expressive language disorder

[Rillyrillygoodlooking]

Hi, I have posted a few times here about DS, but quite a while ago. There has been ongoing debate since DS was about 1 as to whether he is on the autistic spectrum. He is also hard of hearing.

We have since moved countries and the professionals here who see him the most don't think he is. Although he does have social and communication difficulties.

So far, they have concentrated on things apart from speaking, as he does communicate verbally and can definitely make himself understood. However it was on the last observation that the Deaf Advisor said he seems to have some "word processing difficulties". I have been saying this for a while.

A very short google later, after a wave of panic about DS starting school in October, I think he could possibly have expressive language disorder.

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge of this?

I could have probably been rather less longwinded sorry!

Ds has this. It was hidden by his ASD. I have no idea what it is or what to do about it but sure enough I'll become an expert soon (as applied to ds).

Two things already strike me as important. First, learning to read visually supports language structure. Second, getting an independent SALT with experience of such things but who also understands ASD.

Thanks for your reply Starlight. What do you mean by "learning to read visually"? Sorry, i can't think straight as it is 1.20am here!

DS has learnt how to spell words he likes, and loves his magnetic letters, but I cannot get him to have a conversation. He just can't seem to get the words out. Then when we have a similar conversation later, he will repeat phrases that I have said IYSWIM. He struggles with spontaneous language (if there is such a phrase), and still doesn't understand personal pronouns. eg he wanted me to put his magnetic letters on the fridge so he said "me do it" and pushed me towards the fridge. But because he has learned to say "I want to watch fireman sam" then they think he knows pronouns. The majority of the time he says "Do you want to watch fireman sam" if he wants to watch it.

Sorry I am waffling but I am feeling such a wave of panic about it.

I mean that learning to read, gives the child a chance to visualise the order of language so they aren't just relying on what they hear, which I should imagine is an additional challenge for your ds.

Hi good-looking,DS matches the same profile and structures the language the same way, has asd dx by nhs and sld by private paed.

What has helped us lots is reading lost of posts on here posted by very intelligent and knowledgeable mother called lingle Where other very knowledgable people have contributed as well some salts.

Starlight and goodllokng, I suggest you get your DS reading rods where the words are colour coded and you can help structure the sentence correctly, DS can sight read a lot but I still encourage blending where is he at cvc level.

Okay, I think the reading thing is just a little step too far at this point.

You can share sweets. Get him to say 'for you, for me, for you, for me'

When he has grasped this securely, you can share the sweets and be can watch a few goes and then you can switch, correcting him.

Once you have that you can have the sweets in a pile. You both take turns saying 'my turn' as you take one.

Once this is grasped (and it coukd take days, even weeks at each stage of doing it regularly) you can ask him to direct si he has to say everything i.e my turn, your turn, my turn, your turn.'

Then you can have a pile of sweets each and take turns eating them both saying 'I'll eat mine' until grasped and eventually move onto him directing I'll eat mine and you eat yours.

Excellent ideas starlight, wish I knew this last year.

Tha reading rods however can take him to the next level. DS used to say can I help you when needed help, but now has corrected himself with help of reading rods and says it correctly can you help me. Touch your chests when saying me so he has the visual and pint to him for you.

All language units and schools I visited used the colour coding for words to enable correct sentence structure. Reading rods were suggested by the ican school I visited and it's helps for visual learners and sld.

Thanks for your ideas, much appreciated. We have one to ones every week with a teacher of the deaf and do a lot of work with turn taking. It involves saying my turn your turn etc. I think I need to do more work at home to help him.
DH thinks that DS would get it eventually. But I need to do something before he starts school. I am dreading it.

My DS was assessed by SALT (after much fighting for everything) just a few months ago. Im trying for a DX of ASD, and the pead finally thought a SALT assesment might help....
The assesment was in two parts, and at the end of it the results showed Expressive language was 2 1/2 years behind.
He "passed" the others (which is a bit annoying for the ASD fight although good obviously) but explained that she would send out some work to help with the Expressive [delay]. she sent some work home finally and i presume at the same time sent some to school.
ask if there is anything that you can be doing with your DS at home, any work they can give you, and ask at any settings he is at , school etc. if they have any teachers that do these kinds of groups or 1-2-1's
When i told school, they said that his usual TA for the groups he goes to (not statemented or anything, just extra help, small groups of about 5/6 kids a couple of times a week) does these kinds of classes, and that if there is space he will be added into the group.
she has since left, and i have no idea if he still gets this support or not....but school is a different story hahaha

good luck and i hope you get sorted hun xx