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Original poster

I have a 4.5 year old with a language delay. Anybody else?

33 replies

azroc · 19/05/2006 17:42

School seems more and more imminent and I'm just a bit concerned. He has had some speech therapy and is due to have some more, but my hopes of him "catching up" before he starts school are looking less likely. Would be nice to hear from others in a similar situation.

OP posts:
Saker · 19/05/2006 21:29

Hi

My Ds2 has dyspraxic type symptons,autistic tendencies and language difficulties. He started at a special needs unit attached to a mainstream school in Jan. So I am not in exactly the same situation but didn't want to leave you without a response.

What is the professional advice with regard to your son? Has anyone talked about the possibility of getting extra support at school? Is there any possibility you could delay his entrance by a year (some LEAs may allow this)? Have you talked to the school about your concerns? I would definitely speak to them if not and try and get a feel for how they will cope and what they can do for him if he does struggle. You may want to consider other schools if you don't feel they will be good.

Do you feel the problem is just with his expressive language (ie what he says) or do you think he has problems understanding as well?

Sorry for all the questions, just trying to make some possible suggestions - you may have considered all this already.

Thomcat · 19/05/2006 21:35

My dd has Down's syndrome. Speech very much delayed. She just about uses 3 words, as in she isn't using sentences. Limited vocab. Not walking either. Big school starts this september. Is you son statemented? Do you use signs, like makaton or sign-a-long?

Original poster
azroc · 20/05/2006 09:07

thanks for your replies. I think it's speech that's the problem on the whole, although he is going to have a developmental check at hv's suggestion. I think he will get some extra help at school - I've filled in a form about it but am still waiting to hear. The school itself is excellent, very friendly village school and my older 2 are there already. I suppose I'm just worried about sending him out into the big wide world, worried that people won't understand him and that this will be upsetting for him, terrified that he will be teased... I don't think delaying school by a year would help in the current situation as it may cause problems later, with him being a different age from his classmates and doing everything a year later. I really wish that all kids started school later though, like in a lot of Europe, 6 or 7 is much more sensible. Don't have the time or money to emigrate though...

OP posts:
Socci · 20/05/2006 09:37

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Socci · 20/05/2006 09:38

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Original poster
azroc · 20/05/2006 10:16

Socci, my ds didn't put two words together until he was over 3. His progress has been good since then, for him, but catching up still seems a long way off. By the way, what is ABA?

OP posts:
Socci · 20/05/2006 10:22

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littlerach · 20/05/2006 10:28

Azroc, DD1 has verbal dyspraia, nd had had SALT since just before her 3rd bday.

we were worried about her starting school, but she has done fine. her speech ahs improved no end, and she is much more coherent now.

She has had her SALT go into svholl to help, and the TA has also spent some time on a 1 to 1 basis.

She has also learnt to read and spell v well, which is something that we were warned could take a long time, as she pronounces te sound wrong, so could ford it hard to spell it. But she is in the top group, so no worries.

We had a long chat with bth the reception teacher and the head before school started, and they were v helpful. School has really helped her.

Original poster
azroc · 20/05/2006 13:14

Thanks Littlerach, that's reassuring.

Sorry, Thomcat, didn't reply to you earlier. We don't use signs - I did consider it but not seriously enough until it was a bit late. My son is not statemented.

Socci - ABA sounds useful, nice to know there are helpful strategies out there, also good to know Americans use things like that and not just awful drugs which surely benefit nobody but the pharmaceutical companies. Have you seen those dreadful ads on the nick jr website? Scary!

OP posts:
joanna4 · 20/05/2006 22:14

I support children in mainstream school one has verbal dyspraxia one general s/l difficulties.
All the class together learn makaton signs and both children have slowly turned from being 2 children with a multitude of problems to 2 children who integrate and fit so well into class structure.Although learning is very slow and intensive at times perseverence and a co ordinated learning package have helped no end.Dont despair school could well be the best thing to happen to your children.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/05/2006 08:40

azroc,

Re your comment:-
"I think he will get some extra help at school - I've filled in a form about it but am still waiting to hear".

