@*@*@*@ SALTS - your opinions please on Lulu's DD @*@*@*@

[Lulumama]

have posted before re DDs lack of speech.

she is now almost 2.4, not really forming sentences, and i am her interpreter/ transalator.. even DH finds it hard to understand her. She speaks her own little language but understands everything..

she is not really making any progress, and the small amount she has made has been very slow.

HV has referred her for SALT, this was in August, am still waiting , she reckoned i would hear by Xmas about an appt.

DH is thinking she might have verbal dyspraxia, and wants a referral privately to pead. and / or SALT.

so , is it worth going privately? or is she normal but a little slow?

[Lulumama]

anyone about?

moondog.. are you there? pleeeeease

[RubySlippers]

aw lulu

can you CAT her?

[bubblagirl]

my ds has only just started putting words together at 2.5 he is 2.6 now no conversation as such although is now copying one to and three words

it started when i was giving choices for everything then waiting for his answer puzzle or play doh, juice or water, apple or banana

then whatever it was thats a lovely yellow banana is it yummy

that water is cold isnt it

the play doh is soft

it really did work he started attempting to say what i was saying not pronounced properly but well done for trying to say whatever the word was never correct a word said wrong just say thats right then the word

it was hard work every day but it really has done wonders for him i have 4 more weeks for review with salt have been waiting nearly 6 months and he has come on so much in last 3 weeks so quick ovrnight it happened i said you are a good boy he said good goy

good enough for me said more now every day will copy what i am saying and started nursery mon so that should help also your dd will get there i nevr thought it would happen and i'm along way off but alot closer than we were 3 weeks ago good luck xx

[Lulumama]

thanks ruby.. i might do, but will wait and see if anyone spys this thread

thanks bubblagirl. i think DD is grinding to a halt really, she goes to playgroup twice a week for 2 1/4 hours per session, and we go to mums and tots twice a week, so she has plenty of interaction with other children.

i do encourage her and try not to speak for her, but we are really not getting anywhere

[mummy2aaron]

Your dd is just like mine and she is receiving salt they are visiting at Playgroup tomorrow. We had to change therapist because the first one was crap and did nothing with her, this one is miles better and I am hopeful.

[bubblagirl]

i also felt this and at 2.5 something changed now 2.6 and is doing so much better at 2.4 he wouldnt say much at all and wouldnt dream of copying

hang in there i too posted about 4 weeks ago about 2 days later was when he had transformation

it will happen all dc learn at different rates its not unusual to be 3 and only just start talking

salt will know more has she had her hearing tested as this will be first thing they should do before salt she may have glue ear

[Lulumama]

thanks... how long did you wait for an appointment?

[Twitmonster]

my ds1 didn't start talking until he was over 2 1/2, and now I can't keep him quiet I had to translate for him all the time and we were talking about speech therapy, but it resolved itself in the end.

[Lulumama]

thanks

i have no doubt it will resolve, eventually, but i am getting a bit tired of waiting, whilst her peers chatter away and can have conversations with their mums

[bubblagirl]

3 months just to go see therapist no therapy just so she could see ds

and been another 3 months for a review so a long time with no work being done luckily had a nice lady come to me every 2-4 weks just to help me with how to help him which i have shared with you read lots of books whats that animal etc cow goes moo

it has been repeat repeat rpeat thats all i can say thats what she has had me doing thats what i'll tell you to do with everything

[Lulumama]

if it is going to be months, then i would prefer to go private, she is starting pre school in september

[bubblagirl]

simplifying speech was what i was told to do also as they find it hard to absorb all of what we say

oven is hot, water is cold , cow goes moo, milk is white, water or milk

book or puzzle she said to try and use 3 words so they can see how it is done as when you say do you want to do puzzle or read a book its too much

makes sence i guess it seems to have worked then when i give him something i say thank you mummy and he tries to copy that too now

[Twitmonster]

I know how you feel, I felt that they thought it was somehow my fault or that he was really thick.

[Lulumama]

thanks very much bubblagirl

[bubblagirl]

my ds has just started pre school mon and speech therapist will work with pre school and sometimes they prefer them to be at pre school to see how they are when with other dc

as this is always known to bring a dc with speech delay more vocal as copying other dc dont panic i was so worried as he still does not anitiate conversation and will only answer

he got on great at preschool he loved it he isnt the only child there with speech delay and staff are so good 2nd day on thur and hoping it'll bring him on leaps and bounds

[mummy2aaron]

took 3 months for our first appomtment. i did the hanen course as my ds2 is autistic so have been following that which is a great help - if you could get hold of the hanen book that would be good.

[Lulumama]

thanks all

much appreciated

[fibernie]

Hi lulumama, you've found a SALT but one who works with adults (the phrase chocolate teapot comes to mind). I've been refreshing my memory on all this lately as I have a DD aged 22m. this private salt site has some useful information on 'normal' language development.
I think your daughter is a little young to be worried - is she putting words together? The site above gives some guidelines on intelligibility.
Depends where you live on whether private salt is worthwhile. You can look up slts who are registered with the association of slts in independent practice. You should also check that an slt is registered with the professionals council

[fibernie]

Sorry, that should say 'health professionals council'

[littleducks]

i dont know really if her speech is normal or not because dd is younger than yours and i have mushy mummmy brain atm but as an idea is there a surestart programme near you? where we used to live i attended a mum and baby group that was part of a surestart scheme, for older children there was a group called 'tots talking' which was run by hvs and salts so mums with concerns could drop in and ask about their probs and all the children could benefit from activities designed to help speech development.

as the money for surestart schemes is no longer tightly controlled and fenceposted they dont tend to mind if people from outside the area (i was two streets out but benefited from lovely surestart midwives last time round, only truly realise how great they were as i have normal community midwives this time)

so maybe check at childrens centre near you if there are similar groups running?

[Lulumama]

thanks so much, will look at those links

[Lulumama]

i emailed the childrens centre as HV advised re a language course,but no reply. also, HV thought it is between 3 -4 , so i would have to get someone to collect DS

[littleducks]

hope it is a more convenient time, im sure that 3-4 would be the worst times for mums to take kids anywhere!

[TotalChaos]

Lulu - phone up the SALT department yourself to find out what is going on re:appointment times. Then if appointment is not imminent, then I think, if you can afford it, that private SALT referral is worthwhile. Also check when you phone up if there is likely to be a wait for further therapy/group speech therapy after your first appointment. When I was looking for private SALT for DS, Moondog recommended the ASLTIP website (one that fibernie has linked to).

Whilst the Hanen course and book are very good, unless the Hanen course is done by a SALT (in my area it wasn't), then you aren't really going to get individualised advice, so I think that getting private SALT is worthwhile in addition to the Hanen course.

[moondog]

Hi Lulu.
What byou describe is within normal perameters but of course you worry.
Unfortunately there are so few salts and such huge waiting lists.It's a nightmare.

A private consultation wont cost a bomb and will put your mind at rest. The ASLTIP site is bona fide.All those on it are fully regirstered with Royal College and Health Profs. Council.