from what age do SALT actually do stuff other than give advice?

[Sleepstarved]

DD is 20 mo, just, and expressive speech is her most serious delay.
She has no words but portage say her understanding is there.
We are on a waiting list for NHS SALT but no idea where on it.
We were knocked back at 15 months because she was considered too young.
Is it worth going private?
At what age do the SALTs actually start doing things? As opposed to just telling us to talk to her, comment on what she is doing, give her choices ect.
We have started doing a little makaton and she has picked up the sign for finished (although does it backwards, like one big clap!).

[babiki]

If you are unlucky.... Never! Go private, good Salt will work with young child on things like joint attention, concentration, eye contact etc. Ask who's good though as private does not necessarily mean she will be good, although they are out there!

[willowthecat]

Usually never. Looking back I really wish they had explained this at the outset. Try to get hold of the Hanen 'More Than Words' book - it explains all kinds of ideas and strategies for promoting communication. Finding a good private SALT is tough too. You will see a lot about ABA on this board, I personally like ABA and have found it successful for ds1 but I would not want to push it on to someone. But an ABA trained tutor is at least a known quantity and is becoming more widely available at least in the private sector. I would have loved a Hanen SALT too but I could never find one !

[Sleepstarved]

Thank you both.
I don't know anything about Hanen or ABA, would you explain please?

[steelev48]

With regards to not knowing where you are on the waiting list, I suggest calling up and politely asking roughly how long they think it will be before you are offered an appointment.

[willowthecat]

Sorry about the delay in getting back to you. If you search this site using ABA as a search term and maybe try to find posts by ABA gurus like StarlightMcKenzie or AgnesdiPesto ( there are many others too these two just came into my mind) and then you should see all the past discussions about how to get up and running with ABA - I have found that in practical terms ABA tutors are the best way to get hands on help for a language delayed/disordered child. I really admire your perception in realising so early that, with the NHS SALT, you may never get beyond the stage of appointments that don't go anywhere in terms of real help and offer only simple banal advice.

[Liliuk]

Agreed. ABA/vb techniques of intensive communication were so powerful. Would recommend at this age. Would highly recommend reading The verbal behavioural approach by Mary Barbara. In short, Vb starts to teach to point at what you want, then look at adult.....