Let's Talk with your baby: great 8 week course for parents of babies aged 3- 12months

Team work makes it so much easier...... the A Team!

On Tuesday I went to see a little girl aged 4 years at home, who I'll call 'A'. This time last year, she was at the 'own agenda' stage of development where she didn't really see the point of communication. Her attention span was extremely short and she was more interested in my bangle than me. I couldn't see any verbal understanding. Her only expression was echolalia.

This week, we have a bright, little girl who will be starting school in September: she has a developing attention span, can understand  short instructions, uses language to get what she needs and to express herself. She can even tell you what she doesn't want very vocally! Her social interaction is developing well with children and adults. She now has a diagnosis of ASD. The only thing I'm worried about now is that she will be overlooked as she is so well behaved. 

Is this a miracle? Yes in a way it is, but it's actually the result of fantastic team work. At the centre is a parent who has done absolutely everything suggested, even when that meant making life harder for herself e.g. as part of getting A from 'own-agenda' to the next stage there was no helping herself to chocolate, she had to request a piece at a time, which was in a clear plastic box which she couldn't open on her own. As you can imagine, A wasn't happy!

• The key worker/SENCO who had worked tirelessly to achieve all the targets set, 
• The nursery who allowed it to happen
• The extremely knowledgeable, Early Years Advisor who co-ordinated everyone
• The lovely and very patient, NHS SLT who reviewed, set targets and saw as often as she could
• An excellent paediatrician who recognises ASD in girls
• me: I've worked through individual coaching for More Than Words and then worked on components of language and communication.

We've all worked together for the good of A. Well done to the A team! :-)

www.private-speech-therapy.co.uk

0844 704 5888

office@smalltalk-ltd.co.uk

The delayed effect of anxiety on children: 'complete fabrication on the part of the parent'

My role is to see children with ASD, Selective Mutism and complex communication difficulties. I don't mean complex needs, I mean complicated profiles and even more complicated situations. Many of these children are very anxious. I know that the more complex the case, the more simple my explanation needs to be. Time and time again, I see parents who describe their child one way and schools who see something different and completely refute what the parent is saying, even if they have the scratches and bruises to confirm it.

It is described as a 'delayed effect' or the 'pressure cooker' situation. I like to see it as 'the bottle of pop phenomenon'. the child keeps it together, maybe doesn't like to draw attention to themselves or can 'just about manage' until 3.30pm. There might be small signs, that someone who who knows the child well or someone experienced in childhood anxiety can spot, such as slight eye or vocal tic or the picking at the skin on their thumb.Then when they get home all hell erupts. The bottle has been shaken all day and the top comes off at the door. The door where they feel safe and secure with a parent who understands them, won't judge them or hate them whatever they do.

I've had this reported 12 times in the last few months alone,  but there is little written about it which might help professionals understand that what they see isn't always the true picture:

• the child with anxiety who smiles, so can't be worried at school
• the child who is sweet and polite so can't have sworn uncontrollably at their mum last night
• the timid, quiet child who can't possibly have inflicted those bruises because the lessons changed today
• the 'normal' child who does as he's told can't be demand avoidant at home
• The child who seemed happy for a new member of staff to take the class as he didn't say anything, can't have trashed the house when he got in
• the girl who said nothing  in class can't possibly have had a melt down at home because they'd moved the cupboard to the other side of the classroom
• the kind, helpful girl can't have scratched her mum so badly she drew blood when all she was trying to do was to give the ipad to a man to take to repair
• the 'ideal pupil' who loves school can't really hang onto the door handle and fight both parents every single morning because he doesn't want a bath

These are all real cases and some of you reading this will know who I'm talking about.

It must be parenting, it must be the parent, the parent must be fabricating........ I think NOT!!! We need training for staff in spotting the (often well hidden) signs of anxiety. It can be directly related to language and communication difficulties as they struggle to cope to understand or fit in......bit like a swan paddling away furiously underneath. It's exhausting for the swan and he needs a break after  a short time. It may also be related to sensory issues or both.  One thing is for sure, the parents need support not disbelief.

www.private-speech-therapy.co.uk

Small Talk in Sutton Coldfield: Sophie Harding, Small Talk's latest recruit

We're delighted to introduce Sophie Harding who will work with the Small Talk team in Sutton Coldfield and other areas of Staffordshire

About Me:
My Name is Sophie Harding and I am the Small Talk Speech and Language Therapist covering Sutton Coldfield and surrounding areas. I have a BSc (Hons) degree in SLT and I am Makaton and Camperdown trained. I am married with two young children.