Never assume anything!. I would find out some more asap about what help the school are going to provide. It sounds to me like he will be placed on either School Action or School Action Plus. Both of these individual education plans are only as good as the people implimenting them and at worst they are about as much use as the paper they are written on. He will not get much extra help on either plan, perhaps a couple of hours per week at best or working in small groups. It may help him, it may not.

Applying for a Statement is something you may also need to consider at some stage. Would see what the results of the developmental check are first off.

emmalou78 · 21/05/2006 14:13

Azroc.
Its NEVER too late to start using signs, your SALT can show you a few its quite simple once you get the hang of it...

Also as attilla... has said nevr assume anything, my son is almost 4, Autistic and barely verbal, I almost had to declare all out war with our ED Psych to get a request for statutory assessment put in, now we're in the midst of said assessment and not expecting anything above the bare minimum in terms of support for him, even though I requested the maximum, additional SALT and SEN over mainstream..

I hope the developmental review your HV is sorting out for you goes well.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 21/05/2006 14:15

Azroc - how is your DS's hearing?

joanna4 · 21/05/2006 15:39

Signing can be really intersting I learnt mine over 2 modules of a full day it is so benefital too.

Original poster
azroc · 21/05/2006 17:07

Thanks all for your replies. joanna4, the class you are working with sounds great.

Perhaps I'll look into signing. My youngest is 10 months old so would be good for her too. Add dd1 and ds1 and we'll have a cool new family language!

Does anybody know if baby signing is the same as ordinary sign language?

CristinaTheAstonishing, I took him for a hearing test just over 2 years ago as i wanted to eliminate a hearing problem first. He was all clear then, but just recently i have started to wonder again so have requested another test.

Another thing about ds which I don't know if anybody else has come across is that as a baby he dribbled excessively and continually - we used to get through 20+ bibs a day. Don't know if this means he has a muscle weakness. There are some sounds he just can't make.

OP posts:
joanna4 · 21/05/2006 18:19

Ask the speech therapist for exercises to strengthen those mouth muscles-you can get a pot of bubbles to practice blowing,blowing or planting kisses,smiles and frowns alternate there is no end to what you could do.
Baby sign is like makaton but bsl is different although some signs are universal.Even with makaton some people differ from sign to sign.So baby sign would be great so even your babe could communicate then its win win.

Original poster
azroc · 21/05/2006 18:43

So...[blank face]!...what's Makaton?

OP posts:
joanna4 · 21/05/2006 18:50

Hope I am allowed to link

www.makaton.org/

littlerach · 21/05/2006 18:52

Azroc, DD1 had terrible dribblines too.
And she could never do a kissy mouth, it was more of a pout.
And she can't screw up her nose either.

She was a bit prem, and had no sucking reflex, so I am sure there is a link somewhere.

joanna4 · 21/05/2006 18:52

Ok so that didnt work but the address is the same if you type it in.
When i first started to use makaton the children i support only knew 3 signs that was in october now they have a using level of at least 35 signs.
It has made a huge difference.

nikkie · 21/05/2006 19:18

Your son sounds similar to my dd2 she will be 5 in September and starts reception. She had measles as a toddler and this caused problems with her hearing (not sure how much)which by the time we finally got her to cooperate for a test she was 3 1/2 and it was almost normal (now clear).She used to dribble a lot but now only if she has a cold and she slurps to control it.Her speech is unclear to strangers but has improved massivly in the last year but it stands out a lot with her peers.She has SALT but only once a term(and I have to nag for an appointment Angry).As far as I am aware she won't get any help in school (can see SALT but I requested appointments outside school so I can keep track of it).She is currently at 2 nurserys and has an IEP at 1 but not the other (which is the school one)as she doesn't need it?

Sorry for such a long post Smile

nikkie · 21/05/2006 19:20

Forgot to say I used to sign a lot with her and it eased her frustration when she was having a rough time

nikkie · 21/05/2006 19:21

It was suggested she could have her tonsils and adonoids(sp?) out to see if it helped with the dribblig .

CristinaTheAstonishing · 22/05/2006 20:49

Good luck with the hearing test.

mizmiz · 22/05/2006 20:51

Azroc,have a 5.5 year old dd with lang. disorder and delay.
Am also a speech and language therapist which is more than a little ironic!