The Subtle Spectrum

To the teenager/ adult recently diagnosed or to those supporting an autistic person this book is for you

The Subtle Spectrum is an insightful account of Jo’s personal story as she navigates her way through life both pre and post her diagnosis. I felt like she had opened the door and let us in to share both her struggles and her successes.. At times it felt like I was intruding on some very personal moments. She has truly given an honest account of the lived experience of an autistic person.

.

Jo perfectly blends theory, research, and personal stories from a wide range of people
The book is insightful, honest and thought provoking.

Our aim should be not to just understand and accept but to provide the adjustments each individual autistic person requires that we support.
What adjustments can we make to include and support autistics?

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……because Speech Therapy Matters

A mouse took a stroll….

A mouse took a stroll through the deep, dark wood…….

🎶. Pause for a moment

• what can you hear?

• how many sounds can you hear?
  

🖐 How does it feel?

Can you find something that’s:

• hard

• soft

• rough

• smooth

Is the mud hard or soft?
- What would make it soft and squelchy?
- What would make it hard?

Find something rough and bumpy?
Can you do a tree rubbing using paper 📄 and a crayon 🖍

Find something that feels good to hold - a smooth stone, a pine cone, a stick, a leaf…….

🪞 What can you see?
Put a mirror on a tree trunk or table…. Then look down to look up.
Lie on the ground and look up at the clouds, what shapes can you see?

Smell 👃 & Taste 👅

Rub something between your palms to warm them and release their scent

If edible have a nibble ( try using some different herbs 🪴)

Move 🏃‍♀️

• roll down a hill

• go up and down some steps

• kick up a pile of leaves

• stretch out your arms and swoop & glide like a bird

• bounce and jump on some spongy moss

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. …….because Speech Therapy Matters

Follow your child’s lead

Over the past week I have been reminded that this strategy benefits all children no matter what level their language skills are at.

I bet you can guess what this one loves…

Let the child lead play

Allow your child to lead

• shows that you are interested

• allows us to enter the child’s world

• makes it more likely the child will stay with the activity

• Makes the interaction more relaxed and enjoyable

• Makes our language relevant and motivating

We need to join them

• on their level

• including what they are doing (exploring, banging, spinning, dropping, etc)

• without imposing the “correct way” to play with an item

So Pause and Observe what your child is interested in…. And join them in their areas of interest …………and remember to come with no plan or agenda

by Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……..because Speech Therapy Matters

The Power of Waiting

Never underestimate the power of waiting quietly

View fullsize

Bluebell in foreground, beach and sea in the distance

Go SLOW

Pacing means slowing everything down to allow time for your child to process the information provided and respond

You are waiting for your child to indicate that they have received your message.
If you jump in too quickly you give the child extra information to process and respond to.

Instead of rushing in PAUSE count to 10… or maybe even 15

When we pause we allow the child time to process what has been said, to notice the environment, to recognise feelings (self and others), to recall relevant memories, and to respond to this information.

Silence is your friend

Many of us struggle not to fill the silence. It may feel awkward and uncomfortable to wait. For the majority of us it is an approach that doesn’t come naturally.. It takes time and regular practise to develop the skill of slowing down and waiting. It can be helpful to video an interaction between yourself and your child to observe how you can develop the skill of PAUSING and WAITING.

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……because Speech Therapy Matters

Summer Holidays

Wow 🤩 it is almost the end of another school year

Boy and grandad walking on the beach

Sports Days, prize givings, graduation day, school trips, meeting your new teacher and end of year class parties are all signs that it is almost the end of another year.

My last Face to Face session for this year will be on 16th July

Sessions will recommence from Tuesday 7th September 2021

Have a wonderful summer holiday 😎

• Getting out in nature

• Meeting with family & friends

• Making time for Rest & Play

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……because Speech Therapy Matters

Speech Sounds

Targeting speech sounds

Speech sound development is a gradual process with some sounds developing much later than others. For example: b is present at 2;06 but r does not develop until a child is 7.
Simplification processes are a normal part of speech development but when should we be concerned and seek further support…

A boy with a bow and arrow

By 2 children should be able to:

• produce vowels accurately

• produce consonant sounds made with the lips. For example: b, p, and m. Followed by sounds made just behind the teeth (on the alveolar ridge) such as t, d, and n

If a child has vowel distortion, no consonants or is deleting initial consonants then refer on

By 3 1/2 years children should be able to:

• produce the back sounds k, g and ng

• produce the long sounds f and s

The following chart is an indication of when a sound should be secure in spoken conversation.

