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Original poster

SALT-A Thank-you.

14 replies

sugarfree · 08/08/2006 20:21

Ds3 had latest SALT appointment this morning and has been discharged!He has gone from having the verbal understanding of a 15 month old/language use of a 12 month old at 2 years to being "within the normal range" at 2.10.
We have the option to self-refer back at 3.5 if strangers have difficulty understanding him and some exercises to do to correct a habit he has with his mouth,but otherwise...ALL FINE!
I just wanted to say thank-you to everyone who has given me advice and support over the last few months,especially fellow Makaton users,who supplied signs as and when we needed them.
THANK-YOU!

OP posts:
nikkie · 08/08/2006 20:38

Congratulations!

Californifrau · 08/08/2006 20:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

coppertop · 08/08/2006 20:51

Fantastic news. I'm so pleased for you.

gracej · 09/08/2006 06:48

That is amazing! DS is delayed in all areas including language, I would be very interested to what techniques where used with your DS. Was sign language the basis of his therapy? Do you have any advice for us mums who also have children with delays in language and communication? Congratulations!!!

schneebly · 09/08/2006 07:27

Well done to your DS! And hurrah for your SALT.

emmalou78 · 09/08/2006 08:43

sugarfree thats great

sugarfreeLeveller · 09/08/2006 09:22

Thanks everyone.

The main thing we did with him Grace was spend quality one on one time with him just playing.As he played we followed his lead and provided a running commentry(?sp)with emphasis on keywords.
Eg."Look at the BUBBLES ds.The BUBBLE goes pop!Blow another BUBBLE ds.etc etc.Every day aiming to achieve 15 mins.To start with we were struggling to get 2 mins before he got bored!
We also started giving him choices,so he had to communicate with us in some way.Eg.Do you want a PINK yoghurt or a YELLOW yoghurt?(Showing him both.)
TV and radio off as little ones can't filter it out and don't hear it as background.

The Makaton use wasn't reccommended by our SALT.That came about because my mum mentioned someone she knew had a son whose playgroup used it and we happened to wartch 'Something Special' one day and I caught him signing along with Justin.He already used some signs of his own devising so we just built on that.
I started with colours because I had a feeling he understood the concept but called all colours "boo".(same as all vehicles were "car")
It took him a day to learn about 5-6 colour signs and then we were off.
"Ds,do you want a PINK yoghurt or a YELLOW yoghurt?"(with signs)
Ds signed back the colour yoghurt.(What a triumph!)
After that,there was no stopping him tbh,I think it just gave him confidence that he could communicate effectively with us.
After about 3 weeks of signing he had a day where he came out with 4 new words(4 in a month was the norm before).
He has gone from those 4 words to 2-word sentences,making plurals,using the past tense,using possessives and using -ing.He now imitates words and sounds like a child learning to talk.(in about 3 weeks)
IT'S FAB!!

gracej · 09/08/2006 12:27

Thanks for all that info sugarfree.
I all sounds very familiar, I am doing exactly the same things you mention. Even giving choices (offering him either an orange or a yogurt for dessert).
The area I am struggling with is signing. Whenever he wants something he points at it and says something in baby language. I am trying to teach him the sign for food, sleep,ect, but it seems that it will take a long time.
What I feel positive about is that his understanding, receptive language, seems to be improving all the time.
Congratulations again! Wish we had more good news posts like yours in mumsnet.

Original poster
sugarfree · 09/08/2006 18:23

I think you just need to keep plugging away at the signing.When he points to something say
"Do you want the XXX?"(sign XXX for him)
Give him a good amount of time to respond.
"Here is the XXX for DS" (sign again)
"There,now DS has the XXX"(sign again)

It is repetitive and you do feel a tit but I was past the point of caring by then.All through the Spring I was getting very despondent about it all and thought there was no way he would ever learn speech.

Also watch his body language very carefully,he could be telling you more than you realise and do give him lots and lots of time to respond,however he chooses to do that.

How old is he btw?

OP posts:
gracej · 09/08/2006 19:10

He is 18 months (actually, almost 19).
From what you just mentioned, it seems that I just need to be patient and a bit more consistent. I must admit that I sign only when he actually give him what he wants, rather than when he is asking for it. How much patience does a mum have to have!!! Right, from tomorrow, signing signing signing.

Bibliophile · 09/08/2006 19:13

My dd is 18months and not delayed at all - in fact I think she is exceptionally bright - but she doesn't really ask for anything except with pointing and noises! I think she's completely normal. She does have words, but doesn't really use them to request, just to comment. I wonder if you are expecting too much GraceJ.

Original poster
sugarfree · 09/08/2006 19:33

Today we have been looking at an animal book and new words include..
Mummybug for ladybird (all women are mummies in ds3's world)and Tunaboy(!) for squirrel.

(we also got rhino amd lion so it is English he's learning and not Martian)

OP posts:
Davros · 09/08/2006 21:05

sugarfree, great news and great advice too. Oh yes, I've felt a tit many a time when I've been signing furiously to DS! What does make me laugh is when he signs to me and I respond because other people must think I'm bonkers, pretending he's talking but they didn't notice his subtle sign!

gracej · 10/08/2006 10:22

HI Blibliophile. Not at all, not expecting too much. His therapy centre performed his most recent development assessment at the end of July, and the results show that his expressive language is at the level of an 11 to 15 month old baby, a big delay. So we really need to work on communication.
I think you need to take these delays into perspective, your DS is really bright and she is not delayed in any area, so her language will come naturally and I think you are right not to be worried. But my lovely DS does have a neurological problem, he is delayed in every area, so the sooner we try to tackle any issues the better (believe me it is hard work!).

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