Feel like I'm being fobbed off by SALT

[TotalChaos]

DS has progressed from severe language delay at 36 months to moderate language delay at 50 months and is now 56 months. His social communication has improved but there are still very visible differences in his speech/ability to answer simple questions, let alone converse between him and his peers. So I am a bit cheesed off to have received ostensibly good news - that according to CELF, his expressive and receptive language are now within normal range (50th percentile and 37% percentile respectively), as I just feel that this isn't an accurate picture of his speech skills in day to day life. So he is waiting for group therapy (which may be during Xmas hols, but I suspect will be Easter hols), and she isn't planning to see him again till after that. So it could easily be 6 months before next SALT appointment.

Am I being unreasonable in being a bit disconcerted by all this?

Thanks Electra.

Lingle - the 50th percentile thing was only on one of the 3 things tested, the other two were a fair bit lower. So I don't think I've got a reliable level for him at all . But - have got plenty to work on atm, as DS is going to a Narrative SALT group for 3 more sessions- so lots of work on question words/sequencing etc and ideas to use with him. Have finished the Hanen course now, and the SALT there is going to send me some info on sequencing etc too. (sequencing in this context is being able to put events in the right order, helps with storytelling etc). Once the SALT group finishes I'll get him a private appointment, and take things from there.

I am glad he's made the jump tc

I'd want to see the writted report, and then respod in writing with questions / concerns

does anyone know what moderate ld is btw? ds3 is now classed as moderate but I think its crap- he has been assessed in 5 areas- centiles were 1st, 1st, 1st, 5th and 16th.

yes I did, sorry I didn't reply I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. Still do to an extent as put DS in front of a picture or a toy and he can rattle on for england (and relevant stuff). But take away the visual and it's a different story......He's finding the narrative group hard going as it's less visual and they don't do the "salt voice" i.e. simple repetitive and with feeling LOL, so he wriggles around and doesn't always concentrate. I can see the snotty line in a report already . The content of the group is very useful, and well structured, with useful home exercises.

thanks peachy. will follow up after DS has finished narrative group next month as that will generate further paperwork I am sure.

When NHS SALT felt that DS had moderate language delay was around the time that DS was approximately a year behind for both expressive and receptive. So he was just hitting the 3 year level at 49/50 months. Neither NHS or Private SALT did percentile testing on DS till very recently so I can't relate moderate to any %itle.

I was told that to DX a language disorder in my area a child would have to be 2 deviations below the norm - since the low end of normal is 17th %ile I would imagine that 2 deviations below would be 2nd %ile.

No you aren't being unreasonable at all.

I have never been overly impressed with DS1's SALT either. She came up with completely different conclusions to everybody else who had assessed him as part of the AS dx. I ended up writing a letter and speaking to her manager about it and the next time she assessed DS, surprisingly he was just as the others had found him!

We wait years, literally for a SALT appointment - it can be as much as 18 mths in between appointments - the school is supposed to do all the work but the SALTS don't come back to check progress at all. Granted his speech isn't that bad and he will probably be discharged next time she sees him but even so if it is an indication of the level of service I am just very grateful that it isn't more serious. I have a friend whose son was a more serious case and she was treated just the same and it has been really hard for her having a nearly 4 yr old who can't speak.

I have no doubt it is due to under staffing but that doesn't really help our children to know this.