Communication

[debs40]

I have just had an interesting conversation with the SALT who saw DS for assessment. She has discharged him but is compiling a list of strategies to implement in school.

She was really helpful and has provided useful material and suggestions for home too.

My concern is the communication aspect generally. There have been quite a few incidents where DS (who is 6) clearly didn't follow what he was supposed to be doing with his class. He completed the task but had no understanding of why he'd done it or what he'd done e.g. they had to make something for a project and he'd made it, painted it etc but didn't know what it was

Anyway, the SALT said she didn't see this when she witnessed him in class (she didn't see him at all in the playground).

I don't think this will happen all the time but I wondered whether he might be getting by by following what children are doing. He was clearly happily painting and making something for his project but hadn't udnerstood a thing. If he does what he's asked, he looks like he's understood but if you ask him why he's doing it, he might not know.

Do you think that is possible and if so shouldn't they should be alert to this?

[TotalChaos]

yes, I think sadly it is possible that if a child is speaking quite fluently in sentences, noone other than a professional such as SALT will pick up on understanding problems, especially if they are quite subtle. Have you had concerns about his understanding of language in general?

[debs40]

Well the SALT didn't see a problem either.

One to one DS is fine generally but I think in a group, he can 'tune out' sometimes. I think if he is in a different environment, for example, he can miss things.

So I don't know if it is language comprehension in itself or an attention or even sensory issue (e.g. overload)? Does that make sense?