Speech therapy recommendations wanted/ experiences please

[Bellenden Belle]

So Baby Belle hits two next month with a grand total of four words under his belt. Time for help I think.

I'm fighting lots of comments about being a pushy over-anxious mum which is particularly hard as I had huge speech problems as a child (speech therapy until seven and problems with single sounds until 12).

What has been other people's experience? Did you go to a health visitor or gp first or is a private assessment the quickest route to begin with? I've looked for Tina from Babble and Squeak, previously recommended on here, but I think she may have left the area - anyone kmknow for sure? Or anyone else?

Any advice or reassurance much appreciated.

[Kt4]

You can go along to a drop in session at children's centre for advice from a Speech and Language Therapist. Don't have up to date details of sessions but this link has a number you could call:

http://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/our-services/community/childrens-speech-language/drop-in-sessions.doc

[verds]

Erm, this may not be any help, but it may reassure you that you're not alone: Baby Verds can only say 'Wow' and 'Dance' and she hits two in two weeks. I figure she has the basics down, ha ha, but the older generations are commenting on it.

Have you had the two-year check from health visitors yet? I'm going to see what they say next week.

[Lochie]

I had a similar problem with my son at 2 and went into a drop in session under the advice from the HV at his 2 year check. He is now 4 and is the biggest chatter box I know, if that puts your mind at rest a little!! I do remember being so worried at the time though - I think it is natural to be anxious. You really can't help but compare progress with other little children and that is inevitable. I also found it so hard as he would bite and pinch other kids due to frustration at not being able to talk :-(

Things changed a lot when my son went to nursery at about 26 months, he kind of just 'got it' and about 6/9 months later he had caught up. I now have a daughter who is 22 months and she probably has the same standard of speech that my son had at 3 years old, so there does seem to be a broad spectrum when it comes to picking up speech.

Good luck and try not to worry. I would suggest having a look at Southwark or Lambeth Children Centre programmes to find a drop in S&L therapy drop in (we went to one at the Crawford Children's Centre behind Kings but that was about 2 years ago, not sure if they are still run there)...

[buggie]

A really useful (& reassuring) website which I had recommended by my SALT friend which I've then recommended on (& on!) to others is:

www.talkingpoint.org.uk

The parent section has age related questionnaire to go through to assess how their child is doing/constructive advice on whether to be worried. Also, worth chasing up his 2yr review as they'll ref on if concerned.

Funnily enough BB I had speech therapy too for v similar reasons to you (hilarious I'm sure to anyone who knows the pair of us in RL ;-) ) & I've had ongoing nerves about (now 3.25yrs old) Bugglet's speech from POV of the clarity and that she drops the middle syllable from lots of words. My SALT friend is hopefully going to give us a bit of advice/reassurance, but completely empathise & am watching the thread with interest/any advice.

[Bellenden Belle]

Many thanks for all your replies so far.

Thanks for the link KT4 - will give the number a ring and will definitely begin with attending a drop in session and mentioning it at his two year review.

I've visited talkingpoint too Buggie - to be honest, it was reading their age guidance that persuaded me that I should start investigating.

Will let people know how I get on and would still welcome any other information/ experiences.

[kamath]

My Son has been having speech therapy from 3 years old ( he is now 4 ) He was referred by his nursery and has sessions at Townley Road. Generally the sessions have been okay but the problem I find is that they keep leaving!- he has had 3 different speech therapist over the year . By the time he builds up a good relationship with one of the therapist they then leave and he gets a new one. Bit frustrating but guess that is just how it is.

There is a speech therapist who does a drop in session at Bessemer Grange Children's Centre. I think it's on a Thursday and I think her name is Julie . Sorry , hope that helps a little.

[Smiler]

I am outside london now, but my daughter started NHS speech therapy (where am now, where the service seems quite good) at 2 years three months, when she had only a few words and made few sounds, over the following year she had 12 one to one sessions, a break, assessment, then 8 small group sessions, assessment, and currently on a break for 3 months after which she'll probably have more group sessions.

The first stage where I am now was an assessment by a SAL therapist, HA referred us at 2 (waiting times around 3 months). They will be interested in your history of SAL problems as a child, as think this can be inherited.

There is a lot of stuff you can do at home while waiting, I will private message you 2 pages of tips my speech therapist friend up north gave me. She warned me that private therapy can be v expensive and to go for someone with specialism in early years (she rang several in my area and wasn't satisfied!)

My daughter is now 3 years 5 months and has made huge progress,although her speech/language isn't quite up to where she should be for her age ( if you see what I mean), so she struggles to keep up with her playgroup friends' conversation and stammers (therapist says is often a phase with children with speech issues). She is a lovely singer though!

