Makaton.

[wrinklytum]

Saw the SALT with dd and she feels that because dd has low muscle tone we should be concentrating on signing with her using this.Am pretty devastated as was hoping that she would help me to help dd to speak more or help re her word clarity or something.I do not know if this means she feels dd would not speak or if she felt she could learn this first to help.Am pretty upset but wonder if anyone can point the way to some Makaton resources or advise re signing with a nearly 2 year old.Many thanks.

There's also a Makaton Nursery Rhymes DVD available quite cheaply on amazon/hmv.com. The Sing and Sign DVD is also pretty nice, but I'm not sure if the signs are all the same as the Makaton ones.

I agree with Fio, that the signing will help communication (both understanding and expressive). I've read recently that signing is less physical effort than the mouth movements for speech so it's kind of a stage prior to speech. (There is a book you might find book useful, as it was written by a mum to kids with speech delay due to apraxia, it was by a US lady called Debbie Feit, called The Parents Guide to Speech and Language Problems).

Ask the SALT if she has anything you could photocopy. I work in a SN school and we get alot of booklets from our speech and language dept.

Makaton is ace- It's based on simultaneous signing and speech so it can help bring speech on while still giving the child a tool to communicate, The makaton development project sell all the resources (the basic book would be suitable for a2yo). all the makaton signs are pretty user friendly as well, they use gestures which are familiar to most people for basic needs, so not difficult to learn.
Something special is a great intro, they have a section on cbeebies website as well so you can prime yourself and not look lame trying to keep up with justin
Lisa X

Thanks,Fio.

It was just I felt that dd was a bit dismissed.The SALT held up a cup,a fork and a plate and asked dd to get a cup.DD tried to grab the fork(she has a particular fascination with forks and spoons).Now I know she can recognise a cup at home but I felt like the SALT felt she was more delayed than I do.It seemed to be a really quick assessment,too.She also said "oH SHE DROOLS A LOT TOO,DOESN'T SHE?" and when I ventured that dd could be dribbly at times but it was more pronounced currently because she was teething she just looked at me as if I were daft.Or maybe I am taking it too much to heart.Maybe dds delays will turn out to be severe?It just broke my heart because whatever this woman thinks the way she spoke made me feel like she was dismissing dd who is my gorgeous to me little girl.She has such a beautiful smile,and is so lovable.

Sorry,rant over.Having a bad day today.DP still in hospital (9th week) has now developed pneumonia.DS fell down the stairs today and has huge bruise on cheek where he landed,poor lad.DD gorgeous but feel like things are going nowhere re physio and my time is pushed going back and forth to hospital for dp and not giving her enough input.AAAAAARRGHHH.

Thanks for other replies too.Will get off self pity trip and seek makaton website.Am trying to start with 5 simple signs such as milk,dinner,sleep,yes and no.:0

That's rotten wrinkly, so she expected a less than 2yo to react naturally in a strange place with some random woman waving things at her? wrong wrong wrong. The SALT is only one part of the jigsaw, do you see any other people who are better placed to look at the overall picture?
Don't get disheartened if you're only at the start of your journey - her opinion of her overall delay is meaningless on it's own, there are other people who look at different aspects .You know your daughter best and what you say should never be discounted by anyone.
Lisa X

It is a bit offputting when SALTs start suggesting alternative forms of communication, I know I felt the same when the private SALT was talking about making a communication book with pictures in for DS.

IME of SALT appointments, it can be a bit of a painful process for us parents, as the SALTs job is to improve on what our kids can currently do, so it feels like they are looking at our kids negatively, and focussing on what they can't do.

Didn't realise your DP was unwell, sorry to hear this, and hope that he gets out of hospital in the near future.

Glad to be of assistance Fio

Thank you,ladies for your kind replies.Just getting some sympathetic words has helped enormously on what hjas been a bad night.I agree,TC.I guess maybe I am still in that transitional phase of accepting that dd will never be "normal",whatever normal is!She has limited speech and cannot stand unaided,crawl or walk though she is a good bumshuffler and is VERY determined and a very loving child.She bumshuffles up to me and throws her arms around my legs in a big cuddle when I am cooking in the kitchen!!She and has a fab sense of humour,and is a real giggler.

re:the speech - I have a friend whose little boy didn't speak till he was 5 (he has autism). Now he's 8, the little lad is speaking OK, does fine at school. So speechwise, 2 years old is still pretty early on, and it's great that you are getting the input/advice when DD is this young.

fwiw - we started actively signing with dd1 when she was about 2 - and now at 5 she still has some delay ( she has down syndrome) but she had made fabulous progress. I still use sign with her if I want to make a point ( with words she knows well) and if we are looking at a new concept.

We sign with dd2 and dd3 (both NT) and I think it has helped especially dd2 - who is advanced for her age - signing is fabulous. It will give her a voice - jsut remember makaton is meant to be signed and spoken... so when doing the sign - make sure you always use the word - unless of course signing toilet across a crowded party room to your dh

We started with

more - food, drink, play - so versatile
eat
drink
bed
yes
no

I love Makaton - as I said use it with my three.

FWIW - dd1 had her 'interview' with the principal of her mainstream school the other day and would not say all her colours correctly even though I know she knows them, would not do anything I know she can do - it was a lot of Big school mum - Big school mum.

Please don't take the appt to heart - with my dd1 she did one of two things - would make a liar out of me by either:

1. not doing something I had just said she could

OR

2. do the very thing I had just said she couldn't.

Not sure if the speechy told you but makaton works like this - it is a progression:

you do the sign and say the word.

they understand what the sign means

the child attempts a vague rendition of the sign

sign is clear ( some people who are unable to speak due to muscle tone or whatever may just simply sign BUT they have a voice and a means of communication - very powerful)

word and sign together and finally

sign dropped word is used more frequently.

Unless making a point when my dd1 will sign no to my face when she is having her teenage moments

Using makaton was a breakthrough for DS3.He was diagnosed with a severe delay at 2.The SALT didnt suggest Makaton,just a few other stategies that didn't seem to be making any difference at all.
One day we were watching Something Special,purely by chance,and a lightbulb went on.I borrowed a few resources from a friend and we were off.
Ds caught up to "within normal range" over one Summer.
Using Makaton might make it all the difference to you too. Give it a go.

Have you checked in your local area. Mine was running a makaton course very recently I think some places run subsidised and free courses. Also when I was looking into makaton I got in touch with Makaton to ask where I might find a course. They were very helpful -unfortunately wasnt relevant as my son cant imitate.