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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

speech report is such a knockback

14 replies

mumandlovingit · 23/08/2006 14:12

ive had my sons speech and language report through the post today.he's had speech and development problems but since september when he started playgroup he has made remarkable progress and is now talking in sentences.his speech report from a 20 minute session with someone a few weeks ago says that the average 'score' for a child of his age in each area should be between 7 and 13.in 3 areas my son has only gained a score of 3 and the other area gained a score of 7.it says he's considerably delayed etc and that he will need alot of help at school to understand the curriculum.maybe it shouldnt have been a shock but everyone who knows him has commented on how well he's doing and how much he's improved over the last year.SENCO did a report and said that he wouldnt need any extra help at school apart from the help that there already is within the school such as teaching assistants.i just feel really down now that he hasnt caught up more.im assuming they mean that he's developing well but still very delayed from where he should be for his age.anyone else had this/know anything about it all??

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Cailyn3 · 23/08/2006 14:26

How old is your son? My eldest had his own language that no-one could understand without one of his "dictionarys" for ages on end, but he's started to catch up with the help of pre-school and reception. He often sounds behind some other class members, but my lad is an August baby and is always going to be slightly behind the rest. Maybe your boy got all shy when the speech person was talking to them (I know my boys would have both gone silent!)

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castlesintheair · 23/08/2006 15:01

Hi Mumandlovingit, I have had a similiar problem with my DS who is 4.6. I agree with Cailyn3 about shyness, my DS now has "white coat syndrome" because whenever someone "assesses" him he clams up! A 20 minute session doesn't sound long enough to me to get the real picture. His nursery/SENCO know him better and see him in everyday situations so surely their opinion is more valuable? I feel for you, it is a worrying time and I am dreading the whole starting school thing .

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moondog · 23/08/2006 15:08

Sorry you're so upset MALI.
Iam a salt and often feel like the angel of death as we seem to bear news that parents often don't want to hear.

A salt assessment is quite tough.We have to be brutal and frank.This is toften the only way that children are able to access the support and help they need.

The fact that it is not what you expect does not mean that he hasn't made progress!

No salt would ever think her report and assesssment is the be all and end all.It is read and considered with everyone else's input.

Better to be honest and get support than brush his difficulties under the carpet.You are lucky that people are so concerned and wanting to help.

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southeastastra · 23/08/2006 15:12

your op could have been about my ds now 5. please do not worry too much, i cried when i first got the report because i couldn't make any sense out of it, but he has really been helped by s & l and it had made him more confident in school. they do really want to help, not make you feel bad

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moondog · 23/08/2006 15:12

Yes SEA!
Tis true.
Can only help by getting an accurate baseline assessment so we know what to work on however.

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southeastastra · 23/08/2006 15:48

hello moondog!

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moondog · 23/08/2006 15:52

Hi SEA!

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mumandlovingit · 23/08/2006 16:33

thanks for your messages.it just seemed so harsh to say he was at level 3 when average is 7 to 13.sounds silly but his development assessment says he's now around the average mark if ot just slightly below.i know he'll need help as we work at home alot with him to try to help him.i just didnt realise how bad they think he is with his language etc.im hoping he does get the help he needs at school like he did at playgroup so he can continue to develop and learn and catch up.he was four at the beginning of august so will only go mornings at school until january when he'll start fulltime.i know im biased but one of the things she's listed that he doesnt understand i know he does as he does things like it at home and understands when i ask him to do things.we'll just have to see how it all goes.i suppose its just harsh in black and white.

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southeastastra · 23/08/2006 16:55

it is, but it will get better. keep posting here, there are alot of parents with children in the same position. he is still very little and will be fine.

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castlesintheair · 23/08/2006 17:07

Yes it does sound harsh, I agree, but like Moondog/SEA say they only want to help. I have had to accept this too though I find all the different opinions very confusing. My DS isn't getting SALT as he apparently doesn't need it even though this time last year they thought he would need statementing for 1:1 at school. Now SENCO/nursery said he won't get it as there has been too much improvement. School have said they will see how he gets on. Whilst I'm pleased about this it makes the anxiety worse as ideally I'd like him to start off with the correct help if he needs it rather than floundering for a term or so IYKWIM. Sorry to prattle on but I feel for you and I want you to know you are not alone, I think we are in the same boat here

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mumandlovingit · 23/08/2006 17:38

thankyou.when he had his 18 month checkup i asked for him to be referred for his speech and development as even then i knew that he wasnt doing things he should be.im glad i did now but to be honest the speech therapy hasnt actually helped as he wouldnt interact with the woman so she just sent me home with packs of things to do with him.its his nursery and us at home who have got him to the stage where he's at now and i know we'll still have to be helping him more than alot of children need but in the long run i hope we can help him enough to at least get him into the average grouping of children.i worry so much that the other children will be nasty etc and i know how cruel some can be.my 5 year old has hearing problems and he's had nasty remarks/children not playing with him etc and laughing when he cant hear them properly.im just dreading my othee son having the same sort of problems as to be fair he is immature with his approach to things and i just hope the teachers will keep an eye on things like that.sometimes i honestly think alot of it is lazyness and getting im to concentrate for long enough to take things in.he tends to let things go over his head rather than take them in but i know he's not silly as hen its something he wants he makes sure people know what he wants! its hard as well as their dad had the same problems at school and still has certain problems now because of the immaturity with speech and development and i know what he went through and we're scared that it'll be the same for him.we've got to trust in the school to keep us informed and look after him and give him all the help he needs i suppose.i'll post a thread once he's started and let you all know how he's getting on.i know he'll love it as he loved nursery and is looking forward to ging.its just whether he understands things and the other children are ok to him that i worry about.

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castlesintheair · 23/08/2006 17:48

That's my worry too MALI the making friends/not being picked on etc. Did you see that C4 documentary about 1st year in reception last night? I was waiting for someone like my DS but alas, no. Please do start another thread, I shall be interested to hear how you get on. Good luck and I hope it goes well for you and your DS.

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maddiemostmerry · 23/08/2006 18:02

Try not to look at the report scores as if they are some kind of test result, they are really only to show the areas in which your son could do with some input.
It sounds if he is making good progress and you are right to feel he is doing well as you should look at him and his individual progress.

My youngest son (alomost 5) has very similar scores to your son, the SALT team have been superb in getting the right support in place for him for school in Sept.
My son is quite verbal and without these scores it would not always be possible to pick up the areas in which he still has significant difficulties as a lot of people say "Well he can speak therefore he must be fine"

I know it must be a shock but try to feel that your son is geeting the right support at the best time possible.
I must admit I did feel pretty tearful when I realised how behind my son was so lots of symapty to you but it really did spur me on to ensure support was in place for him.

Is he due any SALT soon, maybe you could call the therapist that wrote the report for a chat.

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mumandlovingit · 23/08/2006 21:40

they dont actually do speech therapy with him, they just send me home with leaflets etc.i'll contact her and see what she suggests for us to do at home