Results of SALT assessment

[confusedofengland]

Hi, I hope you don't mind me posting on here, I am, as my name suggests, rather confused & I thought some of you lovely people may have experiences/opinions that could help me make sense of things. I have also posted this on Behaviour/Development.

DS2 is nearly 28 months & has very little speech (about 10 words, plus some animal/vehicle/general sounds). He had an SALT assessment today & I don't really know what to think, whether it went well or not!

The SALT said DS has a fairly severe language delay, as well as some delay in play skills (eg in pretend play he will give a pretend cup of tea to a person not a teddy). He will have further sessions in September/October to give a fuller picture as to whether the delays are wider spread.

She did say that as he hit other developmental milestones on the late side, it was quite possible that his speech was just following this pattern & could well catch up of its own accord.

She also said that he attempts to communicate well (making sounds & reaching to ask for things) & has good eye contact when asking for something, and that he's made good progress in the last few months, so that's positive.

I just can't work out whether it is a good thing that she thinks he is behind but will catch up in his own time, or whether this is actually a developmental delay without those words being used & if so, will he ever catch up or always be behind?

In my heart, I've always felt that he's slower than other DC his age to pick things up, so she confirmed that. However, IME, he also catches up eventually & now does a lot of things that he was late doing at the same level as others his age eg he refused to self-feed at all until 18 months, but now at 28 months he self-feeds all food, uses spoon & fork as well as others his age (although cornflakes with milk are messy )

I also feel like it's partly down to me that he is like this. So, for example, when we were at home after the appointment, I got out a doll's highchair & cot & DS played quite happily at feeding/putting to bed/giving dummy to/kissing dolly/changing nappy, with just a very minimal prompt from me. We are currently living with my parents & didn't really have that kind of thing at the old house, so he didn't have a chance to play it, so maybe it follows that he didn't do it for SALT?

Does anybody have any tales of a DC that was delayed/slower to pick things up? Did they catch up? Feeling &

Hi does anybody have any thoughts please? Just can't get my head straight atm

Hi, it's hard to say without him being referred on which it sounds like he needs - by a paediatrician I think. Don't blame yourself for anything!

Salt will not diagnose a developmental delay but you should get a written report from them.

Sorry just come back from salt too and a bit sad about my sons report. Will reply more after a cup of tea

How did you get referred to salt? Was this the first time they have seen him? If she is concerned about delays wider than just his speech I think you need to get a referral for a paediatric doc ASAP - not because its sounds urgent - just because there will be a waiting list. The pead can the asses Jim and refer him on if needs be.

Of course he may just catch up - many kids do. Some neurones fire up and off they go! Even if this happens you might need some help in the meantime as other things might come to him a bit late.

There is very rarely any quick answers. But I would seek out another referral

Thank you so much for answering, I have been trying not to worry but just can't get it out of my mind (am a born worrier!) Sorry to hear you have had bad news

Yes this was the first time he'd been seen by anybody other than hv or audiologist (once, we go back next week). I asked for a referral & a hearing test at his 2 year check.

I did wonder if she was getting at having a paediatrician involved, because she said the next appointments would be to assess whether there was just a language delay or other delays too. I suppose I can get his name down & cancel if he suddenly improves. He seems to make vast strides every 6 months or so, kind of spurts where he does loads of new stuff.

It is so difficult admitting that there might be a problem, my little boy is perfect to me

All are kids are perfect. It's is very hard to say 'I think there is something wrong' but your doing it for him as its the best thing to do.

Try not to think the worse, sounds like he does big leaps in one go and hopefully this is the next leap on his list!

Still just in case you can make sure he does get seen so it takes some worry away as it gives you the control and your doing some thing more than just worrying.

Make a list of questions write it down and take it along.

Like

How do you decide is this a play / development delay?
Do we need to see another team? Like a pead?
How delayed is he?
When you see him again?
What test do you use ( as they must use the same tests to compare for progress made - no use doing test a where scores 2 then months later test b where he scores 3 as you can't directly compare them)

Will try to think of more questions

Hi - mine is the thread about the toddler speech delay. I'm some way behind you on the assessment path, but I too am scared about what my son's lack of speech may mean. Your little boy is perfect, and whatever the outcome he's still the same person you fall a little bit more in love with every day.

