Anyone with SALT experience?

[NickyEds]

Ds is 2.5 years and has very few words. We went to a SALT drop in just before he turned two and they said to leave it 4 months and go back. We did and they arranged a hearing test and said that he needed to be assessed at his pre school. We had the hearing test and it was 'satisfactory', though she did say he is little so the test was hard to do (I didn't really feel it was very well done Tbh, but she seemed happy enough). So the SALT team have arranged to visit his pre school (he goes 2 mornings a week), when the therapist called to get my permission she was very vague about what would happen on the day, what will happen next etc. When I asked if I would be told of any findings she said "do you want to be?" . Has anyone ever had this? What can expect? I'm very, very worried and upset by this

My youngest saw a SALT at school. I only heard things about it via her. She adored her 'talking teacher'.

She was discharged after no input from me once she'd sufficiently improved. It felt a bit odd that I didn't hear anything from them or have any input, but her speech is fine now so I can't really complain.

Bump?

My son is almost 3 and we have weekly SLT with a private therapist and NHS support starting soon. We have been given tools to use at home and our SLT always gives us a forward plan of what her aims are so we can assess as we progress.
I would be concerned that you aren't being given visability - whatever they do in preschool will be very limited so they should normally give you the key exercises to be doing at home too.
Did the SLT do the hearing test? We were refered to a hospital for a test and it seemed pretty comprehensive. My son was only just 2 when they did it and that didn't seem to be an issue.

Thanks for replying. The hearing test was done at the hospital. The set up was a table with chairs at either side, ds sitting one side and the tester at the other, playing with ds. They initially asked him to put beads in a tub every time he heard a noise but he just didn't understand so she was just playing with him and noticing if he looked to the source of noises that were played. The reason I was a bit was purely because there were a couple of time when low, quiet noises were played that ds didn't turn but the lady just said that he was too engrossed in the toys. To be fair she did say that it was hard to tell.

The SALT visit is still at the assessment stage. I am just a bit confused as he only goes to pre school 2 mornings a week. I'm presuming they just want to see what he's like when I'm not there??

It seems counter productive to exclude you from the assessment - you know what the spectrum of speech / comms he makes and also his history - e.g. what his babble was like, issues with feeding, dribbling etc. I think to get a full history and visibility they really need to have you there.
Our NHS salt did go to nursery to check his other interactions were age appropriate but again we had visibility afterwards on the feedback.
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It seems a bit strange that you wouldn't meet the SALT at all. Initially I saw DS fora SALT assesment at our health centre and then at the next visit SALT came to preschool and I popped in to go over things with her (after she saw DS I think)

DSs preschool is very on the ball about including parents so I'm not sure if that's unusual or not but, I would ask to see if you can meet the SALT.

My Ds is 6 and has been seeing salt
for 3 years, were on intensive therapy now and he has come on amazingly.
I didn't get to meet the therapist when he was having sessions at pre school but his key worker kept me updated and I received reports on him.

Can you ask to see his therapist or keyworker to find out more??

Hello.
I feel you need to push for clarity here. Point out that although they are working on your ds's future communication skills, their own ones need improving!

Of course you want to be included in what's going one here...this is your child they are dealing with.

DH and I went private for SALT for DS. NHS was non existent. He was non verbal at 3 and they still said he was not a priority....good god.

He was fluent by 5 yrs but only after intensive and utterly brilliant private care. We were given homework, plans, and I was expected to sit in on every session. It worked.

It really saddens me to hear this vague talk and keeping parents at arms length regarding hugely important issues such as this.

His nursery and their external help may say it's not necessary for you to be involved, but by the time primary school comes around, if you are not fully engaged in some SALT or other, you stand the chance of being accused of being disengaged and difficult parents.

Get stuck in!

Good luck. Xx

This just sounds like an observation session rather than a booking in visit for SLT. I think if the SLT observed in nursery and thinks there is a problem, they will set you up with a proper referral, booking in and therapy sessions (which you would be the main point if contact). This is just still 'is there a problem or not?' Believe me, if they offer therapy, you will be more than involved...

