A speech and language question (ASD)

[BigWeeHag]

Hello my lovelies!

DS1 is back having SALT again after only 37289789257 phone calls and a a tiny wee bit of stress.

He has a new therapist who has said that she can only deal with those parts of his speech delay that are not ASD related. and also that his speech is delayed but also has "disordered features."

I am a little, OK, a LOT confused, as since I first started badgering people (when he was not quite 2) about his speech, I have been told it's "just" a delay and he will catch up. Now he has an ASD dx, suddenly he also has a speech disorder? I don't understand who will help us with the parts of his speech that are ASD related (and how do they flaming well tell, although I'm guessing it's the Wh questions.)

Any wisdom for us?

PMSL, that is where we are.

Although there is the delightful double cop-out that apparently the ASD special specialers, whoever the hell they are, will not take him if he is unintelligible. So there is no point in referring him. Oh, I shouldn't worry about September (when he starts school) because he'll have finished this round of SALT by then, and will be back on the waiting list.

Hang on, I've gone all ranty. Ne'er mind. I just wonder (prepare for Parent Beating Self Up) if, if he'd had early intervention for the speech, maybe the social and sensory stuff would have been less of an issue. Too many variables to tell, I suppose. But I keep hearing about early intervention, and how he is too late for most of it, and I want to scream at them - but I told you when he was a BABY.

Things could be a lot worse, I am lucky to have him, I just hate to see him struggle. same for us all, I guess.

Yep, I'm in that camp.

'There is something going on with ds'
'He is too young for referral'

'There is something going on with ds'
'Oh yeah, we'll refer you. Waiting list is a year'

'There is something going on with ds'
'Oh yeah, well you're at the top of the waiting list but he is too old for intervention'

I agree that "only dealing with the stuff that's not ASD"really isn't a very satisfactory thing for a parent to hear ... and a thing that a parent shouldn't be hearing ... as an SLT ... in her defence ... maybe she felt out of her depth with language problems associated with ASD.... if so then she should have offered a solution/alternative. As a therapist for me ... honesty is the best policy ...ie; to say "I'm not sure ... but I'll find someone who knows!" Lisa :-)

Hey talkingtot, - just in time!

Can you maybe have a look at this thread and help us out?

Have followed this with interest, technical discussion aside it might be worth checking if there is a more 'straightforward' reason for her comment - is SALT actually commissioned by the PCT to provide intervention for children with ASD? Sounds crazy I know but we have come across this situation where no one was even commissioned to diagnose, so it just might be worth checking out?? Maybe I am just over-suspicious after our experience though ...

I chatted to the Paed last week, and I was happy with her air of righteous indignation on my behalf. She explained that possibly what was meant was providing stuff like visual prompts and time tables etc. She is also allegedly kicking arse with the OT provision, so that is good.

What was holding stuff up was the fact that she felt that I was being pushed into accepting the DX and she didn't want that to happen. So I explained that, yes, I do feel pushed into it, but I also want him to have access to the services and support he needs, and if the stupid label gets it, then I'll take it. So, that's done now!

Talking tot, thanks for reading and inputting! I know professionals are not the enemy, it is easy to misunderstand each other, I need to be clearer in my questioning when I don't understand.