Free speech therapy resources

[Spudlet]

I'm at my wits end here. DS is nearly 3 and has no clear words. He has been referred for speech therapy but we've been waiting for an appointment for 6 months now. We cannot afford private speech therapy - we simply cannot. His hearing is perfect, his understanding is excellent, he has glasses, he does some signing. He is being assessed for ASD.

I need to help him, he is falling further and further behind and becoming frustrated. He's started biting me because he's getting so cross.

We borrowed a babble bag from the library which helped, but it had to go back - I am trying to replicate its contents gradually, but I can't find all the bits to buy.

Are there any good, reputable blogs or sites or anything that will help me to help him? I don't know how to help him. I feel like I'm failing him because I can't help him. I worry so much about whether he'll catch up or just be left to flounder at school. He is so bright, I worry he'll be left behind.

Any pointers or even just a handhold would be wonderful.

Thank you, I will look.

Blinking HV telling you not to sign. Really glad you're on it now. Signing really helps speech so long as you say the words too.

Can I just check, when you say his hearing is perfect is that because you have already had it tested? How long ago? He could have glue ear which gives a fluctuating loss and means that sometimes you can get a good result from audoologu even if at other times it's really bad.

Speech delay is tough for the mother to deal with as all the funny/important little conversations you imagine having at the pre-school age don't happen. I have been there, and your post still gives me a little ache at what I felt we missed out on.

It sounds as though you are being brilliantly proactive, positive and not letting it overshadow the great bond you have with our child, so good luck to you.

It was tested in the Spring. I'm pretty sure he's ok though - he seems to be able to hear really well as far as you can tell, and when it was tested they basically said he had perfect hearing right down to a whisper. His eyesight is quite poor though and that wasn't spotted until a different HV noticed his squint. His glasses have genuinely changed his life - he's a different boy now.

Yes, that's it. All those daft, cute little things they say, like worrying about the cows not having their coats on in the rain and things. DS is brilliant and funny, but my heart just aches a bit sometimes, wanting to hear him say Mummy.

Hi OP. I don't have much advice as I'm in the same situation. DD is 2.5 and has no words. I think recently she's started to say mum but like your DS it isn't clear. More of a babble.
We referred for slt when she was 19 months and only in the last few weeks have we started one to one therapy. A lot of it is trying to make her pay attention. Giving choices and waiting for a response. Ready steady go games. So with a ball, say ready steady GO' and throw it to them. Only say go if they're giving eye contact. As they get better you can leave a little extra time before you say go to hopefully make them say it instead.
The speech therapist is concerned mainly because DD makes no attempts really. She's happy using the signs and pointed etc. Does your DS attempt to copy words?
I can't give much advice but wanted you to know you're not alone. I get the feeling of being upset by other kids. I hate when I see kids younger than her talking away to their mum's.
It's just a desperation to hear their little voice. To hear their thoughts. It's hard but we'll both get through this soon enough x

DS tries now, but that's a fairly events development. He tends to copy sounds more - like, we missed a turn-off earlier this week, and I went something like 'Arrrrrrgh no'. Then from the back of the car heard a little 'Ahhhh! Nooooo!' followed by lots of giggles.

It's so hard isn't it? I'm just desperate for him to be able to tell me what he wants, what he needs. He was ill a couple of days ago and he couldn't tell me his tummy hurt,
I didn't work it out until he threw up everywhere. All he could do was cry

They'll get there, they will. It's just such a tough road, and it's not what I expected. You know? It's just adjusting the expectations that is hard.

I feel like I have some more tools now though, and less alone. That helps.

speechteach.co.uk
Try not to worry OP (impossible I know) but my son did not have any recognisable words (and very few sounds at all) until he was over 3. When his words did come they came quickly and we went from nothing to full sentences fast. By 5 he had caught up with his peers.
He is now 11 and never shuts up.
There is a good book I used that helped. I can’t for the life of me remember the details but if I do I’ll come back and post again.

Have you talked to nursery about applying for an EHCP? Will he be turning four this academic year and starting school in September 2019 or the following year?

Sorry excuse me just seen he is nearly 3 not actually 3 so that wouldn't be applicable yet.

