Quick thread - need advice - SALT at 3pm

[lougle]

DD2 had SALT assessment in June. result: General speech/language at/around average. Doesn't initiate conversation and didn't respond to non verbal cues, but school say she's ok, so it's not affecting her.
I complained by email, said concerns weren't with general language (I.e. she can name a girl if shown a picture, etc).

Now, SALT coming today to reassess and observe. She deals with SCD/ASD type stuff.

I've been invited to discuss her findings at 3pm (school finishes 3'30), so under 30 minutes to talk.

Can you lovelies think of all the areas I should highlight?

e.g. Mrs X, ELSA told DD2 she wouldn't see her today because she had a meeting. DD2 smiled with her tongue pushed behind her bottom lip, nodding as Mrs X was telling her. I know Mrs X would think she's fine with it. However, ar breakfast DD2 told me that she was only ok with going to school today because she has Mrs X this afternoon.

TIA

Lougle, have you considered applying for a CEREBRA grant for some private SALT sessions? We got as far as filling in the forms a couple of years ago, but decided ds had had enough for the time being, so put it off.

You do need references from a medical professional that has worked with your child (could be OT, Physio, GP, Paed) and one from another professional that has worked with them (teacher, SALT etc).

I found people that were denying ds had any need, were suddenly willing to do references when it meant the costs weren't coming out of their own budget.

I spoke to our CEREBRA area coordinator over the phone and by email at the time and they couldn't have been more helpful.

Might be worth a try?

Oh Thank God Handy. I was starting to think there was some kind of planetary action dooming us all...........

Glad your clinic went fine.

also everything star and zzzz said. Lougle you know your DD's. All of them You are doing everything to help. Its a shame the so called professionals are not.

Can I ask what schools your talking about Star? I'm bout an hour south of Lougle and may need my list for the indy fight if state secondary fails - or because I have enough evidence to prove DS needs specific education.

Lougle I just want to scoop you and dd2 up and deposit you at the door of my lovely private SALT.

Failing that there is hope your dh is home and that your girls settle ok tonight.

Massive (((hugs)))

Sigh...

Thank you all for understanding.

DD2 is happy as a sand boy - she's got a book about the human body for her guided reading book. She has informed me with great wonder that a child's heart beats faster than an adults and our brain sends messages to our body, which sends messages back to our brain, and that our veins and arteries can stretch out to go around the world twice.

moose the Cerebra stuff sounds great, with the exception that so far the number of professionals I have agreeing with me are:

A SENCO who says stuff off the record and then seems to evaporate when a professional is near by

An OT who has ordered a cushion because a Year 2 child told her she was a fidget bum, but has yet to even speak to me after seeing DD2.

A teacher who isn't involved in any of this, it seems.

So in reality, a grand total of ..... zero.

Oh well.

Handy, I'm wrapping myself up, ready to be deposited

The Cambian lot, some of the priory, unsted park and Moor house and More House all have kids from your LA.

But tbh you could probably visit any one on the basis that you might move there. I reckon at least a 3rd of the parents in ds's school moved to be close to it (as parents of NT kids do for their kids schools) so it will surprise no one.

We were in a similar position Lougle. No-one wanted to even consider SALT - until they found out it wasn't going to cost them anything. Your GP could do the medical ref, based on information you give them and I bet, if pressed, either the OT or SENCO would do the other one.

Ime many OT's standard course of action is to order a cushion - and if you're really lucky ... a couple of pencil grips. It's what they do when they don't know what to do. Can you contact her by phone on the basis of talking through what she did/found and then suggest that perhaps some of the issues didn't show up to her because they're more in the remit of a SALT, then ask her to do a ref saying as much for Cerebra?

I'm being patient with the OT, because she said she'd be contacting me to discuss, and the SENCO confirmed today that she would be contacting me.

I think I'm just going to have to let the dust settle, wait for OT contact, then see where it goes.

If the OT has any observations, it might tie in with something...

The Paed asked for OT for dyspraxia type opinion.

Sorry you had such a crap meeting lougle

Don't give up !!

