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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

Feeling like the waiting goes on and on

5 replies

used2bthin · 21/04/2010 12:40

My DD has glue ear, which may or may not have caused her s and l delay. A year and a half into speech therapy and I still have no clearer ideas from her (very lovely) SALT except that last time we saw her she was saying she thinks DD will "be ok" and that some children just suddenly catch up. She has hinted at verbal dyspraxia I think and said this week that DD is really struggling with speech sounds and that she has noticed DD only has a few stock phrases, does she put two words together ever? etc etc nothing solid just questions I then go home and worry about.

Yesterday she asked how DD's hearing stuff was coming on and if she has had her referral for a full developmental assessment through yet. I said no we are still waiting for an appointment and she said it may be as well to find out about it because if DD needs extra support at school it can take a while to sort out. Ihave come away feeling upset and confused. She has never mentioned DD needing extra support before, we have always talked in terms of DD having a delay, never how big it is or with anything really other thanthe assumption tat she will catch up. Se did mention delay/disorder in initially but not since. I think I would rather she just said what she was thinking but maybe she doesn't know yet? Is this a long time to not get any concrete diagnosis from a SALT? Other than this I am really happy with what she is doing, DD adores her and she is brilliant at getting DD to focus as well as knowing when it just isnt working.

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used2bthin · 21/04/2010 12:42

I should have said that DD is 3.7 and also has medical issues tat shouldnt affect her speech but could affect her concentration and energy levels at times. I feel that the professionals we have met just think she has so many different issues going on that it is a bit confusing to see what caused what.

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cyberseraphim · 21/04/2010 13:34

It sounds as if she is uncertain herself about what to say/predict which may be why she is asking about the full assessment ? It doesn't help with the waiting game though ! How do you feel she has come on with her speech and/or other areas of development.

TotalChaos · 21/04/2010 16:11

IME SALT don't really diagnose but look more at the extent of the delay and what the next steps are. And given that DD is due to be assessed by other professionals (presumably paed and some sort of child psych) I think it is sensible for SALT to be fairly non-committal rather than try and second guess iyswim?

It is upsetting to get your head round your child possibly needing extra support at school, but I think SALT is being very fair at flagging this up so early to you, given how long statementing etc can take!

Given you have quite a good relationship with the SALT, why don't you e-mail/phone her to discuss some of your worries in more detail when you've had time to calm down and have a long think....

Sorry if I sound unsympathetic, I have been through something similar and it was a horrible isolating time, and some of the SALT appointments had me wanting to (well I daren't say!).

used2bthin · 21/04/2010 16:49

Hi thanks both of you, and Tc no you don't sound unsympathetic at all, I am not sure what I even want the SALT to say/do. I would call her for a chat but I have before and she is always lovely and very positive but I get a different message each time and am beginning to think I am interpreting too much into what she says or something! Everything is always fairly non comittal which, as you say, is probably sensible. ut argh such a long road, DD has progressed but then her peers are absolutely streets ahead so she seems more noticably to have a problem than before.

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used2bthin · 21/04/2010 16:52

I am not really sure what I am asking think just having a low moment. Haven't actually told anyone in RL what she said as don't trust myself not to get upset. DDhas had some medical stuff going on recently (a fit or faint)which is worrying me and it seems a lot to get my head around, not to mention unfair on DD although I know she and I are so lucky really she generally is very well.

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