Speech problems nhs or private advice please

[beautifulgirls]

Hi DD#2 has seen a private SALT in the last couple of months who has agreed with us about some problems we had noticed. She has been very good with her and is giving us some good ideas. We saw a private SALT because we got totally fed up with waiting for the local nhs unit to give us an appointment. Now they (nhs) have finally contacted me asking them to call them about an assessment if we still want one. DD obviously does need some help but is there any point in us doing both? I don't want to waste time that others could use, but then if DD is going to get extra help and save us some money in the process then all well and good. Does anyone have any comments for or against doing both?

[finnyb]

My DD who was 3 in October has been seeing a private speech therapist since the summer and has come on fantastically (sp?). She barely had 10 words before then and now has lots of single words and a couple of short sentences. We have an nhs appointment at the end of January and if they offer her therapy then we intend to stop using the private therapist (although I will really miss her positive input in the face of such negativity from doctors, health visitors and her play group leader). We couldn't really afford to spend £120 per month on therapy but I'm so glad we managed to scrape it together as it's made such a difference to her.

I hope this helps.

[mummydear]

Go and get the assessment on the NHS , will be interesting to see what they have to say - dont forget you are entitled to it. It may be however that they will not offer SALT as often as you get it privatetly .

Private SALT therapy is very expensive so keep going with it and NHS togther ans see how it goes. If you are then happy with NHS go with them, however saying that if we could have afforded to stay private Speech theraphy then we would have.

Do both for the time being , dont feel guilty about it.

[flack]

I would look at NHS as a chance for 2nd opinion, see how I felt with the NHS therapist on offer, be honest that you've already had her in private but don't feel that's obligatory, go from there.

[Jimjams2]

yes do both- in case you dd ends up needing to be in the system- then you'll need the NHS one. I did both with ds1 and ds2. In the end ds1's private and NHS one ended up working very closely together. NOw we only have his school one (there's one on site now he's changed schools), but she can see him, before moving to this school the NHS one never could so we needed the private one to do the therapy the NHS one to deal with the school.

[mummydear]

Good point about the school issue - my DS has been with the NHS one and will now be handed over to the school team in the new year.

If we had private SALT only then he would get this in school .

[Jimjams2]

it depends how its organised in your area. He now comes under the learning disability team so he's outside the NHS- I assume the SALT he sees is LEA employed. But when he was in mainstream he could only access the NHS - so she would go into school and liase with teachers etc. But she used to meet the private one to find out what he could do!

[mogwai]

As an SLT I would advise you to make sure the private and NHS SLT know that each other is involved. They should work together to avoid confusion for your child as they may use different approaches or target different things.

[beautifulgirls]

Thanks for the advice. Yes we were planning to let them know the other was involved so there is no confusion or an "bad feeling" from any side. We'll get the NHS assessment done then.
Happy New Year