Speech delay - The Hannen Programme

[outnumbered2to1]

My DS2 who has just turned 2 has been diagnosed with a speech delay and we have been offered a place on the next Hannen programme and i was wondering if any other mumsnetters has any experience of this programme. Thanks in advance

done it, very helpful. will add more tomorrow when more awake.

I don't know if you have any experience of speech therapy so apols if I seem patronising at any point.

Speech therapy is unfortunately not a quick fix - and it's a case of you and the SLT working together over a period to bring your child on to the next stage in their language/communication development. The point of Hanen is to help you to help your child communicate - to help you do SLT type work with your child by incorporating their SLT type techniques into daily life - e.g. food time/bath time/dressing as well as play and reading.

So the course will involve 9 X 2 hour sessions supported by book and video (of parents interacting with kids with speech delay) to give you techniques and knowledge of communication. Also there will be 4 home visits by SLT to help you put into practice what you have learnt - SLT look at you playing/doing day to day stuff with your child and work with you on what to do next with them and how (so you get a fully individualised recommendation, rather than just sent away with a sheet of exercises)

One of the most useful things I learnt was how to alter my communication to help my DS's communication - things like pausing to listen, imitate his play, mixing comments with questions etc.

you will find more info at www.hanen.org

Can I ask you how you got a diagnosis at 2 years old? We have just been told in our local area, nothing is done with children who don't speak until they are 2.5. Before that, nothing is offered, except if you child has a dissability. Did you go through your GP? HV? ...

sorry my sytem crashed and has been down since last week. Total chaos thank you for the info have been on the hannen website but found it totally overwhelming.
Pancake - i basically put my foot down with my GP and said i wanted him assessed by Speech therapist because he hasn't said anything. not even Ga Ga

We're having our first Hanen programme meeting next week, but might not start the course until September because it's over-subscribed. I've got the books, and judging from them and what other MNetters say, it's wonderful. Grab the chance to do it, I'm sure it'll help

I did a pre-school speech therapy group with ds2 when he was 2.5 (not Hannen, but sounds similar) and it was v helpful. It was interesting to learn how language is aquired, what building blocks have to be in place for it to kick off. All 3 of my dcs have had delayed speech, but ds2 has been extra late due to glue ear but he is now 3.5 and has made huge progess given that he didn't even say "mummy" at nearly 3. He's still going to have more therapy but I'm confident he will soon be as talkative as the other two. And then I will be buying earplugs . Good luck.

sorry have had to deal with system crashing again plus easter plus my DS1's 5th birthday.....!
Ok we had our first session with the speech Pathologist (whats THAT all about) at home where she asked what my goals were for my DS2? Is it bad that all i could answer was that i want to hear him say mummy? She also videotaped the interaction between me and my DS2 (was really nervous about this) The first session proper starts on 30th April and while i am excited i'm also terrified.