aibp (am i being precious) about a slt referral?

[preciousalittle]

After dd (20m) had her development review the hv picked up her language is delayed. I was aware, but not hugely concerned as she is making slow progress with great play and social skills. She does though have zero understanding of spoken language despite best efforts, her gesture is good. She's delayed a tad generally, low tone etc.

Hv made a referral to the child development centre for overall development. They've come back instead with a hearing test and a referral to a parenting group on talking to toddlers, it is a parenting group and comes under adult learning. I have three older children, two on good university courses and another doing well in primary. I work with small children. Aibp to say no way hose to a course patronising me, and targeted at vulnerable families. Especially on top of the hv implying she's autistic only two weeks ago (despite her play skills, social smile, excellent reading of face and gesture) repeatedly. My back is now so far up! Aibp? To refer to child development they do a caf form too, which I'd be ignoring not to go to. Another factor, it's a lot of time off work. The course is obviously a wonderful thing in itself to exist, but I feel like they've utterly disregarded our families needs and strengths. She is delayed, but I bloody read/talk/ know many strategies through my job (the hv knows I am a senco)

I will go to the hearing test (though I'd be grateful if anyone would tell me what to expect). It's amazing to hear these stories.

Her MRI was normal, the 'probable hemi' was due to persistent symptoms.

sorry mini pie, I'm not too worried about input at this stage to be honest. I'm quite confident with the starting points. I have taken families through time to talk, worked alongside SLTs as a SENCo delivering programmes and have done many an assessment. I know where she is, and I know what to do. If she doesn't catch up though I'll push.

yanbu children aren't allowed to be anything that deviates from the hv's tick boxes these days even when parents aren't concerned. It really annoys me

Is this course salt run, or a precondition for a salt referral? I can see why you would be peeved to be told your dd needs a cdc review then to be offered something which seems to be so different

In between violet hour, SALT attend, as do a dietician and hv/ sure start worker. SALT is part of the input, some time is spend with salt and your child, other times with other input and advice e.g. behaviour and diet. It's a bit of a catch-all for 'vulnerable families' really. It's all about ideas such as 'getting families to engage with services' 'helping with routines before school start' and healthy eating, with a bit of a presumption that the delay is caused by you not talking to your child. success stories for the group give anecdotes like 'parents began to use praise with their children as well as talking about what their child was doing'.

Its probably worth going to first course session anyway as it makes a stronger argument that its not appropriate if you have seen some of course syllabus and chatted to course leaders

oh I agree with you about the talking course.

I was more thinking about the physio as I gather early intervention can make a huge difference where there is suspected brain injury of any sort (my DD also has a bit of weakness/stiffness on her right side, she was prem and not breathing at birth so suspect slight brain injury but it's very slight). Although that said, we have seen a physio for dd and all she really said was try to encourage use of both sides equally and various ways to do that - I guess you probably already do all that.

physic said that to us too, advised soft play, strategic seating, e.g. right hand nearer activity, two-handed games eg...and discharged her. Only real effect is a poor grasp on one side (lack of use of 4th/ 5th fingers)

dd was a bit prem, but they vaguely suggested it was jaundice that caused it

I think there's a lot they don't know but guess at...! Sounds like you've had the same sort of physio as us then. For DD it did seem to make a difference to really focus on trying to get her to use her right side (but I was on mat leave then with just one child so I had lots of time to do that!) Sounds like your DD is doing well anyway.

I don't even know how she came to the conclusion she did, dd just screamed for the whole time (doesn't like many people!) and didn't allow herself to be touched. DD has made wonderful progress.

Just ring them up and explain that your a senco and you don't think the course is right for you. I was referred for ads with my son around the same age, it turns out he doesn't but because he was in the system so to speak it been much easier to get a referral and testing for adhd which his consultant is pretty sure he does have.

While your in the phone to the centre I would be asking for a consultation with a psychologist. It's in the realms of possibility that your child may be on the spectrum if they have zero understanding of language.

Hv might not have wrote on referral that your a senco just that your child has delay in understanding and it might be the centres start point for these type of referrals.

Definitely seek speech therapy - the therapist will also be looking out for signs of autism etc so of it were the case might be good to be referred by a specialist.

I had all this with my DS who spoke only in grunts until he was 2 1/2. He's now doing a Masters Degree in International Security. I just think some children do it when they're good and ready. You'll know if and when you need to take things further. Good luck.

If it wasn't for the caf my ds wouldn't have lead to the the autism diagnosis (which we received a few months before he was due to start school & enabled us to get a statement sorted just in time)

It obviously isn't your parenting as you have older DC with no issues...but, it could be that your DD has some problems that need different parenting techniques to usual.

Most parenting courses would not be useful, but if it's a Hanen course, do go for it. It's a way of helping a speech delayed child to communicate that seems such common sense when explained, but just isn't necessary for a DC with no speech delay.

It Takes Two to Talk is a great book.

In our area there is a group that one might identify as a parenting group, but really is an environment for facilitating speech development. They are very effective in helping some children move along with their language development. If you are not worried at all, then don't go. If you are worried or concerned, just ask your hV for a salt referral. In most areas a GP wont do this now. Just ask. Tell them what you think.

I was deeply offended by the parent child interaction course is it little leaps by any chance? it helps a little bit my salt basically explained that it's a place holder to see if the child develops on their own with some extra time before going through more serious assessments, mine didn't & was diagnosed with autism a few months back they have only now offered him a hearing test