Semantic Pragmatic Language Disorder

[Yaz11]

Hi,

Does anyone know anything about SPLD? I suspect my son has this. He's 3 1/2, recently started pre-school. They wanted to refer him for speech & lang. therapy, plus an ed psych. assessment.

After trawling through the sn section, google, etc. I feel that SPLD/SPD fits the bill.

Please advise if you have similar probs/experience in this area.

Thanks

[Triggles]

Interesting info. After looking at it, I can see many of these things that fit DS2 as well. Sorry I can't help, but thank you for posting about it. Hope more can come along with info for you.

[Yaz11]

Gosh ok I've missed A LOT!! Been trying to avoid the internet since I've been driving myself and DH nuts with self-prognosis! Anyway, thanks for all the useful info.

The thing that concerns me is that DS does not respond to certain questions I ask. Everyday I ask him how he's day was at nursery/what he did etc and he's silent.

Other times he's makes himself perfectly understood but he does get confused with I/You, he/she, etc. I've been talking to him how I want him to respond so he's altering his speech slowly but he still parrots thing back, sometimes out of context and cannot give answers to questions like the above.

We're due to have SALT and Ed Pych in March so I'm trying to be patient until then. After reading the other threads and people's experiences with their autistic children, I can't seem to identify that in him but he does have social issues like ignoring people, not giving eye contact. He wants to play with other children but lacks the confidence, prob due to his speech.

He was always a slow talker and I was concerned but thought he'd catch up eventually. I still believe that because he's very good at home with eye contact, chatting, playing etc.

I've made an apt with my GP to discuss these issues and see what advice she can give me. I just don't want to ignore it anymore because if there is a need for further help or concerns about his health, then it should be addressed.

[Yaz11]

Isn't 2ys very young to be diagnosed for your 2nd dd??

I'm a bit of a control freak so routine is something I've instilled in him anyway but he's quite happy to go on little outings etc that aren't part of his daily routine.

He hates the blender and runs out the rm. Not keen on the hairdryer but stays in the rm cos he knows it won't last long.

He's quite shy with strangers but if he knows the person and likes them, then he's all over them!

Inability to relate to his peers? Maybe cos he can't talk like they do. The teacher told me that he was quite happily wrestling with one of the other boys last week so although he can't converse well, he still wants to interact and play. He's very happy there and loves going but he's a bit of a loner.

I'm confused cos I can't figure out if he's on the spectrum or just a delayed talker who can't socialise properly due to that??

[BialystockandBloom]

I would say at this stage don't worry too much or get too hung up on exactly what the label it - concentrate on the difficulties ds has and try and help those as much as you can. Wait for the ep/salt assessment to give you an actual diagnosis (if any).

Difficulties with pronouns and responding to questions are common with asd (and spd). My ds (3.9, asd) struggled with this until about 3 1/2, and either never responded to direct questions about nursery or simply said "I had fun" (probably a learnt response).

There are things you can do to help with this:

• don't ask him too many questions. Instead, make more observations yourself. eg instead of asking him what he did at nursery (if he can't answer), find out from the staff what he did, then talk to him about it: "you played with x today, that was fun!"
  

• make loads and loads and loads of observations yourself about everything you're doing and seeing, using maybe two key information-carrying words. eg "look at that big fast train, it's got loads of people on it"
  

• what helped with ds was playing games which involve each person (ideally 3 of you) doing something in turn, and naming each person not by name but by pronoun. eg crashing cars or something, saying "now it's my turn" [you do it], then pass to him saying "now it's your turn", then give to third person saying "now it's his/her turn".
  

Don't worry too much about he/she - gender confusion is still sometimes there with nt children at this age. Work on me/you/mine/yours though.

What is his play like generally, at home or nursery?

[Yaz11]

BialystocklandBloom - play in general is on his own or next to kids at nursery, at home he has the attention of FIVE! adults so it's very physical with the men and with me it's a bit of both, singing, playing games, chasing around, reading. He always has to have something in his hand though, like a security item, eg action figure, lego.

LeonieDelt - I agree with you. The more I read, the more I think that he's on that spectrum somewhere but I wake up and see him in the morning and think no he's ok, there's nothing wrong with him! Total turmoil. Not doing it 'right' is him all over!

I really feel for you. It must be very difficult to handle three people with differing needs,

[kissingfrogs]

I need to say my piece here.

If a child has problems with semantic and pragmatic language then what should it be called: semantic language impairment AND pragmatic impairment? That's semantic pragmatic impairment isn't it.

I believe that yes, it is a continuum of ASD, but deserves a seperate name. In my dds case the only language disorder that fits is SPI - yet any other ASD traits are so mild as to not warrant attention - though the same wouldn't be said if her 2-4yr old behaviour had stayed the same (big improvement on behaviour except for food issues). She's very unlikely to get a diagnosis of HFA, or SLI (as she's hearing impaired too). Maybe there should be a classification of Conversational Disability.

My point is that there are those whose language might be explained as SPI but not fit other HFA characteristics. This shouldn't rule out naming their impairment precisely for what it is: impairment of the semantics and pragmatics of language.

Dds actually very unlikely to get any sort of diagnosis. Next week she has her 2nd LEA funded EP assessment, and another SLT assessment (lost count of how many of those now)