What happens at speech therapy assesment ????

[nutcracker]

My dd (4) has been reffered for speech therapy after i expressed some concerns to my h.v about her not pronouncing her L's or R's and taking a long time to get a sentence out.
I haven't got the appointment yet, but am getting quite worried about it. My friends dd has been haviung speech therapy for about a year, and her speech now seems fine to me, but her mom said that they are still concerned as she doesn't inititate conversation (she does actually) and if they for example, put a cup next to the chair, then she will say the cup is on the chair instead. They also noted in her book that she fell off a chair the lsat time she was there, as if it represented some major problem.
Anyway the reason i'm getting concerned is because, as i've mentioned on mn before, my dd can have very big tantrums, for rather small things, and if she decides not to co-operate with the salt, i'm worried that they may think she has other probs (i have considered it myself).
It's extremely hard to explain but for example, the other day my mom tried to wipe her hands and she went ballistic, screaming and struggling, and then sitting on my lap for an hour whimpering and ignoring my mom. Also the thing that worries me alot is that sometimes if she's in a strop and someone speaks to her, she will screech at the top of her voice (sort of like eeeeeee ). This can be all of a sudden, just because some one asks her a question.
I know i'm probably being completly stupid, nurotic and overreacting, but i'm worried i may of opened a can of worms.

[nutcracker]

God i waffle so much in my posts latley.
Am waiting for someone to say "assess their speech" in response to my question, go on i wouldn't blame you

[miggy]

I really wouldnt worry. We took ds1 at similar age for pronounciation problems. Just 20/30mins in a room full of toys, v.pleasant environment and very nice therapist used to dealing with all sorts of problems and very nonconfrontational IYSWIM. You stay with them and they can sit on your lap if they want. Negative side is that they said "yes does need speech therapy but 3yr waiting list" well that was worth the trip then! Will probably be different in your area re waiting list but Im sure Salt will be just as nice.

[coppertop]

During the initial assessment the speech therapist will go through some questions with you about your dd, eg when did she start to babble, does she point at things to show you them, can she use a straw etc. These are so that she can get a better idea about your dd's history. She will then play with some toys with your dd to:

a) see what language she has already; and

b) see how much your dd understands.

She will also be looking out for any physical problems. The assessment usually lasts for about 1hr. At the end she will tell you if she thinks your dd needs speech therapy. Not all children need it.

The speech therapist will be used to seeing all different kinds of children so should recognise it if your dd is choosing not to do something rather than not being able to do it.

[Chinchilla]

My ds is younger than yours, so this may differ. However, she did pretty much what Coppertop said. She also got him to name things from a jigsaw and book (so it was more like play I suppose). She then asked him to make various sounds like 'p' and 't'. She made it fun for him though. Then, while she talked to us, he was allowed free reign of all the toys in her room. He had a fab time, and it was all very relaxed. The assessment lasted about 40 minutes. HTH

[nutcracker]

If they thought that her behaviour was a problem (i mean if she goes bannanas whilst there), would they suggest she needed treatment with other people or not. I think it's worrying me so much because i have several times thought that her behaviour is not 'normal', and am wondering what would happen if they did too.
My mom thinks she is just challenging. It's just the extent of her tantrums that worries me sometimes.

[nutcracker]

If they ask her to do something specific (like say Lollipop) i fear that she will just go "eeeeeeee" and refuse.

[coppertop]

If the speech therapist thinks they can see a problem they will talk to you about it there and then. I think the general policy is that they ask for your permission to refer your child to a third party. It was our speech therapist who first realised that there was more going on with ds1 than simply late speech. She asked me what I thought about a referral to the Child Development Unit for an assessment and I agreed. It wasn't a shock to us as we already suspected that it was something more serious.

If the speech therapist thinks that she isn't going to get a proper idea of your dd's abilities during the appointment she will probably rearrange a second appointment. Ds1 spent the whole of his assessment with his mouth firmly closed but I didn't know why. It turned out that the little terror had taken some chocolate and had a mouthful of it! The speech therapist arranged to see him again the following week.

[coppertop]

btw - apologies to any male speech therapists out there. I say "she" because so far the only speech therapists ds1 has seen have been women.

[jodee]

Agree with Coppertop...ds was assessed by a private (female) and NHS (male) SALT and it was basically running through the child's history (was she prem, did she use a dummy and for how long) and using play - putting a wooden alphabet puzzle back together, etc.

Also, have you considered having her hearing tested? We didn't think ds had a problem (which he didn't) but it put our mind at rest to get him checked out.

[Jimjams]

Actually I was monaing about SALTS today with a friend. Often all they do in a first assessment is talk to you about concerns, past history etc. In fact it took 2 years of visits to NHS SALTS before anyone even tried to listen to DS1. He has yet to have what I would call a proper NHS assessment- all have been private (the NHS have just done yet another past history blah blah). Stupid thing is when the assessment was done, it took about 10 minutes and was really easy to do and very revealing- showed exactly where his expressive and receptive language was at. I'd spent the last 2 years being told that a) I was imagining my son speaking and b) he would be too difficult to assess anyway.

Friend was moaning that her experience in the UK had been the same, but in Australia the SALTS had actually spoken to the child and played with them.

So I don't think you have much to worry about. They'll probably listen to your concerns and send you away with a couple of handouts which they will call a communication programme.

BTW DS2 ws referred for SALT (first assessment) in January and I haven't heard anything yet so you may well be waiting a while. I'm waiting with interest to see whether the service he receieves is as crap as the "service" ds1 receieved.

[nutcracker]

Oh thanks guys. I think i am over-reacting as usual, but at least now i know what to expect, and if she does throw a wobbly, i'll just have to explain that it is 'normal' for her.