I've felt so sad reading this thread, lougle. I can't think of anyone else who'd be capable of presenting their concerns as thoughtfully and reasonably as you. The idea of professionals not taking someone like you seriously flabbers my gast, tbh - you and DD2 deserve much better

It sounds like you need time as well as expertise - for a genuine specialist with a proper clue to actually catch DD2 consistently communicating in a way that gives you concern. The SALTs at my DS's school welcome video footage from home with open arms - they know that it takes hours of contact and observation to build up a proper profile, and they want to get those hours nailed as soon as possible

Your concerns sound extremely difficult to summarise in the abstract, but much easier to demonstrate as living language. Is it worth carrying on with the video sessions? Even if the current SALT contact comes to nothing, you'll have a worthwhile bank of evidence to draw on to illustrate your concerns - and at some point, you will find a professional with the time and expertise you deserve.

Thanks Ineed and ugger.

ugger you don't get brownie points for effort in this game Her eye contact actually goes against me.

The SALT suggested 'less words' when she saw the video. The fact that the homework says 'parents must help the children' is the issue. If I'd videoed me shoving a piece of paper with instructions on it at DD2, she would be saying 'I need help!!!!' and the SALT/SENCO/Teacher would be saying 'oh well no wonder she was anxious...all year 2 children need help, you know. They shouldn't have to be independent.'

I've just opened wine, lougle. I heartily recommend it.

My 7yo with "severely disordered communication" makes pretty good eye contact, when he's interested, or wanting something. He runs around, flapping his hands, perhaps shouting "DS2 da bird!" He dresses up in his Mr Bloom hat when Mr Bloom is on. In our case, as with TheLightPassenger, his disorder is pretty blatant, but it illustrates how much some of these things can be red herrings.

You're right, zzzzz....I don't know what I'm chasing.

Ultimately, a happy, content child who is able to learn.

They seem to be spectacularly naive in thinking that an 8 week club can solve things forever.

I forsee the club finishing and the issues starting up again.

I'm just going to have to teach her at home, aren't I?

Perhaps they're right. Perhaps she's just stressed at home and is fine at school.

What club is it? DS is currently doing theraputic story writing course at school. It's worth googling - it's meant to help pupils express their emotions through writing.

Lougle - I know that I am not that interested in looking for NHS SALT - as it's just not geared towards the more higher level language difficulties, not resourced to - I just want school (in particular when he moves to high school) to appreciate that there are some issues, socially and organisationally and that he is more vulnerable than the average child, and I am not just being PFB nightmare mum. I reckon that if he feels safe and secure, then the learning will more or less slot into place.

The 'club' is Dragonflies - a social skills club where 5 children are removed from class and spend the afternoon in 'the base' twice per week.

Oh lougle just looked at the LFT thread after ouryves suggestion on my own salt thread. (We also had assessment today!).

1. Your Dd is totally scrummy
2. She is sooooooo like my DS it's uncanny
3. Interesting when I read your comment your DD2 says 'I'm guessing that....'

It was one of the things salt was interested in today. Also interesting that the outcomes were so different from the apts when the children are so similar - DS is a flopper, he can't remember names etc, gives random answers to things etc!

Has your dd done theory of mind tests?

Is dragonflies like a nurture group? My DS starts 2 afternoons a week after half term because ATM he's doing the theraputic story writing.

Yes. DS was referred by school after Camhs suggested an assessment. I mentioned to school GP would refer once had Camhs paperwork and school said they would refer as feel it would be beneficial.
I didn't even speak to her until after the assessment - so apart from what school said she had nothing form me about what my concerns were.

The reason I actually really liked her was she didn't dress anything up. She was blunt in the fact DS would learn by rote and rules and would need specialist understanding. A 30 minute assessment and she had him sussed

Lougle must be so frustrating for you. If its any consolation to you ds scores average or above average in all SALT formal assessments, it is only when specialist ASD SALT's analysis and observe his language development etc that they can identify his difficulties.

Thanks. I've just burst into tears again, fighting the urge to wake her up and hug her.
she's so precious to me. Why isn't there the chance to say that as well as the other stuff?