Speech and Language Therapist for child with possible dyslexia.

[Lessthanmore]

My son has possible dyslexia and is waiting for an assessment in February. During the initial telephone meeting with the assessor, I mentioned he had very poor comprehension skills. The assessor suggested getting a formal assessment with a speech and language therapist.

Unfortunately the assessor couldn't recommend anyone and I have been trying to find someone without much success.

Can anyone recommend one in London or the South East.

What would a speech and language therapist be able to help with?

My son is 11 years old - if this makes a difference

Wrong thread

If you are looking for an independent practitioner then ASLTIP is where you'd be best looking.

https://asltip.com/find-a-speech-therapist/

Great thanks.

Do you know what sort of assessment I would need the SLT to undertake or what specialism I need to get?

Thanks

Hi OP, I don't know much about this myself but my daughter is a SLT and she says that as your son struggles with his comprehension they would assess this and be able to offer support and strategies for this. It is more the comprehension aspect an Slt would help with rather than the dyslexia but these needs would be considered in their intervention. I hope your son gets the support he needs.

I'm afraid young people aren't my area of practice but I'd probably approach people highlighting the concerns of the dyslexia assessor, the poor comprehension skills and anything else you've noticed.

They'll likely do a thorough case history that will delve into milestones and schooling etc. They will have a wide array of assessments they will be able to chose from.

Generally if you have enough concerns to be approaching a professional that should be enough ☺️

https://sltforkids.co.uk/speech-clinic/services/assessments/clinical-evaluation-of-language-fundamentals/

This is one of the tests they are likely to perform. My DS has dyslexia and a speech therapist helped with with sentence structure etc.

Good for the dyslexia assessor. There are a lot of people out there who have been assessed as dyslexic but who actually have DLD - developmental Language Disorder. This is an umbrella term for many S&L conditions such as receptive and or expressive language difficulties. Difficulties in comprehension would flag to this. Very much worth getting an assessment. Love to Communicate round Croydon area are very good. Jennifer Warwick is superb - think she is more London based. Francesca Beard also very good and her mother is Sarah Beard who is the absolute guru of dyslexia assessment.
Good luck.

Thank you so very much! I will reach out to them.

Is there a specific test that I should ask for? Hopefully the initial consultation would let the SLT determine the best course of action.

You could try Helen Pearson, Juanita Hurley and Jackie Harland.

I would want a comprehensive assessment because sometimes needs are hidden.

Thanks.

Have you have experience of this? Do you know how much a SLT would charge?

It really is a case of how long is a piece of string, I’m afraid. It depends on what you want/need. Do you want a brief assessment, a full in-depth assessment, a medicolegal assessment and report, do you want the assessment to include a school observation, do you want to use someone at the top of their game in relation to SENDIST...? For a basic assessment, you are looking at over a hundred pounds upwards, depending on the SALT and what is needed/wanted/who you use to a few hundred pounds. For a good in-depth comprehensive assessment, you are looking at several hundreds upwards.

Thanks. I think I'd go for a comprehensive assessment.