just how much do SALTs know?

[eandz]

So we've only had two visits from our SALT and she plans on coming once a week. She wants our DS to go on the social communication route and has decided to send us to a developmental pediatrician (which we are waiting to hear about).

She said she thinks it's just a speech and language impairment, but because our DS has a few odd behaviors that it could be AS.

His non verbal communication is pretty good...as in he can sign to what he wants, and will take you/show you what he wants if you don't get it the first time. He has decent pretend play abilities.

He barely speaks though...although I do have indication that he can.

I don't know if I'm in denial or not, but I do feel like maybe, just maybe I'll be better prepared if I know what his possibilities are. I'm prepared for Autism so far--and I have been for a while.

I'm very impressed by SALT as a profession, just despondant there aren't enough of them for the kids that need it to get regular help. They don't seem to suffer some of the patronising, sweeping grandiose assumption making some of the other professionals can be prone to.

The issue is getting regular access to SALT beyond once in a blue moon diagnositic observations as they are so thin on the ground.

I 'thought' they were rubbish, until I climbed ranks using the complaints procedure and met a few here.

Now I think they are great and know a lot about areas of difficulty and what can be done about it. What most of them lack however, is the skills to suggest HOW it is done effectively.

As a profession I rate them highly. As a profession that has any chance of helping my ds, I would say 'possibly' but not on their own.

But initiating communication, where your ds appears to be at, is something that most good SLTs should be able to deal with.

Having said that, if you can possibly get yourself on a Pyramid PECS course you'll learn life skills for communicating with your ds.

Hi i think that you and me are in the same place!!!
I have been to 1 app to the developmental assessment clinic with my DS as he was reffered because of concerns regarding speech delay poor attention ect

I have just got a letter bk from the consultant sayin "I felt that X had either sever speech and language impairment, secondary socila impariment or social communication disorder.

We have a app 2mrw with the combined clinic to see what they can do for him when it comes to SLT

Look in to this things as when i did it all just "klickt" and i could get way my DS is this way hop this helps a bit

My DSs SALT was the first person to realise he had something more than language delay. They are quite often the first person to point parents in the direction of a DX. Our SALT was lovely, really gently letting me know that DS had issues I should see a paed about when I was still in denial. She introduced DS and I to PECS which was the first thing he did well! and got him to understand the point of communication. I've got loads of respect for her.

EllenJane,

is your whole story on here somewhere? I feel like you've got a lot of depth/knowledge about all of this.

The AS is soo vast and wide, but what I can't really find is the variations/different types of autism that could be the problem.

Will I be able to tell if he's high functioning or not?

Hi eandz. Thanks for your kind words but I only know what has directly affected me really. I was lucky that DS 2, who has HF ASD, went to a fabulous child development special school from age 3 til 5 of which I was a parent governor, which gives you another viewpoint of some of the inside workings. It had 2 part time SALTs, 2 OTs on staff.

Also I made many friends there whose children had a v wide range of disabilities from severe learning difficulties, lower functioning autism Downs and some with MLD who went into MS on school action +. My DS2 went to MS at 5 and got a statement just before he was 6. He was on early years action + at the child dev school.

I went on an earlybird course with the NAS which is for parents of children recently DX with ASD and it was very useful but I found I'd received most of the info already at the child dev school.

After my DS3 went to school I did some supply TA at the special school but now I support a child with ASD and dyspraxia in a MS school.

I've only recently discovered MN but it feels like coming home.

Welcome EllenJane!,

I've been here for a couple years but only on this board a few weeks now. I'm getting used to the idea of having a SN child and I guess I'm just trying to figure out how I'm going to react to the news...whatever news I'm likely to get. I'm pretty sure it'll be somewhere on the AS, just don't know where which is what is causing me all sorts of anxiety.

How can they tell between high functioning and low functioning?

Sorry eandz, just read your other post. I couldn't tell age 3 where my DS was on the spectrum. He seemed just like many of the other children at the child dev school. It was only once he was bring assessed by the EP and started getting what's called a really spiky profile that I could tell he had a normal IQ. In areas where his autism affects him like theory of mind where he just has no empathy and can't put himself in others shoes he has problems. In areas where this isn't an issue like maths he is a little above average for his age. He learnt to read at an average age of 5 to 6 but he couldn't talk til he was over 4!

It's just so hard to tell what the future will hold. I cope by just looking towards the next milestone, whether that's starting school or being toilet trained ( still working on that one) or now, starting secondary school in Sept. I look no further ahead than the next year of so because I just don't know and can't guess and there's no point worrying about it so long as I'm doing my best for him at the moment. (and getting support in place and keeping it there!)

Sorry, am I ranting? I do feel passionately about him and I'm really enjoying feeling that my experiences might help someone else. I helps it all to seem worthwhile ITSWIM.

starlight

can you give me examples? i am ever soo confused.

Star
also, do you know what the other track he could have been put on is?

but how do i know if N is acting out of social needs or biological needs? he'll dance for a cookie.

So will we have to have his iq checked too?

blasted internet. i was under the assumption that they needed iq scores or something.

i just wish i knew what was going on, what the process was really going to be and what my options are from here.

Thanks Starlight, it's an excellent site!

I have to agree with those who have praised SALT's. My daughter's is fantastic, she started off working with her each week outside of school, not at home though, as my DD isn't happy when the professionals dealing with her have come to our house. My DD is HF AS with selective mutism. I have been really impressed with the way she has worked with my DD, now she goes into school each week and also helps the teachers understand my DD better. After each session she then rings me to provide feed back. My DD is very gradually starting to speak a few words when in school, only to certain people that she feels comfortable with, but to her that's a massive step.
The SALT also gave the teaching staff ideas to use non verbal forms of communications with my daughter, but it also made some of them reconsider their ideas that my daughter was being deliberately rude, defiant and stubborn.