Anybody got any advice about speech & language therapy groups

[mommy6]

I recieved a letter today for ds2 to attend speech & language therapy group.The letter doesn't explain much and have tried to ring but didn't get a answer.
I would like to know what will happen while ds is there.All i know is he will be in one room and me in another.He has to go for 9 weeks on a wed and thurs.
Thanks for any advice.

[ladymariner]

My ds has a stammer and attended one of these therapy groups about 3 years ago, so things may have changed a bit since then. It was brilliant and has done him a lot of good, one of the main things being that he came into contact with 3 other boys who also stammered, he realised he wasn't the only one who did it.
I had to drop him off at 9 in the morning and then go back for him at 3.30, this was every day for a week, so it was intensive but he really enjoyed it. They did a lot of therapy based around play, and interacting with each other, so a lot of the time he didn't realise he was learning. He was taught a lot of techniques to overcome the stammer, as it is not something that can be "cured", although I will say that he doesn't always use them, I'm hoping that as he matures and comes into situations where he really could do with being fluent he will put them into practice more.
The therapist videoed him at the beginning of the week and then again at the end and when she showed me and dh the tape we both cried, I never thought I would hear him being as fluent as that.

[desperatehousewifetoo]

When I used to run slt groups (in another life!) children would be grouped when more than one child needed to work on the same thing i.e. the same speech sounds or at a similar level with language development.

Sometimes I would run groups on my own, sometimes with another therapist or assistant. We would have aims for the group - what we wanted the children to achieve, and the parents would be given a copy of these and a short written report at the end to highlight progress and give further recommendations.

We would often let the parents take it in turn to observe but this depended on the space available in the room. Time would be available at the end of each session for a brief chat.

Groups can be a good way of working on communication as they they can offer more realistic situations to develop many skills as opposed to in a onene situation.

Wow. Two days a week for 9 weeks sounds great. I hope your ds2 makes good progress

[ladymariner]

Yes definately, wishing you all the very best. And I agree, 18 days, thats fantastic. Round here the speech therapy provision is appalling, really there isn't any. The course ds was on was in another county, I only got ds onto it by basically sitting in the chair in the speech clinic here and refusing to leave till she got ds on the course!! But why should i have had to resort to that?

[mommy6]

Thanks for all replies.I'll read them all later,i'm in a rush this morning and coundn't get back on line yesterday.

[mommy6]

Right i'm back,i have had one of them days.lol
Thank you ladymariner and desperatehousewifetoo.You have both made me feel better,i really didn't know anything about these groups.
Ds2 is 3 next week and has very limited speech.He can say afew words like mommy daddy car bike,but doesn't really talk much.He talks in a babble like a baby would.iykwim.So he does really need this help.
I have spoke to a lady today(she wasn't much help).She said the group would last about 1 hour and would be in a different room from parents.
Just hope this helps ds2.

[desperatehousewifetoo]

mommy6 I hope it helps your ds2 too. He should find it fun as well as it helping with his language development.

Let us know how he gets on

[kentgirl73]

My little boy is 3 in November and is on the councils waiting list for speech therapy, has been assessed and told he needs it urgently, however wouldnt commit as to when = have resorted to getting a private salt, which he starts in 2 weeks, all thanks to my very kind auntie and uncle - its a disgrace that i have had to go this route, if it wasnt for them, we would still be helpless - am not telling the salt council though, will wait for his therapy too!!!

[ladymariner]

I could go on and on about how outrageous it is, these children need help and due to limited/no resources they are being deprived of it. As i said, I literally sat on the chair in that office holding on with both hands and refused to move in order to get ds on his course! Speech is such an important part of life, everyone takes it for granted that you can speak, well, what if you can't?
Wishing you the very best of luck, mommy6, hope it all works out well for you

[desperatehousewifetoo]

kentgirl73, there were never enough of us to go round when I worked but it seems so much worse now in some areas.

You could try writing a letter to the slt manager. Ask the therapist you saw to give you the name and address of the head of the slt dept. Write to her/him saying how concerned you are about your ds' speech and language and ask when you will be seen for therapy.

They will have to respond to you in writing. Often if parents make a nuisance (in a nice way) of themselves, they will be seen earlier to keep them quiet!

Once they reply and give you a time frame. Ring near the time to 'confirm' that your ds is going to be offered input.

Meanwhile, ask the private therapist if there is anything you can do at home between sessions.

hth. Good luck

[kentgirl73]

Thanks for your kind advice, I think I will write, its always good to have something in writing really!

the Private salt does sound good, and already over the phone, she has suggested alot of things and is doing a home visit with all the family as that is what she prefers, she has also suggested I contact my local counciller. Apparantly the Government have commisioned research into SALT and why and there isnt funding, the report should be ready in July - will make interesting reading!

[desperatehousewifetoo]

Ooh, put in the letter that you have contacted your local councillor, mr x, and are waiting for his response.

Sounds as though the private slt is proactive. That should help. At least you will feel that you are getting your money's worth!

When I was working, there was a policy in my dept that if a child was receiving private slt, it shouldn't make a difference to when they were offered therapy but I know in some areas they withdraw input. You could ask the NHS slt what the policy is in their authority.

[TooTicky]

My ds2 went to one of these - it was all very friendly and play-orientated.
The parents' bit was good too - very informative and good ideas to try at home.

[mommy6]

Thanks for all the good luck wishes.
kentgirl73 it's a disgrace you have had to go private.I hope the NHS speech therapy sort you out soon.I think i have been lucky.HV came and did ds2's 2.5yrs check and referred him.We had the first appointment about 6 weeks later in april.Then yesterday we had appointments for these therapy groups,which start 2 july.They are for 2 days aweek and run til the end of august.I was told it might of been the end of september before he was seen,so was shocked they start so soon.

If you don't mind me asking,what kind of problems do your lo's have.My ds2 can say the odd word but can't really say a sentence.He also talks in his own language,which nobody understands.