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Support thread for speech and laguage delay toddlers...

481 replies

Orangeflower7 · 10/05/2011 21:07

Hi, I have a little boy of 2.5 and we have just today had our first speech and language referral appointment as he is not saying many words yet. I thought maybe other parents might be in the same position and would like to share experiences for support?

It took a few weeks for the appointment, which we were referred to by the health visitor. The therapist told us he has a moderate language delay and has given us ideas of some signs to use with him, she has advised us to keep language clear and simple and we will get a place at a toddler group run by speech and language therapists who will observe and support us. Not sure how long that will take as they only have 6 children in a group but there is an option we can go to the next town if necessary. He also had his hearing tested by the hospital audiologist last week and they said his hearing was fine.

OP posts:
killercat · 09/08/2011 15:47

cjn27b Thank you so much for your helpful and lovely reply. Wow to the cost, and will get onto both routes I think.

I guess it was just a reflection of my rather lax anti-helicopter parenting I use towards the children in that I just hope it'll just click without me having to do anything! But I think I will go down both routes - NHS and private and see what the report says. In fact, right, I am going to phone the HVs now!!!

Thank you Smile

cjn27b · 09/08/2011 16:15

killercat don't give yourself a hard time for one second about being a lax parent. We didn't do anything for ages, just thinking 'boys are a bit slower'. Hindsight is always a wonderful thing... Some children do need more help than others, but from what I can work out, most with speech and language delay / disorder get there in the end and with the right support get there a bit quicker.

Not sure where you are in the UK, but there are lots of private SALTs and not all cost as much as we paid. I think we're at the upper end of the scale, but that's probably a result of being in central London.

theDudesmummy · 09/08/2011 16:42

cjn how did you find the SALT group?

killercat · 09/08/2011 16:47

Thank you again Smile I actually got a vaguely helpful HV this time on the phone, but there was a monthly group yesterday. How annoying! The next one is right at the start of term and I'd have to pull DD out of school for it, in her second week, which I am unsure about when she is settling in to her class.

But I have the phone number of the women who runs them and when she's back from holiday in a couple of weeks I will phone her to chat and work out what to do. The HV didn't know any private SALTs but she will I imagine. Although, if I can just join a group next month and be assessed, maybe it won't take too long on the NHS.

Just cross I missed yesterday as that would have been much easier!

I am ordering the above suggested book too...

cjn27b · 09/08/2011 17:04

Via the audiology department a private Hospital where we had our first hearing test (which was perfect, only to be followed by three NHS ones showing moderate levels of hearing loss - but that's another story). There will be cheaper SALTs . We've stuck with this place as they do provide a brilliant services - albeit one you pay for. The charities ICAN and AFAISC (I think that's what it's called may be able to help. Not sure if you can mention specific practices on here or if that's against policy...

Tabitha8 · 09/08/2011 18:15

Just marking my place to keep up.
DS 2.2 still not saying a word. Oh, the worry of it all.

alowVeraWithPurpleTwuntyPants · 09/08/2011 18:32

killercat give up on useless HV go straight to GP.

Tabitha8 · 09/08/2011 19:07

By the way, can someone tell me how we are defining "early intervention". What age is considered appropriate?

cjn27b · 09/08/2011 19:38

Tabitha8 not sure if there's an age, basically as soon as you notice it. They say under 3 is key in language development, but from what I understand the brain doesn't reach 'maturity' till 7 or so by when they might be able to tell if there's a language 'disorder' as opposed to 'delay'. Wikipedia is quite useful at defining those. Also from what I've read I understand the brain keeps developing a long time after that and neuroplasticity remains for a very long time (think of people learning to speak again after strokes or such things). I am no expert, but I'm sure one of the charity helplines ICAN or AFAISC can offer more info.

Tabitha8 · 09/08/2011 19:47

Hmm. It's difficult, isn't it? Our SALT doesn't want to see us again until DS is two and a half. Oh dear, oh dear.

Gymbob · 09/08/2011 20:22

As soon as you notice that your DC's speech and language may be behind, act. I left it far too late with my DD, thinking as other people have said, that she would speak in her own good time. She had all the hearing tests etc, and passed them (or rather slipped through the net). I kept my head in the sand.

The auditory neural pathways are most elastic and receptive in babyhood making it the optimum time for language learning. My DD's late diagnosis means that she missed those crucial first months of speech sounds.

alowVeraWithPurpleTwuntyPants · 09/08/2011 20:37

Gym bob - ditto.

And our HVs would do anything until dd had her 2 year check! Despite us repeatedly badgering them since she was 6months old. (not just speech, behaviour as well)

Gymbob · 09/08/2011 20:59

Think we have a lot in common alowvera xx

Tabitha8 · 10/08/2011 16:44

Went back to HV today. Waiting for another appt with SALT until DS is aged 2 and a half seems such a long time to me as well. She said she'd speak to SALT about my concerns and arrange a second hearing test. He passed his first at age 12 mths.

