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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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:
Original poster
azroc · 22/05/2006 21:25

mizmiz - no worries with appointments and waiting lists then, you can just do it yourselfGrin. No being fobbed off as "just the parent" either. I feel a bit left out sometimes. Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
azroc · 22/05/2006 21:27

So, can anybody recommend any good books on the subject? Not sure where to start, and for once the library doesn't seem to be much help.

OP posts:
mizmiz · 22/05/2006 21:29

Azroc,I do a lot with her (and have just finished today's entry in the pournal I keep of her progress,but I am her mother not a therapist and I have to remind myself of this.
Am waiting to see if she will get into a language unit.

Some excellent advice and support here btw.
The Special Needs board is a brilliant source of info with some very together posters.

Be polite,be calm,be informed and keep copies of everything and notes(brief) of all meetings,phonecalls and verbally agreed strategies.

It will save a lot of hassle in future and show people you are not to be messed with.

XX

mizmiz · 22/05/2006 21:32

Not clear of the issues here Azroc,as there are reveral things you mention.
Neither am I in work at the moment so can't think off hand but I can get back to you re a good basic book to look at.

CristinaTheAstonishing · 22/05/2006 21:35

An excellent resource is \link{http://www.speech-language-therapy.com/sitemap.htm\here}

mizmiz · 22/05/2006 21:43

Am looking through what I have here Azroc,but am wary of recommending as don't really know what would be appropriate without seeing the child.
Have a look at the following sites,which are the leading people (in UK at least)for speech/lang. difficulties.

www.afasic.org.uk

www.ican.org.uk

www.rcslt.org.uk

Book wise...

Listen to your child:A Parent's guide to children's language
David Crystal (Penguin)

Helpme speak:A parent's guide to speech and language therapy
Jenny Barrett (Souvenir Press)

A really excellent pack has been developed by ICAN (leading charity for kids with comm. issues) and Tesco which is available for a few quid on the ICAN website (see above) if you want a clear and easy guide to what should be happening at what age and how exactly speech and lang. therapists can help/

Maternaltouch · 25/05/2006 09:19

Azroc, you do not have to emigrate to delay your child starting school until 6 or 7. You have a perfect right to home educate until whatever age you choose. Have a look at www.education-otherwise.org

In my personal experience sending my language delayed child to school was the worst thing I ever did and I do so wish I had known about the legality and the joy of home educating much sooner. He suffered terribly at the hands of teacher, dinner ladies and children at the same school my other child was blissfully happy in. It was on paper a "good" school, great Ofsted, linked to our church etc. But they were absolutely terrible with him and I took him out when he was 9 which was about 5 years later than I should have done it. Sorry to sound so negative but I was so desperate for him to be "included" and "normal" that I put him into a place which nearly destroyed his self esteem. I don't think it was a very different school to any other up and down the country. There are THOUSANDS of parents home educating their children with local groups which meet across the country so there are support and socialisation possibilities out there. Just don't do what I did and blindly assume this is the best environment for a language delayed child . Also do not assume they will get much help, my DS was too intelligent/high performing to qualify for a statement and so his "help" consisted of being taken out once a week to do stuff he could already do. His teachers totally refused to accept, once he could talk, that he had other needs such as needing visual reference and he got bullied by everyone, staff and students alike. The Special Needs co-ordinator loved him to bits but because of budget constraints she could do very little and she told me I was 100% doing the right thing when I took him out of school. I have never regretted it and neither has he.

emmalou78 · 25/05/2006 10:05

Azroc, do you have a contact number for your speech therapist? could you ring and arrange for a home visit so you can discuss your concerns with her, or your Health Visitor at the developmental check which I hope is soon!

How far is his language affected? is it JUST his expressive language, or does he have problems with understanding as well. This could all be linked in with his hearing, what concerns do you have in that respect, does he ask you to repeat yourself, sit near the TV, mishear things..

The form you've filled in, what is it? is it a request to the LEA for statutory assessment? or something specific to the school?

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