviate the costs that you are paying for this service."

She's beaten herself up about not pushing harder and earlier for help, but said she bowed to what she thought were professional opinions.

"It's heartwrenching," said Phillips, who has three other children — all girls.

"I wanted a boy so bad, but to have him labelled as 'just a boy' is very unfair."