Did Aspie improve with social skills after SLT?

[Warl]

DD has suspected Asperger's, I realise it's going to be a long drawn out process to actually get a diagnosis.

We've been on the NHS SLT waiting list for an age & have decided to see a private SLT in a hope that improve her speech will help with the social & interaction at pre-school.

She's currently stuck using about 75% echolia at the moment but does enjoy pre-school.

Did anyone see noticeable improvements after SLT?

[Warl]

Probably should have said she's 3, turned 3 in August

[MsHaveNaiceHam]

If suspected Asperger's (no longer a diagnostic category BTW- it's high functioning autism HFA) then it's probably best to proceed as if that will be the diagnosis. Intervening with speech/language programmes and play skills will help her progress regardless of the eventual diagnosis.

Hannen Hannen used extensively by SaLT around here; evidence based.
There is a parent programme, but if it's not run locally to you, then you can get the book and start to use it yourself.
A lot of it is changing your own interaction style so that you "coach" your child's skills and break it down into steps so that you can focus on what step is next for them.

Early Start Denver Model
This is a play based early intervention...again, you can probably get the book through your local library to coach you.

SaLT definitely helps...and as the latest research/controversy shows, it's the work that you, parent, do that has most impact.

[Warl]

Hi thank you so much for replying. And thank you very much for the links I'll have a good look at those. Glad to have a starting point, I'll do everything I can to help her but tbh I didn't even know where to start so those should prove very useful

[MsHaveNaiceHam]

No problem.

A SaLT assessment will be really useful...if she is echolalia, does she have good comprehension, for example. That is, does she understand what you say to her?
Does she respond to her own name? Will she look when you point to something? Can she interpret facial expression?

How is she at pretend play...and taking turns?

All of these skills will also be observed at pre-school and they can help to carry over any work you are doing at home.

Good luck.

[Warl]

Her understanding is really good & she can communicate what she needs or wants to me, responds to her name, makes eye contact & understands happy / sad faces. Even the echolia she uses it in context about 90% of the time.

Pretend play I hadn't noticed a problem with, she'll make things for teddies in her play kitchen etc, dens are castles etc. I'm not sure in turn taking really as she's an only child & no nieces, nephews or friend with little ones the same age.

It's all come as a whirlwind tbh, she's my first & I just thought she had a few quirks (likes things in certain order, fascinated by numbers, letters & shape) it was the pre-school teacher that brought up what she called 'red-flags' but said she doesn't really interact with others children when there.

I'd filled in the self referral for SALT a while ago but thought that the echolia was the only issue at that time.

[MsHaveNaiceHam]

She sounds lovely; pretend play with teddies and kitchens is bang on.
So then it's more about the quality of how she plays with them....
can she share her pretend game with someone else?

e.g. if your DD is Sara playing with her friend Lily. Sara starts making dinner for dolly, and Lily joins in. Lily suggests that dolly would like chocolate cake instead...does Sara insist on her game or can she be flexible in her thinking and adjust to this variation of the game?

If you practice this type of play with her, can she adjust and turn take with you?

Of course, all this pre-supposes that she has ASD. She could of course, have a specific language impairment, which is why a SaLT assessment is so important.

[Warl]

Ah I see, well tbh no probably not she would probably insist on her way. Tbh when it's just her & me I probably let her do things her way but that's something we can work on. I've stocked up on reading material & managed to track down the hanen guide on eBay so I'm going to educate myself on how best to help her. Thank you so much Ms you've been really helpful, hopefully I can pay that kindness forward in future.

[SuiGeneris]

In short, yes. DS had quite a bit of SLT, starting when he was 2.5 and a late talker, and then later on (from Reception) to work specifically on social and conversational skills, as well as pronunciation and clarity. The improvement has been very noticeable and on reflection I wish we had done more when he was younger. You might also want to check out ICAN, which is a UK communication charity with an excellent online shop. We got their cards to develop speech through games (babbling babies, talking toddlers and possibly chatty children, or something like that), and it was a very good use of £15. We played the games with both children, ASD and neurotypical, and both seemed to enjoy them and benefitted from them.