Copying sounds is a really good sign! My DD doesn't do that. She does a lot of her own sounds but if I try to get her to copy a sound I know she can make she won't. When she sometimes says 'mumum' I say 'oooh did you say mum? Mumumum' and praise her. She shakes her head!
It's hard when you know the potential is in there, and they're so bright and funny and wonderful and they can't express that. I'm also sick of people telling me that 'you'll wonder why you wanted her to talk when she won't shut up!' they just have no idea what it's like to wait and wait and try so hard every day and nothing. It makes simple things so hard. I will never take her voice for granted.
I have weekly sessions at speech therapy, I'll keep coming back and giving you any tips she gives me. So far she's said keep up with the makaton and make sure you always say the word with the sign. And giving lots of opportunities for speech. Even if you know what he wants make him wait a little longer to see what he does. Obviously don't let him get very upset! The sessions are on Friday so I'll make sure to pop back x

Thankfully he doesn't start school until September 2020 - I think that extra year is going to be crucial. Hopefully it will give him enough time to catch up. His preschool SENCO and key worker are great - he adores his key worker and tries to say her name. So they'll be on it with applying for whatever he needs (me too!). They are really supportive.

I'm not normally this stressy about it all, but you know. PMT and all Thank you all, I feel like I've got virtual shoulders to cry on and I really needed that tonight!

I'm also sick of people telling me that 'you'll wonder why you wanted her to talk when she won't shut up!'

YES. I know people mean well and all, but seriously!

DS was making his own little words and sounds up - copying sounds is really recent. We started with animal noises, I think he found them funny? Then that gave him the confidence to try new ones. Also, none letter sounds - DH did a sort of funny, screechy skid sound out on a walk when we found some bike tracks in the mud, and DS found it utterly hilarious and started copying it. I think it not being a word helped, there's no pressure for him. I don't put pressure on him, you understand, but I think he likes to get things right - he's so like me in that.

I am an SLT, but not with young kids, and don't know yours, so broad advice only...

If you are trying a PECS type approach, only give him pictures for stuff he can have every time he asks for it. It doesn't work if he brings you "sweets" and you say "not now, you are just about to have tea/go to sleep". The principle is about helping him see that communication is a predictable exchange. So if he presents a picture, you must immediately respond with the item requested. If you give him biscuit and banana cards, always have these available, and give them whenever requested, even if it is 4am! Exceptions come later.

There's nothing you say to suggest he has articulation difficulties, so I'd suggest giving "Mr Tongue" and articulation station a miss right now unless there's something to suggest they are relevant.

Try the Ican, Afasic and Talk to Your Baby websites. See if the library can get the Hanen programme book "It takes two to talk". Keep up the signing, and anything else that eases frustration.

Second what others say about listening being the focus now, along with attention and turn taking. Copying games like Simon Says are good (though you don't need to put people "out", just do copying and have fun with it. Puppets can be good too.

Model, don't correct. Respond enthusiastically to any communication, whether speech or not.

Another one from my student days is blowing bubbles (or another repetitive activity he likes). Ask "bubbles?" Or "more bubbles?" And blow some every time he has a go at communicating or makes a noise. Can be lots of fun, and often helps with saying "more" - a really useful word!

Sounds like you are doing really well btw.

Me again.. The book I meant to suggest was the Hanen book "more than words", two to talk may also be helpful, but this one is ASD-specific. Will also be useful even if your boy does turn out to have ASD.

*doesn't

Thank you. We actually use bubbles a fair bit, that is one of his signs, or he says 'nerder' - another, as in again. He does so enjoy bubbles!

I will see if I can find that book. Thanks again.

I could have wrote this post about dd who turns 3 in February but actually she does less than your ds. I’m hard of hearing and one of the reason for having kids sooner rather than later was so I could hear them talk as there is a real possibility I could go profoundly deaf. Will say we have had our first sowach therapy appointment Tbh I thought it was useless so I’m hoping they improve. We are waiting on a asd assessment to and that is 18 months. Dd doesn’t even use hand gestures

bababoo13 I thought the first one was useless as well. For us she just observed her playing and asked questions. But I suppose she was trying to observe and see what she was dealing with. The second one was very similar and then we had two where she actively tried to get her to follow instructions and started giving a bit more advice. She said in the last one that next week we'd be back to some observation. I think my expectations were too high because I'd been waiting so long! We had to go to two separate group blocks that took 6 weeks each with gaps in between and they were both so so useless. They were very patronising.
Op I'd call your SLT team again. When I was waiting for these one to ones I called just to ask what the average wait time is. The same day the speech therapist called me back to say she had a free slot and could fit me in starting the following week. Always worth a try and to let them know you're still actively waiting x

qcumber how long between your sessions ? We had our first in October and out next ones not till January

baboo13 ours was around 6 to 8 weeks in between