ASD SALT Strategies unchanged is it the right therapy?

[2006hildy]

DS aged 6 Dx High functioning Autism delayed expressive language. His speech is similar to a 2 year old and has not really changed since he was 2.

The progress has been so slow the SALT is using her in house Communication Framework as the numbers would be so small on the Standardised tests.

DS has had SALT for over three years but the strategies have hardly changed. I could probably quote one that was used in the first and last reports.

We're in the midst of an appeal for refusal to Statutory Assessment.

SALT is very much against direct SALT intervention. Is it the right therapy?

Soo frustrated.

My Dad was in hospital and the doctor told him he had a kidney infection and asked him to show him where he was in pain.

My Dad showed the doctor who laughed and said 'your kidneys aren't there!'.

He died 10 days later of advanced liver cancer.

There is something to be said for listening to the patient, especially in disciplines where you are relying heavily on professional opinion in the absence of concrete hard evidence.

Why for example, did the LA-employed SALTs discharge my ds and claim his skills were all above average, and the Independent SALT recommend daily group SALT with 1:1 and a dx of a severe language disorder? The two professionals are presumably trained to similar standards and governed by the same professional body?

SALT does work with ASD. It's just the model of delivery doesn't work with ASD.

They key to teaching any child anything really is to have their focus and attention.

SALTs are often found (In my direct experience) spending the full 30mins of a thrice-yearly therapy session, trying to get a disengaged 3yr old (who is flicking a button on a radiator repetatively), to say 'more' to get them to blow more bubbles which they haven't even noticed, let alone shown any interest in.

And, - obviously, that doesn't achieve anything.

And yes. I'd quite like some SALTs to 'specialise' in 'Communication Therapy'.

Thank-you all for your support.

Hi Jabiru, Sorry, yes the SLT definitely said ds's skills are in line with or in advance of the other subjects he has actually been monitored on. I was only going on the P scale results I was given. Not really understanding P scales I wanted someone to give me an indication of whether what I or SLT was thinking is correct. Maybe you can tell me.

I suffer from moderate depression so difficult to have a true grip on things. That?s why I don?t want to bother professionals as they have already commented on my way of thinking in reports which have been offered up to Tribunal.

I am not disagreeing with professional but questioning it to understand it better so that I can work out the bigger picture with the help of MN. I want the professional to be professional and I want to be mum but the tribunal has made me question everything. I know I am an analytical thinker which unfortunately means I have to work out all the nitty gritty which is frustrating to a lot. The papers are full of stories where the professionals have got it wrong. Me questioning it just makes me feel like I am working with the professional rather than against.

I definitely mistrust the professionals collectively as they have told me a pack of lies as per the thread called Great SEN quotations. Many of which I have personally experienced and have been described better than I could.

Hi working9while5, Since posting his stage is more - has been diagnosed with high functioning autism but has the speech of a P5 scale as a 6.7 year old (yr2) since I received a more up to date result. Is this still a significant delay?I keep asking for standardised tests but like you say they are like hens teeth.

I am accumulating all sides of the story to try and make my own conclusions difficult as it is.

Star ? sorry about your dad.

Separate social skills professional is the Autism Advisory Service. They are not that good and they blame it because they have hundreds of people on their caseload. So what! that?s not my problem they should actually be making a difference to my ds but sadly not.

I hope our case is helping others out there.