[gwod]

Both of my 2 youngest children needed speech and language therapy, and by the time they were 2 a sort of knew they did. With the first I waited a while to see how things panned out incase I was wrong, but it would have been better for her if Id just got straight onto it. So with my youngest daughter I was much more proactive, via the health visitor who referred me to Townley Road for an assessment and for a hearing test.

I would recommend you get onto it straight away as there is a long waiting list (sometimes months). Also the sessions are really fun, (my kids loved them) and communication is so important to them as they go forward into nursery and school and also with early writing and spelling. Best of luck with it all!

[Strawbs]

I was thinking maybe 6 weeks ago that my son might have needed to see someone as whilst he had some words they were few and far in between. Then over the last two weeks he has started saying a lot more, I'd say 10 times what he used to say but I do notice most of the words he doesn't articulate properly for example a fox is fo / drink is gink / please is peas / thanks is sanks and I can tell when he says open this please or broken but an outsider wouldn't. At 27m should I be getting this looked at or given he has started talking a lot more in just two weeks leave it longer to see? He also pronounces bath and mouth (again two new words in the last week) with an f at the end instead of th and i am very much not wanting him to fall in to the habit of not pronouncing his ths thanks! X

[canela]

My experience is not London-based, but may be useful anyway. I gave in to anxiety on the part of my mum and took my son to 3 speech therapists in 3 different countries about this between ages 2 and 3. All of them said the same thing, which was that it was just too young to tell if there were any problems. The only thing they would do was a hearing test, which was always fine. When he started school in the UK I mentioned it to his teacher, and she also said it was difficult to really judge until 5 or 6 unless there is a really obvious problem - which there wasn't. It all worked out in the end and I have no concerns. My mum was just worried that I was being too "wait and see" about it all, but that is exactly what I was advised to do.

Sounds like there are lots of resources around here, so I would get some professional advice. Good luck.

[Pugwash]

2 of our grandchildren (both living in Harlow) had speech development problems. Eldest boy now 19 was only saying a couple of words at nearly 3 and was placed into s special nursery with other children which had developmental delays. great improvement from that time onwards. His little brother, now 4 same problem, now goes to a nursery 2 days a week and speech has improved considerably as copying children more speech advanced of a similar age.

I had speech therapy from 5 - 11 as I had measles when 2 years old and lost 90% of my hearing and this was not picked up until I was rising 5. Obviously that was decades ago.

[curiousgeorge11]

Hi there,

I'm a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) at a Southwark Primary School and I would highly recommend the drop in sessions if you have any concerns. I would say the worst that can happen is they recommend further support (which would be daunting I can imagine) and best case they say all is well. Early identification and intervention is the best support anyone can give to a child, and can possibly prevent much lengthier treatment in the future. Although there may be a high turnover of therapists, I have yet to meet one (and I've worked with about 10 so far) whom has not been lovely, with the children's best interests at heart. All the best and good luck.

[Bellenden Belle]

Just to say a huge thank you to everyone for your replies and your pms. I feel very reassured - particularly that early intervention is the best thing I can do and that children actually enjoy the sessions.

We're going to one of the drop in sessions on Monday - anybody looking for an updated list of where and when they take place it's here:

http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200279/parenting_support_and_courses/2480/speech_and_language_drop_in-under_fives/2

I'll let people know how I get on.

Again, many thanks.

[stevesmith]

At two years old I wouldn't worry to much if he only has a few words under his belt. He is just about to turn two based on what you posted, and it isn't exactly uncommon for most children to say very little until they are two. I know I was worried about our daughter because she wasn't very verbal before she was two. She turned out to be perfectly fine and picked up a huge vocabulary between two and three. If he gets closer to three and still doesn't have a very extensive vocabulary you should begin to consider getting help. As for right now, be patient and see what happens.

[peggoula]

I know this has not been updated for a while. I have a 19 month old that only has a couple of words and just wondering if it's time to take him to one of these drop in sessions? How have you found them if you've used them? Thanks.

[Bellenden Belle]

I don't think there is any harm in going along to a Chattertime session. As you will see from this thread, I started down this road when my son was 23 months. Five months on, I'm really pleased I started when I did because my son still has difficulties but I feel we're getting lots of support and early intervention really is important.

Also, the sessions are really enjoyable and all the tips and strategies given to parents are helpful, whether your son ends up having difficulties or not. The Bessemer Grange sessions aren't as good so if you can make the Rye oak sessions on a Thursday morning I would

- craft activities, stories, songs and snacks. And a fantastic therapy team.

[peggoula]

Ah thank you this really helps. Will probably go on the drop in on Thursday and take it from there. Much appreciated.

[verivoice]

Hello!

If anyone is looking for a private SLT i start working again in September. My website is www.verivoicetherapy.co.uk

Best wishes

Verity