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My daughters speech therapist is getting no were with her !

11 replies

mummyloveslucy · 11/12/2008 14:48

Hi, my daughter has a speech disorder and has been having speech therapy for about a year. (she is 3years 10months old) She used to have one to one therapy and was doing well, then the therapist decided to put her in a "sound group" where about 4 children would learn one sound together. She's been learning this sound now for 6 months and still can't say it confidently in a sentance. The therapist keeps saying "you must keep on correcting her at home" which we do. She dosn't like being corrected and it stresses her out, as she has to really work at it then forgets what she was going to say. She's the youngest in the group and the lady has said that she finds it hard to concentrate, listen and work things out. I was only at her nursery parents evening a few weeks ago where they told me how great her concentraion was. They said she's always the first to join in and and settle.
I suggested to the therapist that she goes back to indevidual sessions and she said "I'll assess her after christmas, and she might need a long break from it" She had a long break before and of corse the nursery and us were left in the dark as to how to help her.
She won't speek to the nursery, who are trying so hard to do all they can for her. She won't visit them as it's too far to go. (only 5 miles) She is just soo laid back, and has no get up and go. I can interest my daughter in anything if I make it fun enough. What can I do ?

OP posts:
Lauriefairyonthetreeeatscake · 11/12/2008 14:50

change therapist to one more dynamic, is that an option?

No chance you're over-stressing, she's still quite young?

MadamDeathstarOverBethlehem · 11/12/2008 14:53

Can you get another therapist? You are right, it does need to be fun for a 3 year old to take an interest in it. She doesn't sound very helpful either.

Our therapists used to give me pointers so I could help at home. They told me that 1.5 hours a week of therapy was helpful but nothing like the exposure I could give outside the sessions.

Children do develop the ability to say different sounds at different ages. How much older are the others? If they are 6 months older it makes a real difference in ability to sit and listen. She might need to be with a younger group.

mummyloveslucy · 11/12/2008 15:24

I can just see that no progress is being made at all. She used to say that she didn't know if My daughter would need ST at school and now she says she probubly will.
I'm only concerned that it's making her stressed that people can't understand her.

OP posts:
mummyloveslucy · 11/12/2008 15:28

The children in the group range from 4.5 to 5. There isn't a younger group.
If she gets in to the primary of my choice, she'll get a different therapist.

OP posts:
KTNoo · 11/12/2008 16:04

OK you found a lurking SALT.

If you don't mind my asking, which sound are they working on with her? Some sounds are aquired later than others, which may explain why she has not been making progress. Is it just sounds she has difficulty with? How are her sentences and understanding of language?

Obviously I can't comment specifically on your dd's concentration skills, but it seems obvious that if all the other children in the group are older they will have better developed attention skills.

It is standard procedure in SALT to liaise with all professionals involved with a child and to give advice where necessary. Your SALT should be talking to the nursery at least, and sending them progress reports. I realise many SALTs are incredibly busy but IMO it is not good practice to work in isolation with a child without considering all the other environments the child is in during the week. When I give breaks from therapy I always give games to the parents and school/nursery to do in the meantime. Many schools say they do not have time to do extra work with children so your dd's nursery should be given material if they are willing!

Lastly it is not helpful to "correct", if that is what you were told to do. I advise parents to repeat back the word accurately, but in a positive way so the child doesn't constatly feel like they are making a mistake. If a lot of work on a specific sound has been done, you could remind gently about what your dd needs to do with her mouth.

e.g. if a child has problems with "k", and has been practising using the back of the mouth, you could say something like "oh I think I hear a back sound in "car", do you hear it?" etc etc

Sorry this is long, hope it helps.

mummyloveslucy · 11/12/2008 16:49

Thank you, she is working on "f" at the moment. She can't do "b" or "d" which are supposed to come earlier. The SALT tried these with her and said that she found it far too hard. (she couldn't say them at all) she uses "p" for "b" and "t" for "d".
I've noticed when she talks, it looks like her mouth is a bit all over the place. It looks as though she has difficulties controlling her mouth if that makes sence.
She understands everything perfectly and is progressing well in other areas. She can talk in long sentences and has a wide vocabluary, but it's very hard even for me to always understand what she's said. People who don't know her, hardly pick up anything she says.

OP posts:
mummyloveslucy · 11/12/2008 16:59

She sometimes says things that don't quite make sence too like

I tell you once more times

Are you look to me (are you looking at me)

( there are probubly more but I can't think of them right now.)

OP posts:
KTNoo · 11/12/2008 17:09

Ok thanks, you would expect the sounds you mention at your dd's age, so it is appropriate for the SALT to be working on them.

I does seem like she should be giving you lots of ideas for fun games to do at home and nursery - you can ask for this if she hasn't.

There lots of fun ways to disguise what is basically practising listening for and producing sounds. Lots of childrens' games like fishing, pairs, dominoes, snap etc can be altered to incorporate the sounds you are targeting.

Good Luck.

KTNoo · 11/12/2008 17:12

I wouldn't worry about the examples of sentences you give - my 5 year old's grammar still leaves a lot to be desired at times! e.g (today) "Mummy, why can I can't have another biscuit?"

mummyloveslucy · 12/12/2008 18:58

Thank you. It's reasuring that her grammer is o.k for her age.
I'll ask her SALT for ideas for games, she loves playing games so it would be a good way for her to learn.

OP posts:
SleighGirl · 12/12/2008 19:09

I just want to reassure you that the grammar stuff is really not an issue. My much older dds often get their tenses mixed up etc!!!

It is right they are only working on the sounds at her age. We're back for an assessment in Jan as my youngest hasn't really progressed much in 6 months fortunately she's "just" stuck on s, f, z and does lots of incorrect substitution! My dd is happy to play the games with me and for me to ask her to try and pronounce something but she won't co-operate with the pre-school over it just pulls a sulky face over it with them!

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