Speech and Language Therapy - what should be happening now?

[BlueberryPancake]

I have a 2.9 month old who only had three words at 2.6 and didn't babble AT ALL, and now has many words but very difficult to understand. He is making lots of progress but we have been assessed a number of times by SALT, pediatrician, audiologist, psychologist, etc (nothing wrong with him basically, just language).

I am puzzled because everyone seems to evaluate him and acknowledge that there is a significant speech delay, but he still hasn't had any therapy as such (well, just a very Boring group therapy called Little Talkers which was so sllllooooow that DS wad headbagning me out of boredom).

What should be happening? At what age 'should' 'proper' speech therapy start? What is your experience of it?

Many thanks, BPx

I meant, on the NHS. Can't afford private.

Depending on where you live I would recommend that you try and access a Hanen course - It takes Two to Talk. My DS did this (through Lambeth) at about 2.7 and it was great and extremely helpful.

You definitely need to be getting some help. Does the local SALT have anything helpful to say?

We have been seeing the NHS SALT (early intervention team) but all he has had was evaluations every 3 months and the group sessions little talkers. THey give you a lot of printed stuff, most of it is generic, but it's so basic and really quite patronising such as 'why it is important to sing nursery rhymes' bla bla. Everything they tell us to do we already do, and more. I have read and put in practice a lot of the 'it takes two to talk' book already. I will ask about the hanen course.

SALT's usually don't give therapy (don't get me started). However they should be able to give you help to provide therapy yourself.

Also worth checking out portage- they WILL work with your child.

Ok but what the SALT talks to me about and the tips they give me we already do very much at home, and have been for a long time. Such as listen to him when he tries to talk, give him time to answer, expand on what he is saying, etc etc. We've been doing this for months. What is the next step? What do I do now to help his speech get clearer?

We spent 1.5 hours with SALT a few weeks ago and I asked her if she could give me a strategy for the coming months, things to do at home to support him, and she sent be the above tips which they had given us the first time we saw the SALT, when DS was 22 months.

We're stuck in first gear. Will I have to go private to get more practical/substential support?

Thanks FD, I will post of special needs and search there as well. Great ideas, thanks. I don't mind about being not popular.

Agree with FlyingDuchess. We found NHS SALT an infuriating process as well. We were given a lot in inappropriate photocopied sheets Do come onto SN.

'Ask to see your records and you'll be surprised at how much 'therapy' they are recording that you are getting. You'll think you are reading a work of fiction.'

'Nuff said.

Hey, I called the SALT after this post and insisted that DS get more help and that she'd send me his notes. She called me two days later to confirm that DS has been referred to a specialist nursery for sept (he'll be 3 in April) which has an excellent language development division. They specialise in children that have an expressive language delay, with no other developmental problem. He would get intensive play therapy and customised objectives/language development environment, with specialist staff. I don't know if he'll get in, but I think he fits the criteria. Also she has added me to a list for more therapy sessions locally.

RESULT! thanks gals

It's this school.

www.lgfl.net/lgfl/leas/redbridge/schools/churchfields-inf/web/Language%20Facility%20Outreach%20Servi ce/Language%20Facility%20Outreach%20Service/?backto=/lgfl/leas/redbridge/schools/churchfields-inf/we b/Language%20Facility%20Outreach%20Service/

Churchfields has always been a very good school.I know a child who used to go there and most of my own friends,went there too