What can I do to help ds's speech - 3.2

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Ds2 is 3.2-speech has always been slow.
Now vocabulalry and sentences are fine for his age but he is very difficult to make out and it is really only those who know him well who can have a conversation with him.

Had our first SALT assessment today - have waited ages as first referral went astray.

She agrees that he is making lots of errors with word formation such not starting words or finishing them sometimes both and some problems with vowels and that he is developmentally delayed with this aspect of communication. (But fine with other aspects) She feels he will need a lot of SALT input - but will not be able to be seen again for 4 months or so. Couldn't suggest a home programme in the meantime as there are too many different issues that it wouldn't be practical.
Said i was doing all the right things with reinforcing speech and encouragement but it is obviously not enough.

I am very frustrated as I thought this was the end of our wait.

Does anyone have suggestions for what else I should do to help him - any books for me to read etc or should I look for a private SALT 0 no idea if available or how much it would cost.

Thanks

hi i had this problem with my 2 year old, does he go to a nursery at all? I found this to be the best thing, i sent her to a nursery every day and peer pressure made all the difference particularly as she was an only child so i did everything for her without hwer having to ask! it delayed her completely with us on our own together at nursery she had to communicate!

Doesn't go to nursery yet - only to playgroup 2 mornings a week, which is very informal and he gets by with basic communication . Goes to nursery 3 days a week from August - this might help.

My son developed a stammer at 3 and we are still waiting for nhs treatment (he is now 4.5 years old). Once we realised the huge wait, we chose to go privately. We have to pay £60 for a 45 minute session. I know it costs loads but after deliberating about the price we decided that having our child speak normally again was actually priceless. Now we see the SALT once per month so we budget £15 per week for his treatment. At first, he had to be seen weekly so we just stopped buying luxuries for a while (eating out/clothes etc). The treatment has had a huge impact on his speech and although not totally cured, he is about 80% better now than at the start of his treatment. www.helpwithtalking.com/ is the website where you can find a private therapist.

I am a Speech/Language Therapist and I dont understand why it wouldnt be practical for you to try some activities at home! Ok he may have a complex speech pattern but there must be something she/he could suggest. Often before we do any more specific speech work we offer therapy focussed more on general speech awareness e.g. listening and awareness to sounds, where in the mouth different sounds are produced, discrimination between sounds, contrasts between quality of sounds e.g. noisy/quiet, long/ short, syllable clapping, rhyme etc. All of these skills are really useful skills for child to achieve before more specific speech work. They provide a good foundation for all the work that comes after. I think you could really make a good start before she can see him.... any chance of another appointment to discuss??

The waiting lists in some parts of UK are crazy. I work in Fife, Scotland and we have to see children for assessment within 12 weeks of receiving referral. Children then go straight into treatmentif required. Not sure if problems elsewhere are due to goverment funding (scotland v.s england) or problem with vacant posts??

Hi Thanks

Yes hearing has been checked and is fine.
Live in Scotland- have waited ages for first appointment- mainly due to administrative mess up - not sure why I have to wait 4 months for treatment is very annoying.

weeG - I will phone back and ask for more advice as to what to do - I was suprised that she couldn't suggest things - got the impression she couldn't think on the spot when i asked her.

Will have a look at the web site and see what information I can get - would obviously like to pursue NHS treatment if possible so will speak to them again.
keresley, I'm glad your son's speech is improving now.

Starting to feel that this is going to be a long haul.