My Work:
My work focuses on children who have difficulties with communicating. This includes understanding language, using language, producing speech sounds clearly and interacting with the world around them.
I provide all children, families and teaching staff with the support they need to reach their potential.

How I can help:
I can provide detailed assessments, tailored treatment programmes, training and support for families, teaching staff and other professionals. We can be successful when we all work together. My time can be flexible to meet your needs and I work both in and out of term time.

Sophie Harding

0844 704 5888
www.private-speech-therapy.co.uk

Can I tell you about SM: an excellent addition to the ‘Can I tell you about..’ series

Title:   Can I tell you about selective mutism 
Author:  Maggie Johnson and Alison Wintgens
Publisher:  Jessica Kingsley Publishers

Selective Mutism (SM) is still a largely unknown and mis-understood condition, and to date the majority of books are written primarily from an academic point of view. ‘Can I tell you about Selective Mutism’ is an excellent addition to the ‘Can I tell you about..’ series of books and has been effectively written in two parts. The first half of the book is written from the point of view of a young girl named Hannah, who describes what it is like to live with SM and how it affects her relationships with other people; creating a sensitive and personalised undertone throughout the book. The second part of the book provides functional and practical strategies that can be used by parents, carers and teachers. Maggie Johnson and Alison Wintgens are pioneers in the world of Selective Mutism and have worked with this unique client group for over 20 years; they currently work with the leading UK charity SMIRA to support families of people with Selective mutism. 

The informal style of this book makes it an accessible and invaluable aid to all readers and I highly recommend it as a fantastic introduction when first learning to understand the condition. I have used it many times with families that I have worked with; as an engaging resource to read with the child when helping them to understand and explain the internal world they experience every day. ‘Can I tell you about Selective Mutism’ helps to dispel common myths that Selective Mutism is a refusal to talk by providing a powerful first-hand insight. There is still much debate about whose professional remit SM falls into and I recommend this book to be read by any professional supporting a child with the condition including speech and language therapists and psychologists.

It is available from www.speechtherapyactivties.co.uk

Natasha Hallam

Natasha Hallam, Specialist SLT, Small Talk SLT
Rating:  5
ISBN-10: 978 1 84905 289 4

Are you wondering if the More Than Words course is for you?

If so, listen to this to help you make up your mind.

https://audioboom.com/boos/4430176-more-than-words-course?t=0

Don't forget they start on monday 18th April:

1. Rising Brook Fire Station, Hsketh Rd, Stafford Stafford 7-9pm

2. Tamworth Fire Station, Marlborough Way, Tamworth 7-9pm

Look forwards to seeing you there!

Children’s Choice Therapy Centre open events

Children’s Choice Therapy Service Ltd are a group of specialist Occupational Therapists (including sensory integration accredited therapists), who provide independent services to special and main stream schools, health and social care as well as charities and individuals.  

Children’s Choice Therapy Centre is a new unit providing assessment, treatment and training.  The centre includes training facilities, opportunity for group work, specialist Occupational Therapy, and a full Sensory Integration based Occupational Therapy treatment room (built in association with ‘Spacekraft’ – sensory equipment providers).  This gives us the opportunity for more complex assessments and interventions, and to train and work alongside carers and parents to help embed treatment principles in to daily life to impact the child’s / young person’s every day tasks.

All are very welcome to attend / drop in on our open events, to see this new facility, and to learn more about our services.

Friday April 8^th: 3pm – 6pm

Saturday April 9^th: 2pm – 4pm

11D Lancaster Park

Needwood

Staffs

DE13 9PD

  

Alison Hart,

Sarah Sheffield, Samantha Armitage, Jessica Quinn, Sandra Town,

Mel Homan, Kikidyn Matemba-Belli

childrenschoicetherapy@gmail.com

www.childrenschoicetherapy.co.uk

07855234668