It takes two to talk book 5th edition

[hohohobags]

Hi I have been recommended this book, but my library doesn't have it and can't source it for me. I've looked on eBay and it is selling for around £63 .

Has anyone read this who? Can you tell me if it is worth it? My 2.5 year old has a speech delay, although HV/ ENT etc tell me he'll magically catch up. I can't seem to access any help for him until 3 here. He only has about 10 words inc vroom / woof noises. He doesn't do any 2+ word sentences.

I started DS at a pre-school that take them at 2yrs two mornings and he loves it but no improvement in speech. Hearing is fine ! I'm with him the rest of the time and he loves going walking or imaginative play. No other issues, but doesn't sleep very much

[hohohobags]

Sorry about my grammar or lack of. Too much rushing and didn't check my post.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I’ve not heard of the book but it’s a bit cheaper on abe books. Point also has some good resources.

Is the HV saying that she can’t refer for SLT? Can you self refer or is going private an option?

[hohohobags]

@JiltedJohnsJulie they won't refer him no, they say they can't refer until 3. I'm not able to self refer.

I think I will find someone privately after Xmas. It's very frustrating, as we do all the things the health Vistor suggested. Although my partner is very quiet so I find it's me that has to do all the talking with DS. It's very draining

[AladdinMum]

How is his non-verbal communication (gestures)? to meet needs and to share interests? if he is only speech delayed he should be using gestures even more than expected in order to compensate for his lack of words.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Sorry my second link should have said Talking Point.

[hohohobags]

@JiltedJohnsJulie thanks but the postage is hefty at £17, but might be the cheapest still.

I've been on talking point before, and just done the progress checker again. All the communication things are ok with DS, but it's the actual talking which is the issue. Of course it says seek help, but I gather I'm not going to get that on the "NHS" at the moment.

@AladdinMum yes he communicates well with pointing, some signs please / thank you etc or just getting a chair and getting what he wants etc. I don't mind him being quiet, he's quite into small details, but he doesn't particularly try to talk ( if you ask him what's that animal in a book etc)

[ElyElyOy]

There are online free YouTube speech videos that you can do at home.

Also have a look in your local area. Lots of places have classes for speech that are play/music based: to checking some out (often you can do one off classes) even if they aren’t advertised as being for speech. Rhyme Time, music and movement classes etc, or the baby sign language have classes for toddlers which all incorporate speech therapy stuff :)

[ElyElyOy]

Sorry just to add: my son has play based speech therapy and the focus is on single words. Rather than saying “kick the ball to mummy” you repeat “kick” and “ball”, or “let’s put your tshirt on” becomes “tshirt” and “on”. Also songs and dances with actions and action words are good: if your happy and you know it, head shoulders knees and toes, old mac Donald etc. Putting all his toy animals in a box and picking them out one by one and saying the animals name and making the noise: or getting them purposely wrong.

They also tell us to give them plenty of time to respond. For example with “ready, steady, go” lots of the children take ages to say go but they often do if you give them enough time, eventhough the parents say they can’t say it, they often do in classes because they get the time to say it.

Finally we are encouraged to always give them options of things and use the word and encourage them to choose: so “red” tshirt or “blue” tshirt in the morning, or “cat” bowl or “train” bowl for cereal.

I hope that makes sense and helps: it’s basically pausing for them to fill the silence, breaking down the language in to the smallest parts, and constantly repeating it all (but trying to make it fun and doing it as part of every day play, not forced learning). They encourage us to focus on themes each week, so that one week we try and focus on animals, another week it’s body parts, clothing, action words etc.

[hohohobags]

@ElyElyOy that's really interesting thank you.

My DS understands kick the ball to mummy, so is the point of simplifying that he learns the key words Kick & ball.

I will try to leave longer gaps.

We actually just did a put toy foods on a tray game. I asked him to find the item in his basket and place on the tray. He could do most of them apart from meat. He only managed to say pear out of all the foods, but I kept repeating. He really likes pears .

We do ready steady go and stop game.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Sorry hohoho I hadn’t seen the postage. It’s not usually that hefty on abe books.

If they won’t refer him to SLT, does the HV or Children’s Centre run any groups for children with delayed speech?

Has the HV suggested doing the m-chat too?

[ElyElyOy]

Simplifying sentences is so they can learn to say the word, not understanding: it’s easier for them to learn the important words if they aren’t having to work out what word you are teaching them. You need to focus on repeating the words too, so just put apples, oranges and pears on a tray and keep picking them up saying what they are, and get them wrong and see if he notices and laughs (although you might have to laugh when you get one wrong so he knows that’s the game!).

Its about understanding how difficult it is to learn to talk: it doesn’t help when you have different words associated to the same thing. For example is an Apple called an Apple, a fruit, green, a tree or pudding. As adults we understand it can be all of those things, but it’s not as easy for children.

Also with the sentences thing, it can be difficult for a child to understand than the item is called “ball” rather than “kicktheballtomummypleasesamuel” - if that makes sense.

It was explained a lot better to me I’m sure

[ElyElyOy]

Sorry with the fruit thing, it’s holding them up and saying “what’s this?” And waiting, obviously you can’t wait forever, but hopefully starting with just a few (and making sure there is something there they can say so they understand the game more) helps a bit xxx

[ElyElyOy]

This is the You Tube person I was on about

m.youtube.com/watch?v=9gTPS0cX4VQ

Also, our SALT suggests using basic makaton (just from Mr Tumble, You Tube etc) because it helps form a connection between a word and an object/action.

[hohohobags]

Great, ok will adjust the fruit game.

I don't know why they won't do anything before 3 here, but I guess it's a the wait and see policy to save money. I have really tried and do have a call with my HV in January to review so will push again then. But I pushed for the review.

[ElyElyOy]

In our area they will only intervene before 3 if there is a lack of understanding.

Our SALT is paid privately as it’s a speech play group session, not provided by NHS. I didn’t even realise she was actually a SALT at first so it’s good value in that respect :)

[hohohobags]

DS' understanding is fine, and I've done the m-chat survey thing too and low risk of Autism. I don't think he has autism personally, but then I'm not an expert. My friend has a high functioning Autistic 3 year old. His speech was slow but is coming on with speech therapy. My Ds doesn't line things up, will make eye contact, is sociable, no flapping, no toe walking , will try to interact with other children ie pass them a toy, play alongside or copies them, although his sleeping is terrible and he only sleeps about 8 hours in 24 hours.

We had parents evening at preschool and they said he has loads of time to work on his talking before school. They didn't seem worried at all. My main concern is the lack of progress since 1. Half the time I think yes it will be fine, but then I think I need to give him the best chance by going private.