Talk to me about how Speech and language therapists help reading problems

[magicfarawaytree]

Long story DS has has fluid on / glue ear frequently since birth> As well as audiology have been told that a speech and language assessment may be beneficial. His speech is fine, with the exception of a couple of sound which are normal for this age. How would a speach and language specialist help?

my ds has the same thing.

Speech and lang can be affected by glue ear because individual sounds are not heard as clearly and can be muddled/missing in the child's mind....eg th edifference between 's' 'sh' and 'f' might be difficult.

a speech lang therapist will check that he can hear and make sense of all the different 'speech sounds' ...for example that he can hear and understand the difference between 'flower' and 'shower'....and importantly, check if he can do this in a noisy classroom.

to learn to read you have to have those sounds 'in your head' very clearly.

some children who have had persistent glue ear need to catch up a little with their sounds.

bit waffly!

thanks BT. did your ds's school refer you to the Speech and language specialist? more importantly did your ds school pick on on your ds having an issue with glue ear?

i am a speech and language therapist ( a brilliant one but only just qualified)
so i was always mindful of what my ds needs were.

i could tell when he was'nt hearing well and would notice other behaviours... his attention to speakers was poor,he prefered rough play etc

the school didnt pick it up because it was already on his notes from his nursery and i had told them....but they do tell me when they think he is struggling.

why?

im logging off now...but if you have any questions feel free ...i will answer as best as i can.

having be banging the 'glue ear drum' for want of a better word since nursery, all through reception. have been in 3 times since he started Yr 1 in september and have just been given an IEP (or rather they tried to...) basically implying he is not getting enough practice a home with reading, poor writing skill, poor spatial awareness and does not know enough phase three words. School did not even explain what they were giving me - was not even filled in competely. tried to pass it off to me as part of a 10 min parents even meeting. All emphasis on me doing more practice with ds all they would do would be a little teaching assistant support in school. I had highlighted concerns but none acknowledged not proposed assessments. DS really struggles to read but show a list of words from the same book can pick out the word you ask for? I am well and truely hacked off so spoke to a local school for the deaf today and they suggested along with the audiology appt that we are waiting for I look at Speach and language assessment. The authority here is notoriously bad a providing this so am considering paying for a private assessment. but dont want to go down that line until I know there is some benefit. Dont want to discuss with the school because as far as I am concerned they are a waste of space. DS Teacher is quite good so am really surpised at this. His maths is ok, but there are enough other clues to there being an issue somewhere. gets really distracted at time, likes rough play, stumbles and falls for periods of time then is ok.

should not be a question mark after pick out the word you ask for. Also notice he often leans into friends when talking.

I was wondering what clues you would expect a school to pick up on if a child had glue ear.

or a problem that would require assessment by a speech and language therapist.

I can sympathise with you re: practising at home...it is sooo hard to get my ds to practise the skills you talk about as he finds them so difficult and he is just not interested.he sounds a little like your son at times actually.

i really think a SLT assessment would help you and his school understand more about the support he needs to help him learn and to get the most out of school (socially etc)

We see children like this alot....we are child development specialists and even though we are called speech and language therapists, alot of our work centres on developing other skills e.g.Attention as it is so important for learning/communication.

As you said you are sure something is an issue somewhere....i think an SLT would be a great person to look at all his behaviours and medical history and then advise you

You can go to your GP and ask to be referred for speech and language therapy....You could even refer him yourself (your health visitor/GP would have the number,or look it up under 'children's therapy services' in your area)You shouldnt have to wait too long for an assessment...and you def wont get anything if you dont try/ask!

It is up to you whether you want to choose a private therapist but you could get him referred on the NHS while you make your mind up.

It is so hard and such a worry when you feel like all the pressure is on you, and you do what you can but they still seem so far behind...i feel bad sometimes.There is no magic wand though.I have to remind myself to not look at 'where he is at' but 'where he is going'...so if your ds is recognising words that is great ...go from there!

It is hard to ignore where you think he 'should be at' in terms of his reading etc but if you can i think he will notice and feel less pressure.

what a long post...some of it is from me as a speechie...but mostly it's mum stuff.

hth x

I'm a SALT too (Hi BOT!)
Very very interested in reading and its relationship to S & L.

The best available programme to use (in terms of effectiveness, evidence base, and minimal supervision needed) is Headsprout which is also subject of my MSc.

I've used it on my own dd too with amamzing results.

All the behavioural things you describe like poor attention,poor attention to verbal info, and rough play,history of glue ear and difficulties learning to read,could all alert the teacher.

(hi mooooooondog....i was posting and all the while thinking thank god i covered myself with 'im brand new and mainly a mum'...moondog will be around here somehwere

start my job in a couple of weeks ...mainstream...exited...going to do interactive storytelling ALL THE TIME )

Hi Bot.
Fab advice from you (as always). You're not new, anymore, you've been qualified for oooh, years now eh??

Good luck with the new post.Sounds lovely.

im orf to headsprout now for a bit...thanks.

Thank you both, if the help we get from here on in is as helpful as what you have both given it will help ds no end. I am just fed up because the things that you have both mentioned should have meant that the school could have responded to this issue more quickly. given my concerns the I would not have expected the first time the school to tell me there is an issue is when I get given / fobbed off with a semi completed iep. I am going to have a good look at the beansprout information it looks really interesting. I have been in to see ds teacher again she has apologised for they way the IEP was handled. I am hopefully of there being a satisfactory outcome for ds now it has finally registered just ' practice, practice, practice is not the solution in this instance. Have asked for a speech and language assessment, hopefully wont have to go down the private route. Along with the audiology report we should at least get a better picture of where DS is at. Have tried really hard not to put ds under pressure with reading but it hard to keep it positive he goes into a strop when the books come out.

Honestly now, most additional educational help is a waste of bloody time and energy and mired in meaningless targets and paperwork.
Trust noone.If you want something done, do it yourself.
Headsprout is the best,most enjoyable,most pain free and most effective way to teach reading.

I don't work for them btw.

not officially anyway

I'd love to work for a company as good as Headsprout.
Would be an honour.
What they offer is so much better than the standard crap and guff peddled in schools here that it is actually embarrassing.