My dd's SALT has concerns over her understanding.

[mummyloveslucy]

My daughter had a speech and language assessment the other day and the SALT said that her understanding of language could be delayed too. She is nearly 3. I don't know any other 3 year olds so don't know what is normal. She repeats frases over and over like "it my teletubbie" even when you answer her every time she still keeps saying it. If asked her name she says Mummy or Daddy. and she calls most women Mummy, and objects like a small wooden male doll. These where the things the SALT picked up on. Is this normal? and what should she understand at this age?

[mummyloveslucy]

P.S, she is a very happy friendly charactor. She prefers adult company and can get overwhelmed ver easily eg party's. She likes small groups of children 3 inc her max.

[moira199]

How is she with following instructions like 'Get your coat' etc ? Does she point out objects of interest to you -even if not with speech? The things you mention might not be a problem in themselves but you need to look at the wider picture of what she is doing with language. Is she mainly using language to communicate? Will she ask for juice and biscuits etc?

[TotalChaos]

DS's understanding is way behind, so unfortunately I can't really help with what is normal! If there is a question mark about your DD's understanding, try and keep your speech - simple, and back up what you say with gestures, or when you talk about someone, show her a photo etc. Children with problems understanding can be very canny at hiding it - e.g. watching and copy what other children are doing to figure out what they are meant to be doing

[mummyloveslucy]

She understands simple phrases most of the time. She could not put her own coat on or dress herself atall. She was dragging herself along the floor yesterday and it looked funny. I said to her "What are you?" expecting her to say a rabbit or somthing but she said "I fine".

[mummyloveslucy]

Sometimes when she wants my attention urgently she'll screem or cry as she probubly feels that this is more effective than her language. I always calm her down and tell her to use her words. She gets very frustrated sometimes, and so do I.

[1066andallthat]

Hi!

DS2 has some sort of developmental delay - late language and still not sure of his understanding.

What definitely helped us was "Something Special" - I liked it so much (so did he) that I bought the Makaton first kit about using signing with your child to push their language on. Anyhow, it is sitting here and if you are interested, you are welcome to it (you'd need a video player to watch the accompanying videos).

[TotalChaos]

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[TotalChaos]

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[mummyloveslucy]

Hi, not too sure about sign language as they don't do it at her nursery. She needs to be able to talk to her friends. I tried signing with her a year ago and she picked it up quickley but didn't speak. She used it as a way of not having to speek.

[moira199]

Hi

It's very encouraging that she picked up signing so quickly as this shows she enjoys communicating. Has anyone else mentioned concerns about her speech - family, friends, nursery staff ? It is a very frustrating situation to be in , knowing that your child needs a bit of help to develop speech but then not being able to access services because they are so limited. Has the Health Visitor noted any concerns and is she involved with pushing to get speech therapy?

[bubblagirl]

hi i really sympaphise with you as i'm going throught his right now with ds 2.7

he doeas ask singular words fotr things such as drink help chocolate crisps ect

does not talk in sentences SALT are concerned about his understanding of words

he will do what ever you ask him put shoes hat coat on get this from other room put in bincan dio it all but its the expressing back

has just started saying no when asking him something do you want naughty spot for example no lol

plays along side other dc ok apart from frustration of communicating

does attempt to start conversation in his own way of saying things

it is so worrying i know SALT are just trying to rule a few things out at the moment so will be assessing again in 3 weeks

i had great reply from a lady on here saying as long as your dc understands what you ask points at what they want and holds eye contact would appear to be just speach delay

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi yes, nursery,family and everyone have commented on her speech. The HV is useless and say's wait untill she's 3 and then we'll put her on the waiting list. Which I've heard is about a years wait.
She is very keen to communicate and backs up her speech with gestures and facial expressions. She is very friendly and desperatly wants to talk to everyone which is why it must be so hard for her and she gets frustrated when people don't understand her. She's had an assessment now at least so the HV should put her on the list now. I'll give a coppy to school too.

[yurt1]

She won't use it as a way to avoid speaking- really she won't- loads of research showing that sign and other augmentative communication systems such as PECS improve speech. If she picked it up easily before I really think that using it again will help her.

What happens now? Is the SALT seeing her again or is she going to have further assessment - it does sound as if she might benefit from referral to a child development centre so that it can be worked out what's going on.

[CarGirl]

I would let her learn/use makaton she is now trying to talk it will ease her frustration at home. She will hopefully understand that they don't sign at nursery so will continue to speak there. If I find out dd's poor speech is not down to glue ear then I will consider makaton as she is frustrated at the lack of understanding between us and she is missing out on telling me stuff because I don't understand her speech.

[yurt1]

Makaton is designed to be used WITH speech anyway - so ideal.

[TellusMater]

Yes, the waiting lists can be very long for SALT - dd has been waiting for over a year now - but that is for problems with expressive language. Children with receptive language issues have been dealt with more quickly. What did the SALT say was the next step?

[mummyloveslucy]

She said that she could continue seeing her at a huge cost of corse, or I can go on the waiting list for NHS speech therapy. SSShe recommends investigation in to her understanding of speech too. I thought the private assessment would push things forward, but obviously not.

[TellusMater]

Can she refer you to the NHS list if your HV won't? In our area, you get an initial assessment in 6 weeks, but then join the ridiculous waiting list. But as I say, other children with greaster need have been seen quicker than my dd (as they should of course, but still, a year...)

[mummyloveslucy]

The private therapy is £50 per hour and £16 petrol money each time, even though she's the closest private therapist to where we live. If I had that kind of money then of corse I'd do it for her, but I do feel a bit let down by the H.V. I asked her to be put on the list 6 months ago. She would be half way there now if she'd have done it.

[mummyloveslucy]

I'll take her assessment letter down to the Health Visitor tommorrow, My Husband will come too. Hopefully she will then put her on the list. If not then I'll ask her nursery to refere her. On her last parents evening they said that they'll work on her vocab, and there sure she'll be fine and catch up on her speech. So in a way I feel like I've gon against them and had her assessed so I don't know what they'll think of that.

[TellusMater]

Yes. Get her referred ASAP.

[mummyloveslucy]

Yes, I'll be very insistant this time. When the H.V saw her last time she showed her a book of animals and when asked what they were my dd made the noises they make, and H.V said Oh, I think she'll be fine

[TotalChaos]

have you tried phoning NHS SALT department direct to find out if they accept referrals from parents, rather than you having to go through HV or GP? I feel your pain on the having wanted her referred 6 months ago - exactly the same thing happened to me.

I agree with Yurt - that all I have read indicates that signing or pecs helps with speech - particularly if your DD has difficulty understanding, as there are visual clues as well as the speech to help her understand and then use new words.

Don't worry for one minute what nursery think.

Re:private SALT - has she given you any indication of work you can be doing with her to help her speech + communication?

[TellusMater]

Well, she may well be fine. I hope she is. I suspect my dd won't actually need anything when she finally gets seen. But you dson't want to wait for a year and find out that she does. Which is my HV's position.

[TotalChaos]

TellusMater - good for your HV for wanting to reduce parent anxiety and not just wanting to pay lip service to early intervention!

mummyloveslucy - do you want to e-mail me at milkfloatquack at yahoo dot co dot uk - I am happy to pass on to you some written information about helping speech that the private SALT gave to me.