Verahaspurpletwuntypants · 12/08/2011 21:19

Bump

Tabitha8 · 13/08/2011 18:43

Can anyone tell me what they do at the childl's two year check? DS has his coming up. I can see us only focussing on his speech, and I'd like to try to avoid that.

LetUsPrey · 13/08/2011 18:57

DS2 had his review appointment on Wednesday. He is progressing but there's a way to go. His end sounds are still missing (and the middle sound/s if it's a two or more syllable word) and he replaces k with g and t with d. There are problems with a few other sounds too. He's also not joining sentences together with "and" and "because".

The SALT has said that she thinks he will now benefit from further assessment and sessions. She did mention the word "intensive" but this could mean once a month rather than once every three months so we shall wait and see.

Sorry I can't be of more/any help to others on this thread other than to say keep going and be confident you're all doing the best for your DC (flipping heck, because that doesn't sound patronising enough - it's not meant to be).

Good luck everyone.

Verahaspurpletwuntypants · 13/08/2011 19:12

tabitha8
Um, build a tower of bricks. See if they can name common items. (spoon, horse, cup, etc) Potty training. Walking. Running. Holding a pencil. Eating with a spoon. making eye contact. Speech. Meaningful play.
Dd2 failed all of them.

Couple of web pages below that should give you more specifics.

www.healthvisitors.com/parents/development_two_yrs.htm

And

www.1stdoc.co.uk/shakedemo/Shakespeare_roleofhealthvisitor.htm

Tabitha8 · 14/08/2011 17:58

Thanks! I've bookmarked both. I think DS is ok on most of it, apart from the speaking. Also, he's still in nappies and couldn't care less if he needs a change or not.

Verahaspurpletwuntypants · 14/08/2011 19:52

Is he only just 2 tabitha8?

I though dd1 was potty trained early by 2.3yrs. So don't worry too much about that just yet, they'll just ask whether he is, and/or whether you think he is ready and give advice on how to.

BB3 · 15/08/2011 07:35

Morning all

We don't get 2 year checks here (!) Is that normal?

But tabitha DS 2.4 isn't potty trained. He does occasionally wee in the potty and is obsessed with flushing the toilet after anyone but nowhere near being ready for it!

We had a more positive weekend took DS out to the new forest and he was 'woofing' at all the horses (not technically right but he is recognising animals even if they are all dogs Grin). I got the 'it takes two to talk' book through. Am 7 chapters in. I think it's good. Some of it is very obvious but you need to read it to realise you are not doing it (like getting down on their level and responding to all communication not just words, playing more nursery rhyme games etc). Anyway from reading it, I spent much more time actually 'communicating' with DS in a positive way and could see him react. No words but could see him engaging in other ways (laughing, smiling, making more noises in attempts to speak). Of course it's only one weekend but did make me feel better.

Also he has started banging his ears against people. Like he likes the suction of it hitting against skin. he's always had quite bad earwax but his hearing is fine (well as I said when you ask if he wants sweets but not so much when he is being told no!!!) but he's started doing it really forcefully - like he's trying to pop it! He may just like it but going to book in a doctors appointment just to triple check there is nothing wrong there that could be affecting him. We have had the wax checked out before numerous times and they all said it was normal, he's just a child that has lots!

Anyway, hope everyone is ok!

killercat · 15/08/2011 12:52

Thank you again Grin
I have contacted a local, well qualified private speech therapist and she will do an assessment for £160 and then half hour sessions at home or school/nursery for £35.
I am seeing a close friend who is as ed psych this coming weekend, and she has not seen dd for a year. I am going to get her advice, and if she thinks like me dd needs a little bit extra, we'll book the speech therapy assessment for next week if we can.
Dd is currently doing a lovely example of role-play talking. Doesn't make much sense Wink but it's lovely to see.

killercat · 15/08/2011 12:54

PS we don't get 2 year assessments here either Sad
It is bad! I haven't ever met a HV. They phoned me when we registered at the GP and appear to be convinced on the basis of one phone call that I am an educated middle class stable parent and so they don't need to bother!

BB3 · 15/08/2011 13:01

Killer I am a bit Angry about it actually because I think it would have really helped. I can't understand why some areas are different to the other - surely all kids need the same support regardless of council budgets?!!!

Tabitha8 · 15/08/2011 18:52

Vera DS is 2.2. Everytime I ask him if he needs a change, he always shakes his head. He just couldn't care less. I usually look at the clock to decide when to change him.....

If we didn't have two year checks here, I think I'd look at the list of skills in that link and go and see HV about things he couldn't do. Odd, isn't it? I'm surprised that areas have different ideas. I'm not sure how it's all funded either.