advice needed-speech inabilty and uk education

[musiq]

Hi.

 

I would welcome advice from other members regarding a difficult situation.

I have a foreign partner whose son has ASD. He has now reached ten years old. From his early diagnosis i have provided for his education (not free as in U.K). Previously he attended a special school in his home country and the last three years he has attended a regular school that also caters to students with special needs.

My worry is that he has not developed speech during this time (although he makes noises and can understand speech and commands). He's a lovely boy, very gentle and generally does not pose the difficulties which i know other children can exhibit. My concern is his lack of speech. I know that some people with ASD never develop speech and i am aware of this possibility. However, my worry is that i can't stop thinking about whether he would be better off receiving education in the U.K which could possibly bring along his ability to speak rather that that which he is receiving at present. I do not have experience of trying to gain education for ASD children in the U.K but have read and seen many TV debates where people have expressed their frustration at the lack of, or length of time to receive any provision. Therefore, i am quite confused as to if he would be any better off than where he is at present. I wouldn't want him to leave the schooling he has in place to come here and receive no correct provision. It's not about the money - i don't mind paying although it is very difficult. On top of this would be visa's etc which would take along time and would not be guaranteed as my partner and i are not married - although i think even if you are, immigration is so tight at the moment that it would still not be a dead cert.

I guess what i'm looking for is to hear other members experiences which may enable me to more clearly decide one way or another. I would particularly be interested in hearing from other members whose children also suffer lack of speech and any insight they can give as well as general comments on the realities and time frame involved in trying to gain specialist provision in the U.K.

 

All comments appreciated,

many thanks.

[Special_talent123]

there are different ways they can communicate, - makaton, augumenttive devices, speech therapy, pecs 'picture exchange communication. Speech therapy benefited me and i have autism, i sometimes unable to communicate so i use my ipad to communicate with a speech app. i am visual so i use pictures too

Edited July 13, 2012 by Special_talent123

[Lynden]

Does he received speech therapy in his current school? The main questions for me would be - is he making progress in other areas? Is he able to communicate outside of speech? Approximately 50% of people on the spectrum never talk, and even when they do it might not always be appropriate.

 

My son didn't talk at all until he was 6.5 years old. We often get asked what we/school did (he's in a school for children with severe learning difficulties). The answer is nothing we hadn't been doing for years previously - he just did. Many of his peer group in his specialist setting don't have speech but can communicate using symbols or sign. Although my son talks now and we get some appropriate language, we get a lot of babbled and echolalia too.

 

Speech therapy is a much sought after provision in the UK and I know many people struggle to get it. If you are willing to pay for it privately you can, but it's notoriously hard to get in schools.

 

Lynne