Twins and their SLT - give me hope pleeeease!

[mum2twins]

My 4 (just) year old twins have started SLT and I am really feeling down. We were given a 'S' book to start with and although they can say the sound perfectly they disjoint it from the rest of the word such as, ssssss.......ink. We were given some exercises to practise but when we went back for our 2nd appointment the SLT therapist said we can't move on further in the book until they can get the blending. (I felt she was dissapointed in me/them) Have spent all week doing it twice a day and I cannot get it any closer together. I am really feeling a complete failure. Worried about School in September and thinking I should have listened to my mother who was always saying I should have been correcting from 2 years old not just repeating. Gonna go and stick my face in a HUGE bowl of ice-cream.

Both of my boys have had SLT (ds2 still does). I've found that there are times when you think they will be stuck on that same stage forever and then it's as though a bolt of lightning hits and they suddenly just seem to get it. Good luck!

did you ever question yourself if you did something wrong - or is it just me thats paranoid

Do you mean the endless worries about "did I talk to them enough?" "did I talk to them too much?" "Should I have noticed this a bit earlier?" "Would things be different if I'd had the referral for SLT months/years earlier?"? Yep, I've had all those thoughts too. We want everything to be great and when it isn't we start looking for something/someone to blame - usually ourselves!

your mother's wrong.

I bet the SALT wasn't disappointed, They still try with my son and he can't speak at all after 4 years of SALT. Don't worry about it! (and ds2 who did begin to speak properly after one SALT assessment did it all himself, and the SALT told me NOT to work on sounds..... )

coppertop - yes all of those really. They have a great understanding so I just beat myself up that I overcomplicated the way I spoke and that they were trying sooo hard to understand. Jimjams - that must be really tough for you I hope your DS gets his breakthrough soon.

mum2twins - Well done you and the twins for practicing twice a day for a week

I know how draining it is with one, must be even harder with two, but it is worth it, and it will come right in the end. 'sss' is difficult for lots of children.

Mum2twins, I'm sure you're doing really well and these sort of problems are not caused by all those old wives (mothers) tales. How was the icecream?