SALT Constant Deletion...WTF is this ?

[Room]

SALT Report says DS 4yo "currently deletes sounds off beginning and ends of words affects his intelligibility"

More information would be helpful. I am assuming this is a common problem at this young age as the SALT didn't seem that concerned, when we spoke.

[OwlinaTree]

Does it mean instead of saying boxes he might say oxes and insteaf of saying goat he might say go. So it's harder to understand what he is trying to say?

[Coconut0il]

Not an expert at all but I believe initial consonant deletion means sounds are being missed from the start of words so brick would be ick, green would be een. I'm not sure how common or unusual this is and you should definitely have been given more information.

[Room]

My DH & I understand him but the teachers struggle. Yes, we get hou instead of house.

[Coconut0il]

Have just Googled final consonant deletion and that is what you've described. Ca instead of cat, hou instead of house. It seems to be unusual past the age of 3.

[Room]

He has just turned 4yo, a young 4yo.

[allowlsthinkalot]

I think it is common in toddlers but not at four. You should definitely have been given more info. Have you got another appointment? Will he be given some input to help you improve his speech?

[allowlsthinkalot]

Have you had his heating tested?

[allowlsthinkalot]

Hearing?

[Coconut0il]

I wouldn't worry. I would just see if I could get some more information from SALT. Find out if they want you to do anything or if there is going to be any support in school? I work in a school and the therapist who comes in is fantastic. She knows we're not specialists and always explains everything really well and gives us lots of activities to do with the children we work with. Hopefully you'll get someone like that too.

[Room]

DS has just finished a set of lessons: which were only given because the teachers are struggling to understand him, SALT were happy just to discharge instead.

But at every lesson the SALT refered to DS as being 5 yo or older. He is a big boy, so I can see how the confusion arose bit.

They have offered more therapy but he doesn't understand the homework given.I check with his teachers and they say the work is far too advance for him.

I find it all confusing.

[Room]

Hearing is perfect.

[Marzipants]

As PPs have said it's dropping sounds off the beginning / ends of words. Horse is "hor" here. DH and I have immature sniggers at "hor riding."

My DS missed off sounds he couldn't hear. S was a particularly difficult one (unfortunate as his name starts with S). Have SALT suggested he has his hearing tested? We endured months of utterly pointless SALT before getting a diagnosis of glue ear.

[Coconut0il]

They really should be helping you more. The activities should be fun and engaging for your DS not homework that is too hard.
I'm sorry I can't offer more advice but for now I would just model the correct way to say things. Don't say it's wrong but if your DS said I saw a ca, you would say yes you saw a cat. I built a hou, yes you built a house. I found a ick, yes you found a stick. I hope that helps a little.

[Room]

He has had two clear hearing tests 6 months apart. Plus can hear a whisper of chocolate from anywhere in the house !

[Marzipants]

Cross post. Glad it's not a hearing problem.

We got fed up with SALT (DS now has grommets) and are currently forking out for private speech therapy. She is terrific with him. Turns out some of it is physical, because he hasn't been able to hear certain sounds, even though he's no longer deaf his tongue muscles aren't strong enough to make the required movements. SALT never mentioned that at all. His exercises are sticking his tongue out at different angles, heaven for a 4yo!

If you can afford it I'd consider a private consultation.

[The3Ls]

Hi I'm a SALT missing the ends of words is typical to about three maybe four if they were a late talker. Missing the beginnings is never normal development. Not a massive worry but indicates he should have therapy. Hearing been officially checked by audiology as it's the main cause of missing the Inital sounds.

I would write similar phrasing in reports thinking it was clear now worried none of my parents have a clue what I'm on about and need to reflect on using clearer English !

[madamginger]

My ds2 does this too. He's had 18 months of salt and his speech has come on so much. He also used to use the d sound for about half of his words so horse would be ord.
He has perfect hearing so no issues there.
He started when he was 4 and he goes for salt every three weeks for 45 minutes and one of the TAs at school does some work with him too.
He's 5 1/2 now and he will probably have another 6 months or so of salt

[Room]

The3Ls I guess the confusion is whether it is a serious or basic issue. If therapy is required, suggested or not necessary.

[LikeASoulWithoutAMind]

Worth bearing in mind that hearing tests only confirm the child's hearing on the day of the test. Glue ear can come and go.

[Room]

Maybe a third hearing test then ?

[The3Ls]

He would meet our criteria to provide therapy, very like madamginger describes. He may spontaneously recover by you gently repeating back what he says and stressing the sound he misses. Starting to read can also help as it gives a visual reminder of all the sounds in the words. For many children we just make it happen quicker. I'd try and arrange a meeting with her, ask her rationale for therapy versus not therapy and some specific tips to help your child based on her assessment. She should be making clinical decisions based on evidence. We use Caroline Bowen norms which you can google yourself that plus mommyspeechtherpay.com have some free resources you can print off
It's not a serious issue in the sense it's not likely to be a life long problem but it does need addressing. How bothered is he?

[CrotchetQuaverMinim]

I think also hearing test results can be different depending on whether they're testing pure tones or speech sounds or both, so might check what was done?

[BeckyWithTheHair]

Hi, I would suggest contacting the SALT in question if you can and ask to meet with them, preferably if and when your DS has another session with them. Where I live, once a SALT is involved they tend to stick around for a long time rather than discharging the child after only a few sessions.

My DS Is 6 (almost 7) and has been having SALT since he was 2.5. He had delayed speech and demonstrated echolalia. His speech is perfect now, his vocabulary is vast, I have endless comments about how he speaks better than some adults! His sessions are down to 1 every 6 months and it looks like he will be discharged soon. However he has had hearing tests, development and educational psychology tests along side SALT. All seemed very over cautious if you ask me but it's all done and normal.

If you are worried or you have a gut feeling that something isn't right then ask to speak to someone to explain things thoroughly and /or be present when your DS is seen by SALT again.

[BreakfastMuffin]

You could download a hearing test app on your phone/iPad for free and do it with your son if you didn't want to wait for one at the docs. They are v good. No advice on the sounds sorry

[Room]

OK, Will repeat hearing test, though I am sure he is hearing ok.
TBH I am happy with his speech too, but teachers are concerned.