what do SALT's do?

[happydazy1]

Hi,
my little boy almost 3 has problems pronouncing certain words - well most words in fact. Family can understand but not other people. He's starting nursery soon and has a referral to SALT but probably won't be seen till December! I was just wondering if there's anyone whose ds has SALT could tell me what sort of exercises SALT do with kids and perhaps I could buy dvds/ books or whatever and try and help ds myself at home. I try to talk to him a lot and speak clearly, asking questions etc already. Also has anyone gone private and is it worth it?
many thanks

I'm a teacher so have seen SALTs working with children I have taught.

They tend to start with lots of assessment so they can see where the issues are. They will then use this to build an individual package for your child.

Although it seems like a long wait I would wait til a trained SALT can see your DS. Until then just keep talking to him lots, one of the things I've learnt is to talk about everything and anything with children with S&L issues.

Also, when he starts nursery speak to the SENCO they should make sure he gets the support he needs when he's there.

My DS has been seen since he was approx 2y4m I think, so coming up to 2 years and he's only very recently been given any kind of exercises at all. Having said that, maybe his issues were very different?

Thanks for replies. I know it's probably best to wait for the SALT to see him but was just wondering if there was anything I could do to help him in the meantime.

He hasn't been away from me before and I'm just really worried that he will get upset if he can't be understood at nursery or if the other children make comments or are mean to him about his speech :( (he's already had a few comments re baby language etc but I have been there to either interpret or to distract him etc.)

I feel a bit stupid for not asking the HV for a referral for him earlier or self referring (we can do that in the county I live him) but I think I kept hoping things would improve naturally.

I will ask to speak to the SENCO at the nursery re support.

dottyaboutstripes if you don't mind telling me - what sort of things do they do in SALT sessions - e.g. do they focus on certain words, or play games etc?

thanks

Former SLT here.

An initial assessment will involve getting a background history from you. Watching your child play for a bit. Playing with said child. Maybe talking about some pictures and naming some items. The assessment will start fairly broad and then focus more on the areas of perceived difficulty.

If like you say the issue is just with his speech sounds and how he is saying certain words around 3 is a good age to go. Lots of children say some sounds wrong and it resolves correctly and spontaneously. The child needs to be old enough to focus on the activities to help them improve their speech.

In my experience when working of speech sounds if I child understands concepts such as open/closed, loud/quiet, long/short and front/back it can help them in therapy. Keep talking and provide models of correct speech but don't force the issue (I'm sure you don't but I would say it too every parent). For example; child, "look tat," parent, "I can see a cat." Also being able to sit and do an activity for a short space of time is really useful and more helpful than any DVDs/books I know of.

I did end up specialising in adults so it has been a few years since I last worked with children (although 2 of mine had SLT) but hopefully what I have said is still appropriate and helpful.

Thanks Nicknamegrief you make me feel a bit better about not self referring him earlier.
I was feeling I'd let him down by not getting him on the waiting list earlier.

It's been pretty much playing, having said that, my DS said next to nothing until a year into his SALT sessions so there wasn't much to work with.

DS was seen by SALT at age 4.6 for speech delay, he didn't pronounce a bunch of sounds properly, he was too busy talking and close family and childminder had all tuned into his speech.

The SALT assessed him in a session of playing "games", chatting about pictures and observing him with Dh and my self. DS was his usual chatty self, hard to understand if you didn't know the context of what he was saying ( which SALT often didn't). We then than had a letter from SALT listing the dozen or so sounds he was missing and were invited back for a session with SALT. At which the SALT went through a very systematic program of work for DH / I to do at home with DS. Working on just 2 of the missing sounds, once those 2 were firmly in his normal speech another 2 were added etc etc.

It was hard work. the hospital SALT provided a big folder of resources to use for each sound, games, picture cards, story sheets, lotto sets etc. We also used jigsaws and lego ( motivators for DS during difficult bits) and songs and silly sounds.

Once DS started to get the hang of it sounds came quicker and quicker. We saw the SALT 4 times over 6 months, also spoke to her on the phone a couple of times to ask for eth "next " set of sound resources . After about 6/ 7 months DS was re-assessed in his new classroom at school and individually and was reckoned to be age appropriate, so was discharged from the SALT list