How would a SALT help my son?

[smugtandemfeeder]

My DS is 3 and has a diagnosis of childhood anxiety. His speech meets the normal milestones but he seems very behind other boys his age. He has very repetitive language. All of the psychs and other professionals I have seen so far tell me his speech is normal. He is mostly held back by anxiety and is often too scared to talk. At home though he talks using a lot of jargon and repetitions. Would a SALT help him and how would they do this? How do I convince professionals he needs this help and can it be paid for VIA medical insurance?

Psychologists and other professionals often don't really know how to assess language. Using jargon and repetitive language as a main mode of communication is not typical.

Speech and language therapists can assess your child's language and compare his communication with other children. They look in much greater detail at language understanding, spoken language and how language is used than psychological professionals whose tests don't always separate out these areas. They are often important in identifying language and communication features that are heavily associated with other diagnoses that can cause children to be selectively mute. This an include Specific Language Impairment and Autism Spectrum Conditions.

Does your child only speak in certain situations? Some speech and language therapists treat "selective mutism" where children choose not to speak in certain contexts. Maggie Johnson is one of the experts in this field in this country.

You can usually self-refer to your local SALT service, or you can ask a health visitor or GP to refer for you. If you want a private service, you can find a therapist online at www.helpwithtalking.org (I think it's .org but this won't let me open a new browser to check) or googling ASLTIP.

Thank you that is exactly what I wanted to know. My local SALT service says I can only self refer if that is the only service I require. As we have a CAF process started I have to wait for that apparently. Seems ruddy stupid but thats what it says.

I have a private psych assessing ds but he seemed happy with hsi speech so not sure how to pursaude him to refer to SALT and if medical ins would pay. Only under duress I fear.

We have medical insurance which is paying some costs.

They tell me they dont cover autism but I have read some threads on here I think where people say they have had SALT covered on medical insurance.

Will add to my list of things to investigate!!!!