We need to find a private SLP for our 9yr old daughter. She has never qualified at school for Speech/Language. She still has trouble with her ‘r’s and has various articulation errors - mumbles alot. Other kids ask her if she is from a different country because of her ‘accent’? Even had some adults tell me that she speaks with an accent? She also has word-retrieval issues and all that goes along with that (i.e. vocabulary, grammar etc.)
Is it too late for us to gain any benefit from an SLP? How do I interview an SLP? What kind of questions should I ask them? I want to make sure I get the right person for our dd?
Last, any thoughts on how you would qualify for SLP services at school? What the discrepancies you look for? From what I can tell, our school’s SLP listens to the child talk for about 5 min. and if they can understand them, they don’t qualify. Heck, I’m her mother and I can’t always understand her! Seems like there’s a problem here?
Re: What do I look for in an SLP?
Check with your local Easter Seals most of them have SLP and if you qualify it is at no charge.
Check with the SLP at school if you have a teacher college close to you they may have a program.
I was very successful with a Sr. college student one summer she lacked experience but was as good as many experienced teachers.
I have the utmost respect for SLP’s they have worked with my son since he was 3 1/2 and his last year teacher thought he is about ready to stop speech.
When you find someone observe what they do and how your child responds anything negative won’t work. Your child needs to like the person.
Good luck.
Re: What do I look for in an SLP?
I was a public school SLP for 10 years and am now working as an LD teacher.
I have worked with SLP’s who won’t begin working with students with “r” errors until the end of second grade stating that these errors are developmental
in nature and can’t be expected to be produced correctly until after this age. I’ve also worked with SLP’s who think early intervention is the only way to go - and have worked with kindergarten students exhibiting this error….BUT, they’ve ALL always worked with r errors..sooner or later.
I believe in early intervention and have had success working with kids who had errors of substitution and/or distortion regarding the r sound at a very young school age (kindergarten-first grade). Also, just to note, “r” substitutions/distortions can be one of the most difficult articulation errors to correct.
If your child truly exhibits distortions on her r sound - and it sounds like she does- then she should have qualified for speech therapy (articulation) at her public school.
You can call your state department of education (just call the operator for the number), tell them you are a parent and that you want to speak with an advocate (you may need to give them more information so they can connect you with the right person). The state department can assign you an advocate - someone who knows special education law-who can represent you and your child (for free). (Speech therapy falls under the umbrella of special education).
As far as it being too late - it’s never too late. As kids get older, it does get harder for them to correct articulation errors but if they’re intrinsically motivated, it can be done. Same with language issues.
Good luck.
Put it in writing that you want her tested there are several test the speech therapist can use.My daughter has some of the same problems we have been doing speech since she was 3 is 9 now.My outside speech pathologist is my key to make sure school is doing right by her. You might ask your local college about speech therapists that have graduated and did well. Other professionals might know as well a peditrician, neurologist they all had good things to say about my speech pathologist and that was after I luckily found her.Good luck as it sounds like your speech pathologist doesn’t know what they are doing.