A rise in Speech and Language Needs?

[Guest]

I'm not sure if it is just my cohort but has anybody else found they have more children with speech and language needs?

 

I have 9 children that I have serious concerns about and 6 of which have had no issues raised at their previous pre-school setting.

 

These needs are having a massive impact on their learning and their parents haven't had any previous concerns either.

 

Just wondered if any others are in a simliar situation.

[Conker]

Hi Tinks, we are finding the same, but dont get me on my soapbox!

It makes me wonder about how many children actually get talked to at home? It is suprising the number of 3 year olds at our setting that have their own tv's in their bedrooms etc. I think if the childs quiet , the parents 'dont bother' ''oh they're happy playing'' whether it is infront of a tv, computer screen etc. cartoons are the worst, americanised, the child cant even see how the words are formed on the face. Children will just develop mute with these long index fingers for swiping across screens in future generations!!!!

 

sorry rant over!!!

[Cait]

I totally blame dummy use!!! Honestly, I have a four year old at preschool who still has one! They get shoved into children's faces the minute parents pick them up, the message clearly given that 'I don't want to hear you'.

 

Have you ever tried to speak around an object in your mouth? It doesn't work. Ever try to swallow a mouthful of saliva with your tongue held between your front teeth (like it's held down by a dummy) no wonder their tongues don't know how to help form sounds!

 

 

Sorry, a personal soapbox ......

[Conker]

Forward facing prams and pushchairs.......

convenience foods..............

not chewing meat and tough/raw veg and exercising those muscles.........

 

oh dear the list is endless and then we have to pick it all up at the 2yr check and get them talking by the time they leave us

[Guest LornaW]

I agree with all of the above and the only solution - all be it not immediate - is to talk! talk! talk! with and to the children. Songs, rhymes etc all of the things they have not had at home. Also lots of movement! I have a wonderful book called Finger Gym and she makes it very clear how movement is important for speech to develop. There is a lovely blog from New Zealand folk may be interested in

 

http://movingsmartblog.blogspot.com/

 

 

It is also so important to have good snack time for them to get that chewing action!

 

Adds a whole new meaning to 'in loco parentis'

 

Lorna

Edited October 24, 2012 by LornaW

[Rea]

What a great site, I'll copy it to the FSF facebook if you dont mind, it wont so easily lost there :1b :1b

[sunnyday]

Tinkerbell - yes massively agree - but really sad to hear that these problems haven't been picked up and acted upon at pre-school

 

Lorna - fab site thanks for sharing :1b

[Guest]

Not just an increase though for us this year for speech and language but toiletling and dressing skills. Everything about getting ready for school just seems to have been lost this year. We hvae so many children that can't go to the toilet - mess and wet themselves. Not able to get dressed for PE and get their coats on. With a class of 30 and if your TA is being used to get a child changed it takes up so much time.

[Guest]

I appear to constantly be referring children to SALT and often find by the time they eventually get seen, they say they will review in 6 months time!

 

I think they are so overworked they only want to take on the horribly severe cases, but I have at least 4 children with hideous speech issues. These children will be due in school in September!

 

Our setting is looking into training one member of staff up to be a language specialist to try and help children with issues within the setting and to help train other staff too.

[Cait]

That's a good idea Scarlettangel.

[Mouseketeer]

Totally agree scarlettangel, im sure our salt must think 'not them again', I remember a meeting many years ago that was proposing to have a pyramid salt that went into settings....It didn't happen, but surely if they came to us and worked with a small group at a time it would speed everything up, a member of staff could shadow then be able to support between visits, I phoned to find out why we'd heard nothing from a referal a few weeks ago to be told they're currently sending out appointments for June/July referrals !

Edited October 24, 2012 by mouse63

[redjayne]

We are an ECAT and ICAN setting and there has been an increase in children with delays over the last few years, we also had a SALT who came in to see the children in the setting and this worked well - unfortunately she went on maternity leave and her replacement said she had too many referals to do, to come and see them in settings , so back to the clinic it went - with a 16 week waiting list!

[Guest]

I am a child minder and have recently had a reception child start doing before school with me. Her speech is not very clear and I was going to raise this with mum. My older children were walking to school one day and passed the child and her mum who were on there way to mine. They said she had a dummy in her mouth! I personally have nothing against dummys and have used them with my children but they cant be used long term. Its parents who continue to let them have them for a quiet life that are the problem.

 

Another child I look after is 2yrs 7months. I referred him to SLT as his speech was very delayed. He is making progress but is still very far behind his peers but has been discharged. I have been told by someone who works there that this is probably because 5 of the SLTs are on maternity leave and have not been replaced and one has gone part time!

[Guest]

We are finding more and more children with speach issues. Totally agree with the posts that the problems are mainly atributed to dummies, busy parents, pushchairs and a generation that dont sing or talk to their children. We recently did a communication course and tried to complete an activity while sucking a lolly, try it, it's very telling.

We keep all the SALT activity sheets that anyone brings in so that we can do them with EVERY child.

With a 22 week waiting list we have to do something.

[Rea]

I appear to constantly be referring children to SALT and often find by the time they eventually get seen, they say they will review in 6 months time!

 

I think they are so overworked they only want to take on the horribly severe cases, but I have at least 4 children with hideous speech issues. These children will be due in school in September!

 

Our setting is looking into training one member of staff up to be a language specialist to try and help children with issues within the setting and to help train other staff too.

 

A lady from ICAN spoke at the PLA AGM last week, they have an accredited training programme. Maybe you could look at their web page for info. Although I think they can be quite pricey. http://www.ican.org.uk/

Look at talking point too, http://www.talkingpoint.org.uk/Parent.aspx

One of them has a free helpline for practioners to use because they understand how long you might need to wait for help. They give tips and advice, but I cant remember which one it is

Edited October 25, 2012 by Rea

[Froglet]

I have lots - several who have very indistinct speech or immature sentence structure - speaking in single words which you then end up clarifying with a question with gets a nod or shake of the head in response. I also have some who regularly (but not always so I know it's not just the way they talk) do 'baby voices'.

[Cait]

Baby voices drive me nuts!!! I had one last year who did it

[Rea]

Its not exactly what we call 'bilingual' is it even though the child has to learn 2 words for the same thing?

Gee gee - horse

Doggy - dog

Bic bic - biscuit

Brum brum - car

Don don's - MacDonalds (My friend and her 22 year old daughter still call it don don's) :blink:

[redjayne]

That made me smile Rea - my sister calls McDonalds the Chip House and her children have picked up on this and do the same - she thinks it sounds better when she says shall we go to the Chip House rather than McDonalds, she doesn't want to be seen as a 'slummy mummy !'