I think you'll find some fabulous support here. I am new here but love it already.

2boys thanks again for your reassuring words. I am trying not to think the worst but I google too much for my own good! I don't know whether I am deluding myself when I think he will be OK, but he is definitely a fits & starts child rather than a steady progress child. Eg, when we went on holiday last September, he was 17 months 1 week. He could not walk, talk, point, clap, wave or feed himself. But then at 18 months 1 week, I had a visit from HV as he was not saying any words & he could by then walk, feed himself, clap & wave - all in 1 month. Similarly, between his 2nd birthday this April & July, he has started doing actions to songs, pointing, following instructions a lot more (eg I remember being surprised about 2 months ago when I said 'put your toothbrush in the cupboard' & he did it - just the day before he would not have done), getting in to his own car seat, kissing & blowing kisses, drinking through a straw & probably more I can't think of. It just seems he goes through spurts, and when he learns to do something, he does it well straight away, unlike DS1 who started doing things earlier, but took a while to perfect them.

Thanks also for the list of questions, they are very helpful as I go blank & sit with a mouth like a goldfish in appointments!

rioja thank you too for replying. You sound like you are working hard for your son to get all the right appointments, so just keep pushing! Also, when he starts nursery, ask them as they may be able to help. The first step I took with my DS was when he was around 22 months & not talking, I mentioned it to my HV who out his name down for group speech therapy sessions (Talk With Me, it was called), which he started the week before his 2nd birthday. These helped by giving me some strategies to help him communicate & also put the focus on him (there were only 5 DC in the group), as I also have a DS1 who starts school in September, so who atm is always around with me & DS2 & whilst he is amazing & bright, he sometimes takes over & DS2 couldn't talk if he wanted to

Sorry for rambling, I am going through a pretty stressful time atm - this, plus I am 10 weeks pg, plus we are supposed to be moving house but it looks like it may fall through, plus because of the failing house move DS1 will have to go to school where we used to live, which is a car journey away. Sometimes I just feel like my head will explode! Sorry for going on

Yes I wish you could pause life some days! I work four days a week have three kids moved house last month and the day before we exchanged my childminder resigned. Two weeks before that we got dla awarded ( so conformation our boy IS not a average kid) also two teachers tell me he would be never be normal or pass gcses.

I thing I have learnt from this is that I am one strong person and am capable of fighting for my child with every fibre of my being. I never realised before how much I really do love him and would do anything to improve his quality of life

That has be some kind of reward?

Deep breath, hang on in there

Plus pregnancy hormones will be taking their toll on you. Your doing great I bet considering

Thanks - I shall keep badgering the HV. In fact I'll call right now :)

The great thing about typing is that you don't need to pause for breath, so keep talking and don't apologise or feel you must justify anything. Lots on your plate. Congratulations on your new bump.

Just a quick update. Since the SALT session on Tuesday & DS' play skills being pronounced 'delayed' he has been pretend playing like nobody's business. It's as if he heard the SALT & thought he'd prove her wrong! He brought dolly to the dinner table yesterday & wanted to feed her dinner too, plus he has been using objects as other things eg a sticklebrick for a hairbrush & a stacking cup & wooden block for a phone

He has also made a couple more meaningful sounds eg when he's hiding during peekaboo I call out 'Where are you?' in a singsong tone - so now he copies the exact tone I do but not the words. Also when dipping food into sauce, I have showed him saying 'dip dip dip'. He now dips saying 'i i i'. Not huge leaps, but I think these are positive steps, and I have noted them all down because I know he won't do it for the SALT during our sessions!

Also we have a second hearing test on Wednesday. He had fluid in the ear the first time & they said if he did on the second time they may consider grommets. He has been quite coldy this last week, so that may well mean there's a lot of fluid again. Although I don't want any DC of mine to have to go through surgery, it may be useful to have grommets as then either it would improve his hearing & speech or not make any difference. If the former then great, if the latter at least we can cross it off the list & know that it's definitely not down to hearing.

Why don't kids come with a handbook?