Dd2 had two types of slt - her health team slt (who was also a feeding specialist) and the LEA team SLT (but only from yr r onwards). The health SLT went in and discussed general supports with the key worker in nursery etc, and was involved in target setting for IEP etc. But we mostly saw her out of nursery. I liked that she was in touch with the key worker though - it made me feel as though the system was joined up, as it should be, and that we were all working towards a common goal in supporting the child. I've never really been sure why parents try to block this type of communication.

citychick Yes, it's the vagueness that's bothering me. We have jet with the SALT, at an initial assessment before he was 2 when she was quite concerned and told us to return in 4 months. At the return visit she was very positive (different therapist, she played with ds for maybe 20 minutes and said how well he interacted etc, she basically said 'he'll get there, try not to worry so much'. Then we gat a phone call asking to contact preschool, of course I said fine but I would like feedback and that's when she said 'do you want to be told??'. Then we receive a letter saying ds has been put on the waiting list for therapy. At the hearing test the lady said he 'clearly has problems with expressive language'. Maybe I'm too much of a control freak but I just want some one to say if there is actually a problem, what it is and make a plan to help ds. I was hoping this pre school visit would do this but it doesn't sound like it if they're surprised at me asking for feedback.

It's all just a bit confusing. I absolutely do not want to be obstructive or difficult and would never block any kind of help for ds. My family think I'm being ridiculous seeing SALT because 'he's fine', just a boy, it's because you're a SAHM, he'll talk when he's ready....'. Then I have pre school saying he's doing really well but if you think he needs SALT you need to be sharp elbowed and forthright about getting him it.

Is private SALT very expensive?

Watching with interest...

We had lots of comments about "lazy boys" too - I knew his sounds weren't right though. My son never attempted animal noises for example and used the same sound patterns for most communication attempts.
Like a pp said, the NHS support is fairly limited at this age - they take a "wait and see" approach until the child is roughly 3 but early intervention is so important with speech.
Our NHS initial sessions were very basic reviews and advice on simplifying how I communicated with my son in order to encourage his speech - I listened and took notes but pushed fo4r additional support as I knew things weren't progressing in a typical way and wouldn't just sort themselves out. We are finally getting one to one support.
Our private SALT costs roughly £30 for 30 minute sessions and is worth every penny.

My eldest was under SALT for 3ish years and we always had a report after a SALT visit and usually a phone call after they'd been in to observe at preschool (as well as a written report).

There was always a reluctance to pinning down how delayed he was - we were told to focus on what we needed to work. I wouldn't be calling you a control frisk for wanting to hear her opinion on her visit - just a normal response as a concerned and involved parent.

The hearing test was a tall order, DS1 had a more basic one at 2 - 3 therspists played with him and every so often a cabinet behind him full of toys made a noise so when he turned to look that was his response.
He actually couldn't be passed on it because he wanted the toys out and when they wouldn't let him he ignored the noise!

Hi, our private SALT was about £45 per hour, but that was about 6 years ago in Greater London.

DS was observed in nursery. By local NHS team. I felt they were too wishy washy about it all, and I needed something done pronto.

DS also has mild epilepsy and was seizing at the time and any language he had (not much) seemed to regress after every seizure cluster.

So we went to private for an observation and just stuck with it. It was one of my finer parenting moments! I am not an SALT but I knew my son and I could see something wasn't right and that the NHS was being too slow in my mind.

IME if speech is not coming along as per the norm, the chances are that comprehension, listening and other social skills with be behind too.

DS also had group SALT in school until the end of yr 4. I also put him into Kiddie Drama classes. Which he loved. I was encouraged to get him involved in as many activities as possible. To encourage him to communicate, listen, take instructions, make friends and improve all his soft skills.

He could still do with some SALT age 9 now, but I have just signed him up for some more drama lessons. He speaks fluently, but struggles a bit with literacy comprehension and does not like reading. Despite being able to read beautifully, his tone is great, but he finds it difficult to read "between the lines". So there is still work to be done.

The work that a good SALT can do is amazing and I still marvel at what they can do. Do remember, that your child will grow and develop too so they will bring themselves along. Our SALT managed to open the doors that let our DS learn to communicate.

HTH. xx

I should also add, but think I've already said, that, if your DC has a speech issue at reception, school want to see that you are actively taking measures to help them. Whether that is NHS, private is doesn't matter.

I did find it helpful to have an independent SALT. I found that school and LA speech therapists worked in cahoots where as we had the back up of an independent source who would advocate on DS's behalf if she disagreed with something I had reported to her.