Speech and language appointment

[JSB16]

Took my son to the gp around 6 months ago with concerns around speech and language delays, they came across great referring him for a hearing test and for an appointment with the speech and language team. He had his hearing test which was all fine but we didn’t hear anything on his other appointment, I’ve not chased up as I’d just assumed long wait lists. Fast forward to the other day he had his 2.5 health visitor appointment who said they would chase it up.
I received a text later that night which just said ‘I’ve had a look and xxxx has been discharge from speech and language’ no follow up information on what we now do.
Firstly, how can he be discharged without ever seeing anyone, why has no one told us he was discharged and surely the health visitor could at least advise next steps even if it’s go back to your gp. All I can think of is they discharged him off the back of his hearing test?
I will ring my gp next week but anyone else feel
like they are just going in circles with their child’s speech?

Personally I’d chase this up with the HV who can also make a referral to SaLT. She should also be able to explain why your LO was discharged.

How did he score on the 30 month Ages & Stages?

I don't think speech and language will see boys before the age of 3 for uncomplicated speech delay because it's so normal for boys to be late talking, so it could be as simple as he doesn't meet their criteria on paper yet. What kind of delay are you seeing with your son?

I’ve not heard that before. Around here it’s 2 when they accept referrals for SaLT and they do not treat boys in a different way to girls.

Sorry this has happened to you, that message from the health visitor is very unhelpful.

I would contact your local speech and language service directly to ask what happened to the referral. If you Google paediatric speech and language therapy + your local area a team with contact details should come up and you can call or email them. The referral either will have been rejected or they may have tried to contact you and you have missed it/they had the wrong details so they've discharged him.

I'm sure every area is different and I am guessing they can't actually apply different criteria to boys and girls but informally SLTs know that as a rule of thumb you can't draw too many conclusions about boys before the age of three if it's just delay. I expect they are overwhelmed with referrals and know that they would be able to make a better assessment after 3 so are using any small thing such as the hearing test to get him off the list for now, knowing that if there is a genuine problem the referral will come back again.