I just applied for a speech therapist for my 22 month old toddler son which was recommended to me by pediatrician. My son has a 10 word english vocabulary now and he spends most of his time with my wife who speaks to him in polish. Only on the weekends when I am home, i would talk to him in English. A speech therapist came by and had my wife sign some papers and said a couple of people will be coming to test my son. I thought this was a great idea since it is free and I seriously don't think my son needs it. now i just heard from a friend that once someone is registed to a speech therapist, they will automatically have to attend a special education class (ESL) when they start school? Is that true? If so, I definitely do not want my son going to ESL because I feel it is he does not need it plus English is not his second language. Please give me some insight or advice. thanks.

My sons just turned 3 and has been seeing a speech therapist for the past year through our county Birth-3 program. He is now in a PALS program which is a "pre-school" program at the school where the kids get the special attention they need. Even with this intervention he will be going to "Normal" Kindergarten when he is old enough and he will not have to take any special classes unless I think he still needs it. Check with the program you are running with your child. They will be up-front with you.

Also, I think that it's great that you are getting him the help he may need and that he is learning 2 languages. He is a lucky child! :)

As a pre-school aged child, I was in speech therapy. it actually helped with the speech problems I was having, and I definately didn't have to attend a special education class. The rules may be different now, or where you live, but it seems very unlikely that he'd be put in special education. I've known lots of bright, capable kids who had minor speech problems, so it just wouldn't make sense.

this is really a question for your school that you plan on him attending. however in the public school system they will have a primary and a secondary lang. and even if he is spoken to in both lang. equally by his parents one of them is going to have to be his primary lang and the other his second.
usually though in some cases, children can get behind thier peers in reading because of speaking in both lang. but as long as you and your wife work with him in fluently reading and spelling in both lang then he should nt have any problems come time for school.
when he gets tested then you will get a fuller understanding on how this works. but it depends on the school that he will be attending. at my kids school they dont have a special class for children who speak english as a second lang but I know some schools do.
good luck

The early intervention (birth - 3 in my state) staff's function is to provide extra support to the student prior to their eligibilty for public school. They may provide input to the public school when your child is old enough to start school but that does not mean he will require special education services. Your consent will be required for any service above and beyond those received by a typical student. Take advantage of the services that are being provided and remember you are child's number one advocate.

Boys language development is typically a little later than girls. Also children in bilingual homes are a little later. No your child does not have to be placed in the developmentally delayed preschool. You and your wife are part of the IEP (individual education plan) team. You will have a meeting to determine appropriate placement for him. If you do not want the setting that they suggest, refuse it. I believe very strongly that all children are entitled to the LRE (least restrictive environment). This would be the regular ed setting. He can receive speech services (and i suggest this, if he qualifies) at school, during, before, or after the day.