need a great SALT in the central/NW London area for 3 yo DS with language disorder HELP

[berrymummy]

DS has just turned 3 and for a while Ive been worried his language development isn't like other kids- he learns phrases and reuses them to communicate rather than freely put words together... hes started putting some basic stuff together but wont answer questions open ended questions and always needs a choice etc... is now having so many tantrums as think it must be his frustration with speech. Behaviour at pre-school is quite defiant too. DH and I are really worried about prognosis as were desperate to be able to TALK to our little boy rather than just hear learnt phrases... very sad. Were thinking of ramping up his speech therapy to help as much as possible but his current SALT can only do once a week so were looking for a new one, any recommendations rather than just a website would be soooo useful, please help! Just to clarify hes go a language rather than speech disorder i.e he pronounces words totally fine and had a large vocab but just cant manipulate language on his own unless its nouns... no preposition understanding and verbs are tough:( Anyone else with DC in this situation?

Hi

My son had same issues. We had private speech therapy but in all honesty found the NHS speech therapist in our area the best. Since it's not private (and therefore no additional cost) and, you can self-refer for NHS speech therapy you may want to give it a go. Many people rate Ruth Jacobson quite highly although we have not used her nor any of her associates. A good source for excellent speech therapists can be local schools. You could call the American School if that's close to you as I know they have quite a good therapist who works with many of the families there. Hopes this helps.

Ruth Jacobs' practice in Golders Green? Have you looked at Christopher Place? HTH

Jackie Harland at the London Children's Practice is superb (There's a clinic at Wimpole st and one in North London if you google). I can't wait to be working once more so I can afford a block of sessions with her.

I rec her as my own son's issues are to do with auditory processing and receptive language, something easy to either miss or gloss over. She really picked up a LOT of useful detail that has been so helpful when she assessed him for tribunal and gave me lots of hints and tips that have really helped both myself and school.

Thank you so much to everyone who replied- I didn't even see that I had replies untill JamMac PM me. JamMac how do you self refer with NHS Ive been contemplating NHS speech therapy but couldn't face the endless assessments for my son again as hes so fed up of doctors offices and just wants to play! If it isnt a long process Id definitely try for NHS as the cost of private sessions is really hitting us hard now and i really have a gut feeling that its not helping him just like you pointed out zzzz as it just seems so repetitive and he still doesn't get it just copies which is pretty useless :(
zzzz thanks so much for the 'hope' and your sons story! I really need some positive prognosis as im terrified what the future holds for him and no one seems to be able to tell me how to really help him apart from bog standard speech therapy which to be honest we've been doing for 3 months now and yes he's improved but I think its just a natural improvement and you seem to think the same. When did your son visibly improve with spontaneous language? Im so desperate to talk to him its killing me inside that he just doesn't seem to get it... when I tell him to "ask mummy" for something he just says "ask mummy' so heartbreaking:(
JamMac Ill call the American school as we were considering sending Ds there anyway in 2 years (hes just turned 3 but is september birthday so thank god has an extra year of nursery almost) is the support there good? and are they more understanding of these issues as ive been shocked with the english system and how little they know or want to know/help....
Bochead we go to Jackie Harland at the Childrens Practice but have only seen her once as shes so busy and so are using a different therapist who works for her but Im not convinced as I too have a feeling my DS has a auditory processing problem but therapist doesn't seem to get it or know much about it which is worrying me- will try and make another appointment with Jackie!!!!
Shes soooo busy but yes I thought she was great when I met her and she was optimistic! will try see if I can see her again but sensitive issue given were seeing a therapist who works for her...

Second Jackie Harland's children's clinic. Ds went to the one in Wimpole street once a week for 6 months made a huge difference to his speech disorder

Not sensitive issue at all! Not only is this your child, you're paying good money for sessions with someone who she passed you on to. Why shouldn't you query how it's going and what else should be considered?

Jackie Harland. Ruth Jackobs- may be, if you get to her directly, otherwise, I wouldn't bother.