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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Any SALTs around?

18 replies

LilRedWG · 26/04/2009 18:31

A couple of months ago DH and I took DD (she'll be three in a few weeks) to a SALT drop-in clinic, mainly because I wanted to convince DH that DD was fine. Much to my suprise she was referred for SALT, but we were warned it'd be a few months wait (we haven't heard anything yet).

DD has plenty of words but her pronunciation is pretty poor. She has all of her vowels spot on (which I understand is good) but struggles with consonants. I even have to translate for DH sometimes.

Some examples are:

Elephant is "ee-ee", as is Eleanor.
Love you is, "oov oo".
Thank you is "Kank oo".

"Th" is a major problem, as is "L", but she struggles with other letters too. If she can get away with it she will just say "a-a" instead of words, although we do try not to let her get away with that.

I have started to get more concerned, as since her referral she hasn't really improved at all and I've noticed a tendancy to shout rather than speak. No-one professionally has mentioned a hearing test and she does seem to hear what I'm saying, although sometimes has selective hearing (as do all toddlers).

Should I request a hearing test or should I just put the shouting down to toddlerdom and frustration? I do not want to be a paranoid mother but at the same time I don't want to cause DD future issues if she is struggling to hear.

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:

mummyloveslucy · 26/04/2009 18:55

Hi, my daughter has a severe speech disorder, and I know that it's compleatly normal for L to be pronounced as Y, up untill about 6 !
Also the "th" sound is one of the last to be learned and it's normal for a 7/8 year old to be just learning it, in fact, I struggle with that one even now.
You should definatly get her hearing checked first, as that's one of the major causes.
I hope you don't have to wait too long for SALT.
My daughter also has a wide vocab but even I struggle to make out what she's saying.
The family find it even harder, and strangers don't understand a word.

Original poster

LilRedWG · 26/04/2009 19:01

Thanks mummyloveslucy. I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is struggling so much.

OP posts:

mummyloveslucy · 26/04/2009 19:05

Thanks. She's having speech therapy once a week and her nursery are brillient with her. It dosn't ever hold her back, as she chatters to everyone she meets.

Original poster

LilRedWG · 27/04/2009 11:36

Hopeful bump for any further advice/experience.

OP posts:

stealthsquiggle · 27/04/2009 13:36

LilRed I will attempt to coax my DD out of faux-shy mode and back into normal will-she-ever-shut-up mode on Wednesday and you can compare - because I read your OP and can't decide how much of it would be the same for DD - I think she speaks very clearly but sometimes DH doesn't get things out of context (and DD can make some very out of context statements at times)..

Hearing checks are relatively easy and non-intrusive so it would seem to me that if you are worried it would be worth asking.

TitsalinaBumsquash · 27/04/2009 13:45

I belive Moondog is a SALT maybe you could try and call her out!?

eatyourveg · 27/04/2009 14:01

I would push for a proper hearing test from the audiology dept at the ENT clinic. They would tell you if she was hearing the full frequency range. (they measure from 250htz through to 8Khtz.) It might be that she is missing some. if you don't think she would give a reliable result and wanted to pursue it further, ask for an evoked response test where they measure exactly what sounds the brain is picking up rather than what sounds she responds to.

Original poster

LilRedWG · 27/04/2009 14:13

Thanks guys.

OP posts:

Original poster

LilRedWG · 27/04/2009 14:13

SS - that'd be good if our DD's will oc-operate.

OP posts:

eatyourveg · 27/04/2009 18:58

they can do an evoked response test while she is asleep

Original poster

LilRedWG · 27/04/2009 18:58

Who am best talking to - GP or HV?

OP posts:

eatyourveg · 27/04/2009 19:14

saralou · 27/04/2009 19:15

definitely get a hearing test done, it is helpfull for the speech therapist... and it is a lot quicker to get a referral for hearing test than for SALT. See your GP about this and then he can assess the ear at the same time for glue ear

My ds1 has a language disorder and see's a SALT weekly, he also has glue ear, which really doesn't help his talking!

Original poster

LilRedWG · 27/04/2009 19:19

Thanks. Will make an appointment with one of the more symathetic doctors, as I know certain ones in the practice will not be happy that I am asking for this. Maybe the fact that she's had anti-biotics twice for ear infections will convince them that it's worth it.

Thank you all again.

OP posts:

Wallace · 27/04/2009 19:36

This is interesting reading Typical Speech Development

Original poster

LilRedWG · 27/04/2009 21:27

Thanks Wallace, I'll have a read tomorrow.

OP posts:

moondog · 02/05/2009 00:58

Hi Lil
I'm a salt but tend to deal with peopel with severe language and eevelopmental disorders.Not much contact with very young children who present with speech diffs. which are within realms of normal devpt.

Wallace has a good link.

Hearing assesment is usually routine just to rule such difficulties out. Obviously impossible to say over internet but what you describe isn't massive cause for concern yet.

Original poster

LilRedWG · 03/05/2009 09:02

Thanks. Sorry for hijacking your other thread.

OP posts:

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