Which SALT assessments?

[KOKOagainandagain]

I am arranging private SALT assessment for DS (not requested by the LEA as part of SA) and would like to know specifically what tests I should request. Already going to request CELF-4 - any others? Some stammering but no language delay so the best assessments for AS please.

Also have seen wildly different fees - from £100 for 60-90 mins for a local therapist to £1,500 for assessment by Janet O'Keefe plus £1,500 for her to attend a tribunal as an expert witness (if required). Is it worth paying more?

You should not specify which tests you want carried out - this is the SLT's clinical role and he/she will decide what your child's presentation warrants.

I'm an independent SLT and TBH I would not accept a referral where the parent was being this directive - in much the same way I wouldn't expect go to the doctor and tell him what I want him to prescribe.

Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear - but it might be helpful for you to know how your request would come across.

In answer to the question about paying more - it is important to get somebody specialised in the area you are concerned about. I don't know where you are but my going rate is about £70 p/h and that's about right here in the north.

I don't think that last rate is very good value. You can get a quality tribunal experienced SALT for around half that and from someone who will see your chikd in school and poss home.

star I read another thread that said that SOS!SEN have a list of tribunal experienced SALTs and so I am going to phone them.

patty I think you have misunderstood me as my search is rather more complex than usual - DS passes for normal and this has meant that the correct assessments were considered to be unnecessary and so not conducted (eg LEA EPs and NHS SALTs.) DS was not diagnosed as dyslexic, dyscalculic, dyspraxic, ADD etc until age 11 when a private, parent-directed, EP assessment was done. I have particular needs - the assessment has to be thorough (ie full CELF-4 rather than only isolated sub-tests) which I assume will take longer and therefore be more expensive. I also want a detailed report that specifies and quantifies if required and a tribunal experienced SALT who may be required to be an expert witness.

I think you will find that most of the posters on here are well aware that we are the most important 'experts' on our DC and that we are our child's only advocate. We often began by delegating the well-being of our DC to the decison-making of others but bitterly regret this have learned to be 'directive' as a result of our well-founded concerns being dismissed and having to fight to have our childrens' needs met.

Patty, Whilst I absolutely agree with you about how things should be, after a lot of experience in receieving services both state and private, I can't help but have sympathy for what keeping is saying.

IME there are too many charletons passing off themselves as experts and more competent than they are, preying on desperate parents. I would put someone charging £3k for an assessment and tribunal attendance as one of those, regardless of their actual skills too.

Keeponkeepingon (and SWA) I hear what you are saying but surely it is a case of approaching different SLTs and seeing which therapist you feel you can trust? Ask for their input without being prescriptive, and see if they are on your wavelength? Good SLTs (especially indie) are used to hearing parents' frustrations from being fobbed off and banging their head against a brick wall to get their childs' needs met. In fact My SLT has been the only person who understood, she was the one who warned me that NHS SALT assessment would fail to detect dd's significant language problems. She was right. So don't lose hope there are good therapists out there. Due to your son's age and difficulties it sounds as if a very wide ranging assessment is required, a good therapist should see this too. If they don't make what you feel is an appropriate recommendation regarding assessment, move on to the next therapist until you find one that does.

HW
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