SALT advice please

[LetItSnowBalls]

Really hoping someone can give some advice here

Almost 4 year old DD has been seeing SALT for 6/7 months and today we were told she wants to refer us on to a peadatrician and an educational psychologist. I'm really scared, so much I'm feeling physically sick. Her speech isn't great, far from where it should be for her age and she doesn't listen to anyone really.

I guess I'm just looking for anyone who went through these referrals to give some insight. They say there isn't any reason physically why her speech is behind but won't actually say if she has any special needs (please forgive me if I'm saying that incorrectly)

The guilt is killing me

Firstly, why on earth do you feel guilty ? . If she does have special needs, that isn't a "fault" of you or anyone else. That's just the way she is, and getting a diagnosis of something won't make her any less lovely than she no doubt already is to you.

The SaLT isn't able to diagnose - that's why she can't say anything, even if she has suspicions. It has to be a Dr that gives a diagnosis.

Finding out what it is that's making her struggle, will then make it easier to get the right help for her - you can look at that as a positive thing.

How else can we help?
What else do you want to know ?

Thank you so much for replying x

I think I'm feeling guilty as maybe I should have picked up on this earlier rather than just listening to everyone say that there wasn't a problem. I've never had any experience with special needs, I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Do you know why they do blood tests? I hate the thought of her having to go through this. I'm not even sure what I should be asking

Have they told you they are doing blood tests? It's not automatic (at the CDCs here anyway).

They can rule out various genetic conditions from blood samples.

What can be useful, if to try to focus, before the appointment, on any concerns you have, about her. Write them down.
Also write down any questions that occur to you before you go. It's easy to forget things when you are in there, and then come out wishing you'd mentioned, or asked about x, y, or z.

If they go to a pre-school / playgroup / nursery etc., then ask the staff there if they have concerns - try to break it down into 'play', 'physical', 'speaking', 'understanding', 'interacting with other children', 'interacting with adults', trying new things', etc., etc if they will - probably best if you arrange an appointment to meet with them rather than trying to do it as she's heading out the door.

Her speech therapist did say today that the pead will do things like blood tests, just wasn't sure what could show up on that.

Honestly thank you for your replies, I'll arrange a meeting with her nursery teacher next week x

No worries at all.

Generally, here, if a child is referred in to the CDC (Child Development Centre) for a full Paediatric Assessment, then there is an appt (generally about 45mins) at which they will look at the referral form (hoping to find clues why you are there), they will take your dd's birth and developmental history (milestones - things like when she first walked / how many words she says / if she crawled / if there was any trauma at birth / how she sleeps, etc..... again, might be worth getting out any record books and making a note if it helps you to have things organised at an appt).

They then decide which "assessment pathway" to persue - depending on what the concerns are..... are the physical... is it about Sp&Lang... are there concerns about autism...etc. and then you get to see different professionals, depending on concerns - so a physio or a Speech and language therapist (which won't be for you as it's her that's referred you in) or maybe a teacher or specialist nursery nurse. What happens here (and again, I can't say this is the same across the country), is there is usually a visit at home and a visit to Nursery to see the child where they are most comfortable, then you get invited in to 2 or 3 sessions so your child can play in a room set up like a nursery and different professionals interact with them, to try to make the assessment much more natural than a Dr asking questions in an office. After that, all the professionals get back together to discuss, and either diagnose, or say they don't have concerns, or maybe to refer for further specialist tests. This is if they think there is some developmental concerns (including autism)

They would only refer for more medical interventions if they suspect / or want to rule out genetic conditions or medical conditions.

Thank you for explaining and going into detail there. It's certainly answered a lot of questions

DS2 went through all these assessments when he was 4 and although he has a speech disorder he is now top of his class in maths and doing great at school, has many friends and is a smart (and handsome) little chap, now in year three at school. Some children just struggle in the early years and catch up later. Just a little piece of advice, keep all the paperwork, reports etc in a folder it will be useful when your D's starts school. Also, please get his hearing checkedit can be the cause for delay in development.

your dd!

Thanks rocketjam nice to know it's not all doom and gloom.

She sailed through her hearing test at the start of year, I admit I was hoping there was an issue there so at least we knew what the issue was x