Occupational Therapy

[Soutty]

Hi

My DS has been diagnosed with a severe language disorder and there are some possible ASD and definite sensory issues going on too which he's waiting for assessment on.

In the meantime, I have been recommended a local sensory clinic. When I phoned up they said the initial consultation would be £455 to assess the type of treatment that would be best for him and then £70 a session thereafter.

How useful is OT in your opinion? Is it essential for children who have sensory issues? We are shelling out so much for VBA and speech therapy already.

Are you in the UK? DS2 sees an OT through the NHS. He has loads of sensory issues, but to be fair, they don't seem to address them much. The OT has been very helpful in getting some home adaptations for him though. She has also helped with some exercises and other things.

Seems like an awful lot of money...

Doing either sensory integration training or retained reflex therapy or a neuro development program will help your child enormously.

There are a number of brilliant OTs offering stuff like this. For example Hemispheres

If you PM me which one you're thinking of going to, I can tell you if I've heard of it.

But, if you've found a good one, and can afford it, I would totally recommend it.

Triggles, he wouldn't get anything on the NHS. He was assessed as fine by NHS Paed and SALT, just a bit of speech delay they said, his receptive language was fine, turns out they only tested his single word understanding.

I will apply for a statement and then he will hopefully be entitled to something, although if the experts are anything like the munters he's seen so far on the NHS we will probably still have to keep forking out.

Goodness, what a mess for you to have to deal with!! So sorry!! Is it possible to get him seen by a different paed and salt through the NHS with some consultation involved with the private paed you are seeing so that he can get some of his treatment through the NHS? (I am hopelessly naive in this, so wasn't sure how it all works when you have to go private)

Well the private Salt asked my permission to speak the local speech and language department and ask them who is supposed to be in charge of DS. I suspect that they will slowly chug into action when he gets a statement. If DS gets diagnosed with SPD or asd when he sees the private paed in July (long waiting list, seems I'm not the only desperate parent) then presumably she will contact the community developmental paed and give him a kick up the bum too.

I feel for the people who have no choice but to put their children in the hands of people who haven't got a clue.

We've had private sensory OT assessment and treatment. Similar costs to you. It has been hugely helpful and the report itself has helped open doors in terms of understanding and acceptance from NHS/LA as to the range of his difficulties.

Oh, that's good then, as hopefully then they can get him into the NHS system for SALT and such, so you're not having to pay it all out of pocket.