SLT and EP recommendations for ASD

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Hi, I am wondering if anyone can help me with recommendations for SLTs and EPs who could do assessments for my DD with ASD, ADHD, dyslexia and very high anxiety levels.

She has significant difficulties with social communication and understanding, processing language, rigidity of thinking, non-literal language etc, but masks a lot, is quite sociable, and appears very able. Her difficulties often get overlooked and she often therefore doesn't get the right support.Her anxiety leads her to avoid demands, particularly at home, but increasingly in school too.

She is currently in Yr 5 in a specialist school, but struggling (unable to ask for help or use her time out card, and needing a key person which they can't provide).

She has just got her EHCP but no SLT assessment was done, and I think we need a fuller EP assessment too.

This will be in order to get this advice into her EHCP and possibly to find a suitable school for September (Yr 6).

We are in the south east.

Many thanks for your help.

EP's David Urani or Valerie Hero are both very good.

They also may be able to recommend SALT.

Thank you Shedmicehugh

EP Heather Forknall Brighton was great with my ds who sounds very similar

Thanks reader108 do you have contact details - I can't seem to find that one?

www.hcfpsychologicalservices.co.uk
She's very busy but was brilliant with my son. Also wrote a very impressive follow up for tribunal which carried a lot of weight. Hope everything goes well for you us X

thanks reader108 I will look it up now. x

Can you self refer to your LA SALT service? It might be worth getting that going while you investigate private options. Or ask the school if you can have their SALT do a report on your daughter and offer suggestions.?

I have to say that if the SALT report has not been included in the Final EHCP you could probably appeal on the basis that her core difficulties haven't been investigated.....but if you can get it included in the school provision by negotiation without all the hassle and delay of an appeal that would be a lot better. Glad to hear she got her EHCP

Valerie Hero, EP and Sally Moore SALT. Both very expensive but very good. Valerie also recommended we see Richard Soppitt, psychiatrist for DS. It is the most depressing report I have ever read in my entire life, but incredibly insightful and comprehensive.

Thanks tartanterror and KateLennard those suggestions are useful. Unfortunately she is now refusing school completely. It's hard to know what to do. I think the very high anxiety along with difficulties with emotional understanding and regulation, plus her OT needs and the impact on her self esteem means she will need a school with therapeutic input, so need the info and evidence to try and get this for her. I'm guessing a general EP report wouldn't cover all these aspects?

We have had reports done by EP, SALT, OT and psychiatrist. I don't think many people get a psychiatric report done but our EP strongly recommended it for DS. Now we just have to try and get the LA to listen.

It's final paperwork submission next week on our appeal against failure to issue.

Oh good luck KateLennard. sounds like you have lots of evidence. Thanks for your answers

When did your final plan come through? If you are still within the 2 months of that date it sounds like you need to appeal to Sendist - it's a major omission not to have a salt assessment and that may have contributed to the ongoing problems and school refusal. If you are over the 2 months you can call for an emergency review at 6 months but if defo get the salt referral started whatever you decide - it all takes so long the timings may not work out too different to private! I was quoted min 3 month wait for an EP and similar for salt. The NHS was just as quick in the end.

Thanks tartanterror - we are still within the 2 months and are preparing the appeal, though really not sure what I'm doing there either! going to see SOSSEN soon, so that should help. Do you think NHS SALT would be thorough and pick up quite hidden difficulties such as struggling to follow conversation in groups, difficulties with non-literal language, social understanding difficulties etc? Have been making inquiries re private assessments - expensive - but will try to find the money of it will give a lot more info and help her get the school place she needs.

I think you absolutely need private reports, and yes it's horribly expensive and really wrong that it's necessary.

In my experience with DS, the NHS or council staff (have variously seen OT, SALT, Cahms and council EP for DS) are generally not specialists who pick up on hidden, or sometimes very visible difficulties.

So an NHS OT will not know about sensory issues for example. The NHS SALT will mainly deal with children who have issues forming word sounds etc. They will probably have little to no experience and training on all the subtle but pervasive issues our kids have.

I.e the local (specialist) paediatrician and SALT team said that DS was not ASD but might turn out be when he was older.

We got a second opinion referral to an actual specialist team in central London who diagnosed after one, three hour assessment.

Additionally they are incredibly limited in what they can recommend, so even if they see it, they will specify very little support.

We have four private reports stating that DS needs a specialist school and can't cope in mainstream. The LA EP report says 'at some point you might want to consider lego play therapy.

Thanks Kate - that's kind of as I thought - if more extreme than I would have thought! I did see big differences already between the NHS and private ot advice we've had

I would recommend Margo Sharp (SALT). She is coauthor of the child communication checklist with Lorna wing. Expert with girls etc. Very busy, expensive and booked but worth it. She also has Camhs experience, NHS etc. Tribunal savvy too.

Thanks KeepOn - very useful to have recommendations. She does sound a good fit for my daughter.