DD1 (aged 4)in tears because no one could understand her.

[pinkdolly]

Hi,

It was horrible.

We were at church this morning, I was running the creche and in the next room my two eldest dd's were in sunday school. I heard a lot of crying and next thing I know one of the girls brought dd1 into me. She was absolutly distraught. This girl is a friend of mine and therefore is aware of dd1's speech problems, she had tried her best to understand her but just couldn't (neither could any of the other ladies in the room).

DD1 was crying for ages that she wanted to go home, no one was listening to her etc. I have never seen her so upset. I was almost in tears myself.

I spoke to my HV about 3 weeks ago regarding getting her to see a SALT and havent heard anything yet. Just feel so bad for her, dont want her to have to go through that again.

my ds1 age 4 sees a speech therapist and hes coming on great.hes getting more confident with it.go for it chase them up itl help alot.

for your dd. I hope you get to see the SALT soon hun. Agree, chase them up.

Thanx,

Apparently the waiting list down here is at least 3 months, so I wasnt really expecting it yet. Just soo dont want to go through that with her again.

I wish I had referred earlier but DH took a lot of convincing, BTW he is definately convinced after i told him about her today.

pinkdolly, my dd2 is also 4 years old and has unclear speech. not even i understand her at times. it so upsetting as they get so upset and frustrated dont they?

dd2 has been seeing a SALT since march, she has week long intensive SALT session booked for half term.

Misdee,

Am glad to find someone in the same position as me. Although I feel for your dd. I have been beating myself up because like you there are times when I just cant work out what my dd is trying to say to me. And it really upsets her. I am hardly ever away from my children so feel that I ought to be able to communicate perfectly with them even if other's cant. Sometimes the only way I can remedy the situation is to ask her to show me what she wants. I always feel so bad for upsetting her.

Could you afford some private SALT? Ds2 waited a year to see someone here (even though he was high risk of a severe communication disorder and I referred as soon as I could).

If you google ASLTIP you'll find a list of private SALTs.

pinkdolly, i also have t ask dd2 to show me what she means. its so frustrating to everyone who knows her.

Jimjams, to be honest I hadnt thought about private salt, i will certainly look into it.

She is fine today, has just been around me and my parents who see her a lot, so yesterday has been forgotten.

2 of my 3 boys have needed SALT (ds2 a minor bit, ds1 major need). We've paid in both cases. Ds1 waited 4 years before getting regular SALT and he only gets it now he comes under learning disability team (which I think is funded separately to the normal SALTS) and attends a school that emplys SALTS.

The ASLTIP database gives specialiasitions etc. Unless your child had something complex going on you'd probably only need a few sessions (ds2 had 2 sessions) and you'd get enough to go away and work with.

PD, if any comfort apparently I didnt speak properly until I went to school, and I came back from first day at school distraught because no-one could understand me. My older sister had always interpreted what I was saying at home (and I suspect perpetuated the whole thing!) Does make me wonder what on earth my mother was up to!!!

Anyway I remember getting "elocution" lessons as they then were (early 70's) and went on to become an eloquent and articulate solicitor, regularly appearing in court, so it did me no harm in the long run, until I became a stay at home mum and now cannot string a sentence together in public.

thanx kittyb,

Am sure it is something that dd1 will grow out of. Have just been so unsure about reffering her in the past as didnt want to turn it into an issue. Especially with dh so sure that she didnt need the refferal.