shocked and upset apparently ds 5 has developmental delay what does this mean please, please advise me???

[Nointhemood]

he's had problems with his speech and eventually saw the speech therapist a few months ago. She's been carrying out assessments these last few months. I eventually met her today and we had a little talk and them she dropped the bombshell that its become apparent that ds 5 has a developmental delay.Well im shocked and upset as i wasn't expecting it. I came not really asking any questions or understanding what this means in terms of his schooling or future.She says he seems to find it hard to process complex instrutions i.e he can count 1-5 but not 5-1 backwards.Ive just come home through the door and its just hit me!!!! What do i need to know or ask her anyone have any advice i mean will this be a long term thing or will it get worse or better.

[Nointhemood]

ive posted on the other thread but no one's answering. Dh at work and not answering. Just need advice. Why didn't i realise i feel awful!!!

[Poshpaws]

Have school raised any concerns about his development?

Not sure SALT can diagnose anything other than a speech and language delay.

Would speaking to your GP help?

[Poshpaws]

Sorry, SALT could possibly diagnose other speech related disorders, but developmental delay???

[Nointhemood]

he's 5 im so upset....i dont know what to think. He's alway been hyper and has trouble listening and focusing but aren't alot of 5 year olds like that???

[Nointhemood]

He was 5 in october.She said she did one test i.e 'i went to the shop to buy some bread' which ds had to remember and repeat she then would add on various items and he would need to remember and repeat she said he could n't do it as it got more complex.

She said he can't process complex instrustions.I mean i know he doesn't always listen to me and i get angry when he doesn't do something but i thought that was a typical boy. For example he can put his shoe's on but when ever we go out he refuse's saying he can't. If i walk out the door eventually he will put them on not always on the right feet but he will do it.

[Nointhemood]

she definitely said developmental delay. She asked if i had any questions but obviuosly at that point it hadn't sunk in.

[didgeridoo]

I agree with Poshpaws. The therapist may have just worded it clumsily & meant he had delayed speech. I would also speak to the school & your GP. Don't feel bad about not noticing any problems yourself. Children of 5 vary greatly in terms of their development,that's why we need specialists to give us their opinions. You could always ask for a 2nd opinion if you feel this particular therapist might be wide of the mark.

[chopstheduck]

a salt cant dx anything other than a speech and language delay.

tbh I am not sure that my five year olds could count 5-1 backwards! Complex instructions I think refers to more than one thign at a time, so if they were told to take shoes off and ptu them on the shelf for example, they might not be able to follow that.

my child with sn still struggles with complex instructions but then even my nt (normal) 5yos can be hyper a lot, and don't always take it all in.

Is she going to send you a full report? I think you need to go over exactly what the issues are, and if there are concerns that fall outside of SALT, ask for referrals as appropriate.

Try not to worry too much, it does sound like it was poorly worded.

[Nointhemood]

Thankyou guys im guessing that makes more sense. Im hoping this is the case if she said speech and language delay then i would of understood a bit better. But when first meeting her she seemed to hint there was more then problems then just with his speech. I had ds 2 with me who was playing up towards the end so when she just come out with developmental delay i was completely shocked as to what she meant and in what terms. Im hoping she will write up a full report she said she will send out some guidance sheets etc.