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Original poster

Difficulty in finding words - any SALTs around?

14 replies

Hassled · 08/12/2008 22:07

Sorry if this is rambling...

DS2 (10) has Dyspraxia - of the bog standard motor sort. DS3 has Verbal Dyspraxia, and I can see that DS2 has none of his brother's issues re clarity of speech, disordered patterns etc. DS3's articulation of sounds is crystal clear.

However, it can take him an age to actually get his words out. He says he's thinking about the best words to use and whether the sentence he's about to say will make sense - we're talking 5 - 15 seconds or more sometimes before he can answer a "What did you do at school today?" sort of question. It can be infuriating if I'm in a rush, and while his friends are mostly patient it has caused some problems. And it's not all the time - there seems to be no consistency in it. Once he's started talking, there are no further pauses or delays.

His wonderful, on-the-ball teacher rang tonight - she's concerned because when practising the Reading bit of his Yr6 SATs with his scribe, he basically keeps running out of time because it takes him so long to start speaking/dictating to the scribe. He's very bright, and the teacher is worried that he won't do himself justice. She asked if we can practice this at home.

I suppose what I'm asking is - is this common? I can't find much about it online, mostly because I don't know what I'm searching for. It's not that his speech is slow, it's that he can't find his words. And will practice improve it? Is it part of the Dyspraxia, or something else?

OP posts:
bullet123 · 08/12/2008 22:12

That reminds me of myself, I have a lot of difficulties being able to initiate and get the words out, especially when it is incumbent on me to talk.

Original poster
Hassled · 08/12/2008 22:16

And has it been a problem? Or have you found coping mechanisms?

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jimjamshaslefttheyurt · 08/12/2008 22:31

Can he not get extra time? I would imagine for GCSE's/A levels he could get 25% extra. Do they not do that for SATS? (They may not).

bullet123 · 08/12/2008 22:34

It has been a problem, but you have to combine it with me often not realising I shoudl be asking for things. Eg whole of secondary school in same PE kit fro mage 11 to age 16 and I was very small so PE kit was age 7 - 8. Not being able to ask for painkillers. Not being able to ask for a drink or somethign to eat if I was hungry. Never asking for new clothes or new school equipment. As an adult things are easier purely because I have more independance and can do more things for myself, so perhaps encouraging some independendance in your ds might help him.

Original poster
Hassled · 08/12/2008 22:42

Thanks bullet - I do need to work n the independance thing.

jimjam - he will get 25% extra time as well as the scribe. Teacher's view seemed to be that even with that (which I'm assuming is the most she can reasonably ask for) he won't do himself justice if he can't get the words out. TBH I'm less bothered about the SATs than his quality of life, IYSWIM - why is this an issue, and can he overcome it?

OP posts:
Tclanger · 09/12/2008 07:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Hassled · 09/12/2008 10:23

Thanks Tclanger - am well known to local SALTs (DS3) so will have a word.

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Original poster
Hassled · 09/12/2008 21:00

shameless bump in the hope that Moondog might see this and have some other insights - sorry .

OP posts:
moondog · 09/12/2008 21:02

Hi Hassled
I read before and didn't answer as I don't really have anything useful to contribute, sorry. Without meeting the child it is hard to prescribe any particular course of action.

I usually work with people with much more complex difficulties than this.

I would ask for an appt with a salt who works with high level language disorder.

TotalChaos · 09/12/2008 21:05

don't know if this is any help - but SALT advised that when talking with DS (who has a more general language delay) to help organise his thoughts I should deliberately introduce a subject - now we're going to talk about x, to get his thoughts along those lines before talking about it/asking questions etc.

Original poster
Hassled · 09/12/2008 21:24

Thank you both . I like the idea of giving him warning about a topic.

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moondog · 09/12/2008 21:46

Winslow Press is a good company that makes resources.

Something like this might be usefull

Must be honest and say most SALTs have caseloads which are too large to be able to do any of the stuff we really want to in depth, so I would ask for advice then work on it yourself.

moondog · 09/12/2008 21:48

Sorry,this likn better-first two on it.
Here

POh and i do know it is useful.

Original poster
Hassled · 09/12/2008 22:48

You are a princess amongst MNers - thank you. Have found a useful looking workbook re fluency.

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