So frustrating

[sherrardk]

Thing 2 has been attending one-to-one speech therapy sessions for about four months and made some progress. The speech therapist went on maternity leave and he was transferred to a language group. We have been twice this week, for two hours each time, and I feel it is a bit of a cop out. It seems to be a vastly over-staffed, small playgroup for children with lots of problems, not just speech. I asked today what the plan was for his particular problem and the speech therapist was very half-hearted about it all - 'oh well, we use simple language, etc, etc'. The boy starts school next September and it takes at least six months to get him assessed for any additional funding that he might need to support him in school. His first review is not until the second week of November and I feel that is too long to just go along with things. Anyone got any thoughts on what I should be doing to impart a sense of urgency into the whole process (I did voice all of my concerns today but I hit a brick wall). Thanks. (Ps - he might well start talking of his own accord but I need to put things in place now, I can't stand the thought of him going to school, unable to communicate with anyone.)

[DaisyNonna]

Sher, make as much fuss as you can. Shout loud and long. Bombard your G.P. Write to the newspapers. Local and national. Lobby your M.P. Contact the school he will attend (if you know it) now, so that his needs can be accommodated well in advance. Advertise for any other parents with similar problems locally. If there are others, form a working group. I am sure you will have thought of all these options. Take a deep breath and fight.
Do you have the time and resources to train as a speech therapist yourself?
I know that they are in short supply.

Best wishes.

[giveup]

Go in fighting and keep us up to date. Good Luck.

[sherrardk]

Hi Daisy - fully capable of making a fuss but was worried that I was jumping the gun. Personally I wouldn't have the patience to be a speech therapist (or the time to do a degree - just googled it). It's just the thought of the boy going to school, not being able to communicate with anyone breaks my heart.

[tigwig]

Good luck with getting further help. I am sure your little one will start talking eventually. By the way thats so sweet that he can still tell you he loves you (almost brought a tear to my eye actually :)