How much do you pay for SLT in London?

[Aika]

DC is being investigated for ASD and speech disorders. We are on a wait list for NHS communication clinic assessment, but we were told it would be at least 6 months, so we went to a private clinic in the meantime. The assessment cost us 380 and they recommended that we attend a weekly one-to-one at a cost of 75 per 45 min session and a weekly group therapy at 70 per 45 mins session. We went to our fist one-to-one (very unimpressive, but it'd a different story) and were told that we'd also benefit from a weekly ABA. Are these people for real? How many families can afford to pay that kind of money? Is it what you'd expect to pay if you decided to go private?

[CheeseToasty]

I pay 70 for 45mins. I am doing fortnight atm which keeps cost down. She is much better than NHS.

[Handywoman]

I am Home Counties paying 60 for an hour which is 45mins therapy/15mins liaison.

Worth every penny for us (fortnightly), help does not exist for dd2 on NHS. SLT costs include planning therapy, setting targets (and sharing withyroad other professionals in our case) and keeping accurate records of how therapy is going. Fees are obv not in everyone's reach and that is a shame as there's a lot of unmet need out there!

If you are unimpressed with therapy then try someone else?

[Handywoman]

....with myriad other professionals

is what I meant

[row78]

We pay £70 for 45 mins in central london. She is really good and also liaises with my son's preschool, written a letter for his school in sept for the transition and stuff like that for free.

[Aika]

handy can you please tell me more about the myriad of other professionals? Are you paying them as well?

It's just in our case it's coming to 220 per week for SLT and we have not even received a diagnosis yet. I am a bit worried about what's to come after we see EdPsych and others.

I'd pay any money if I thought it would help DC but with a limited budget I am trying to figure how to best spend it.

SLT we saw yesterday was a very very young girl who was not prepared for the session and it seemed like she was going through the motions and not really interested in DC's reactions.

[salondon]

Yes those rates sound real. Can you do some therapy yourself?

[cjn27b]

We pay £70 for 45 mins direct with DS in nursery and a debriefing with staff (also guiding them on how to help DS). SALT also comes to our house and does sessions where she trains us up on what to do (both direct exercises and communication in general). We find the combination of both really effective.

When problems first became apparent about 2 years ago (DS was just over 2 years old), we did the same using the London Children's Practice. We went there for appointments and they were brilliant. We only changed when DS went to nursery and we needed a SALT to do in school visits working with him in small groups to encourage social interaction etc...

London Children's Practice prices were similar, though they may have gone up a bit in the last couple of years.

[cjn27b]

Sorry, I should have mentioned London Children's Practice also showed us what to do at home. So we went there every week or two, and then did exercises at home 3 times a day. DS went from saying about 10 'words' (I say that as some he'd made up himself, but we knew what he meant) to talking in 2-3 word sentences in about 9 months. So while the appointments were pricey, what they achieved with a whole heap of input at home, wasn't.

Two years into this journey I can safely say we have spent a fortune. The thing is to figure out how you can most effectively spend your money. In our case we were lucky enough that I was at home and could put in hours, but not endless cash. So finding a team that understand the limits of your budget, and how what you have can be most effectively used is vital. If you feel a SALT is not doing this, look for another who gets it.

Today, we know others with children of similar ages who are also on the spectrum. Nearly all of us take the approach that the therapists are there to show us how to implement therapy throughout each day by ourselves. This sounds draining and difficult initially, but soon becomes second nature. A good therapist will keep encouraging you and supporting you too, so you don't loose motivation.

[firawla]

I pay 70 for an hour, I normally end up being there about 1 hour 15. so not bad at all! We dont go weekly though as its not very near. every 2 -3 weeks and do work with him ourselves inbetween
Had a previous one who wanted something like 45 for 30 min? cant remember exactly now, but didnt get on too well with that one so left it.
It's normally about 70-90 per hour I would say.
Having to spend 220 per week on slt is an awful lot!
I would keep phoning nhs too to chase up his nhs therapy. I know there is limited resources, but 6 months wait is not very good. While he is waiting for assessment is there nothing else they could offer him, even community slt??

[row78]

The £70 for 45 mins I posted is London Children's Practice as well, they give me photocopies of the games (on nice thick paper, in colour) after each session to practise the exercises at home. We only use SALT so no idea on other prices.

[Aika]

Thank you so much for your replies. It seems that the rates are reasonable, but the number of hours we are expected to take is not.

What surprised me most was that at the assessment we were told that DC was not ready for group therapy and that he'd need a few weeks of 1-2-1 before moving to group sessions, yet the week after we were asked to sign up for both 1-2-1 and group sessions (and then were recommended ABA on top).

Another reason I am a bit is the quality of the first session we had. Even though it was in the place that a few of you mentioned above, it was nothing like you what you described. It was a bit like my well-meaning niece playing with DC: kind, gentle, unstructured and not that useful. No take home materials or tips at the end, other than 'try withholding things from him to encourage him to speak' - like I really needed a professional to tell me that!

On a positive side we were invited to our community SLT and the first session with them was great success. They will be able to see us every 2 weeks and they showed me some tips in engaging DC.

[MareeeyaDoloures]

NHS worth sticking with for now. At least till youve had all your sessions. Overall, price is about right per hour, but 2-3 times a week is loads. You could ask for a senior SLT to train you and a helper, and find a 20y old student-babysitter £15/ hour to get way more input for the same money

Or would you consider travelling out of London? Not too bad if it's fortnightly, and worth the effort if you 'click' with the therapist.

Someone like Jennifer Roder in Bicester maybe?

[MareeeyaDoloures]

You've bough the Hanen book already?