To be completely exhausted

[CountryMummy1]

Some of you may remember my other threads when I was at my wits end trying to get to the bottom of what was the matter with my 3 year old DD. I felt fobbed off as a neurotic mother even when she started with sleep apnea and going blue in the night. Eventually we saw a fanastic consultant (after paying a fortune on Harley Street) who diagnosed her after playing with her for 10 minutes and she had an adenoidtonsilectomy and grommets inserted the next week. She is like a different child - happier, talking more etc.

However, she still has a speech problem. She was saying nothing at 2 and, even though I self referred her just before her 2nd birthday she has only been seen every 4-5 months. She can say whole sentences now but her pronunciation is very poor and difficult for strangers to understand. I do so much with her as I have always felt that her speech is disordered rather than delayed. I purchased the Nuffield speech program for £500 as I felt this is what she should be following. I sit up for hours at night trying to learn it so I can teach DD the next day. I have a masters in Early years education but my knowledge of speech specifically is fairly limited.

After many letters and phonecalls etc. I finally got her referred to the Nuffield in London. We trekked the 3 hours there and had to stay for 3 days. They confirmed she has a speech disorder and needs weekly therapy. They also said that if I hadn't done as much as I had done with her then she wouldn't have made such good progress.

We are in the middle of applying for an ECH plan. We were turned down for assessment originally so that was another battle. Now they are in the process of assessing her.

I am exhausted. I got back from London 2 hours ago after 3 days down there on my own withstand 3YO and a 14 month old. Tomorrow we have the child psychologist coming round then she has a speech assessment in the afternoon. Thursday she has a place on a 4 week speech program (again after a battle). Friday we are supposed to be going to the seaside for a week so that's another pack to be done.

I can't see the light at the end of this tunnel. My baby is neglected as he is always being dragged to appointments. We are massively in debt after paying for consultations and private speech therapy. I can't get DD settled in nursery as she gets very upset when she can't be understood - this is what prompted me to go down the ECH plan route even though I was told I don't stand a cat in hells chance.

I just feel that we have been let down by the system all the way along and every small achievement is such a battle. I shall be up
Until 2/3am unpacking and form filling before getting up at 6 to start all over again. I'm waiting for the next kick in the teeth- probably the ed psych tomorrow telling me I have royally messed DD up in some way.

I just want to go somewhere where I can rest.

[Tissie]

I am so sorry. It must be hell. It seems that language disorders are always the last to be diagnosed. However, you have struggled on; you have made sure your child is properly diagnosed; you have provided a speech programme and been vindicated. You are a wonderful mother and no professional woud dream of saying otherwise. You are making progress and slowly but surely things will get better. Are there any other mums in your area you could meet up with? I am in Somerset.