Why such a discrepancy between Private and NHS?

[littlelegsmum]

Dd was assessed privately by an independent SALT, who used CELF 3. His tests picked up all dds problems that we see and we have recently had the NHS appointment through.

The first appointment was purely a gathering background information appointment. She said we would not be doing any more assessments as the one shed had was really good and thorough.

Fast forward to appointment this week, where we were told they would do some different games with her and work out where to take it after there.

When we walked in, a different lady said that they were using a more up to date assessment tool (CELF 4) and although dd had done these things before, they wouldn't all be the same.

SALT did just 3 parts of the CELF 4 and it took half an hour, much less time than the CELF 3 took and then told me she asked me how I thought it had gone.

I told her that dd struggled with before and after, she she struggled to use anything other than basic everyday words to form a sentence and obviously needed visual helpers for things.

She told me the before and after was a concern and I should work with her but that she had no concerns. . This is where I'm confused as she was satisfied that dd made sentences with everyday words as she only struggled with words that children don't hear very often.

She was really blasé and she made me feel like I'd wasted her time - how can the opinions be so different when dd clearly struggles. What can I do now?

Have you had a written report form the nhs salt? I always find it's easier to challenge something if you have it in written form - you can then compare it with the previous report and pick out the inconsistencies which you can then ask nhs salt to justify clarify for you.

Not had a report as yet (but it was only during the week), however, I expect to receive one. If not, I'll call her and ask her to send me one. I think I should of been more insistent when she was speaking to me but I have this weird 'thing' about authority and questioning what they're saying.

I would also ask your SLT why they have used an outdated test.

Do you mean the CELF 3 is the outdated test?

The previous nhs person knew which test it was as was happy with it. She even made a comment about it being so thorough and they seemed happy with the feedback.

Not every s/lt department has the money to buy revised versions of tests (of which there are many.) They have ot make do with what they have and there is nothing wrong with an older version of a standardised test.

A private s/lt wants the work.
A publiuc sector one is drowning in work and has limited time.

That's an important consideration.

That was my way of thinking too, moon.

Does anything found (or not) on a CELF 4 override previous findings (ie the CELF 3 in this case?)

It's just a slighter more updated version of a standardised test.
I regularly use older versions of the sorts of assessments commonly used in s/lt departments mainly because they
a.) are all we have got and
b.) there isn't £500 spare to buy a new one

There are literally hundreds of language assessments out there.
Assessment is important but what is most important is the intervention you put into place after an assessment and ensuring it is SMART.

I could (and have) spent hours assessing and writing detailed reports nad recommendations. Not much good if then filed away to be put in a filing cabinet for 10 years as they often are.

Ask yourself who the assessment is for and what will be done as result of it. Far more important than getting hung up on what version of a nassessment it is.

Thanks moon, that's what I need to focus on now. Guess I was wondering if the private slt could be belittled by the nhs slt - which is what I think is going to happen.

The high school she is due to start in September is happy to plan an iep round recommendations of the private slt report. When they get the nhs one, she'll get that taken away.

Just a little update:

Dd had the second half of an assessment yesterday and the slt seemed to have done a 360 and now agrees with us. Not sure if it was just because of yesterday's tests but I asked for dd to leave the room so I could speak openly.

Her words were "I don't know how dd has managed to get through infants/juniors without support" hmmmm she said dd had limited understanding and her memory problem is a big problem for her (tell me something I don't know) dd also couldn't explain her reasons when needed.

Slt said she didn't want to write a report and 'write her off' so to speak as she has lots of lovely qualities, which she does. I just asked her to be honest and I am only interested in getting dd help/support in school so hopefully she will write it as it is.

It's quite bittersweet really as I'm really not sure if I should be aiming for more 1-1 support as dd is quite complex