Typical Simplification Processes

The following are typical simplification processes that you will hear children use as part of their natural development.

Final Consonant Deletion

FCD is when a child deletes the final consonant in a word for example: boat is realised as “bow”. This usually resolves around the three years.

Fronting

Fronting is when a child produces a sound at the front of the mouth instead of at the back. Back sounds are k, g and ng. For example: cat is realised as “tat”. This usually resolves by 3 years 6 months.

Stopping

Stopping is when long sounds are produced as short sounds. For example: f is produced as b (bork is realised as fork) and s is produced as d (sock is realised as dock). Stopping of f and s usually resolves by 3 years 6 months. Stopping of v and s usually resolves by 4 years 6 months.

Cluster Reduction

Clusters are when we have either two or three clusters together, e.g. sp, bl, cr, str… Often these are reduced to one sound

S clusters - sp, sn, sm, st, sw, sk

For example: spoon 🥄 is realised as “boon”; snail 🐌 is realised as “nail” Reduction of s clusters should resolve by 4 years 6 months.

L and r clusters - bl, cl, sl and cr, tr, br, pr, tr, str, scr, spr, str

These resolve later usually between 5 and 7 years

If you have concerns it is important to raise these concerns with parents right from the start

If we share our concerns we can go on the journey with them

• Screening

• Monitoring

• Supporting

• Referring on if required (referral is not the time to start conversations with parents about your concerns. An onward referral should not be a suprise)

It is important to remember that some children are not ready to work on how they talk, they are still learning to talk. So before embarking on speech sound/ production work think about how a child’s other skills are developing:

• attention skills

• play skills

• turn taking skills

• use of gestures

• Understanding of language

• Expressive language

Other things to consider including:

• hearing (has this been checked)

• do they have frequent glue ear

• what other languages do they speak

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. …….because Speech Therapy Matters

Petition: Fund Speech Therapy

We want the Government to improve the lives of people of all ages with communication and swallowing needs by ensuring they are able to access the speech and language therapy that they and their families and carers need.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/587872

💰 Fund Speech and Language Therapy 💰

#FundSLT

It’s not just Play

⏰
When did you last play? When did you last throw yourself into a new experience, let your imagination run wild and have no real expectation of the outcome?

chances are it’s been awhile….

Research suggests we are

• built to play

• built through play

So what is PLAY?

• time spent without purpose

• all consuming (lose track of time / self)

• FUN

• Restorative

• its for EVERYONE not just for children
  

So what STOPS us PLAYING?

• Don’t feel you have earned it

• Seen as wasting time

• Seen as lazy

• Not enough time

• Seen as a “guilty pleasure”

• Need to get back to work

• Not seen as productive (productivity = self worth)

Girl swinging from railings

Our brains light up when we play. It helps develop our:

• logical thinking

• executive function

• contextual memory

Play is not a luxury it’s a necessity. Play is the foundation for living in a constantly changing and challenging world.

Play can

• Energises us

• Lift us out of the mundane

• Eases our burdens

• Renews our optimism

• Opens us up to new possibilities

Severe Play Deprivation can have life long consequences including

• increase in stress related diseases

• increase in depression

• lower immunity

• difficulty with cooperation

• increase in violence/ crime

How can we incorporate JOYFUL activities into all our lives?

You have permission to be PLAYFUL. Everyday seek to find a way to engage in play

• climb a tree/ rocks/ climbing frame/ a mountain

• ride a bike

• play on the trampoline

• invent games

• play a board game (focus is on taking part)

• play hide & seek

• play tag

• build a den / fort

• put on a show

• be creative

• water play

• sand play

• go explore

• get lost in a book

• take time for hobbies

• create art

• take on a new challenge just for FUN

Play is a state of mind….. take time to engage in activities that bring you JOY

Two boys playing & climbing on a rock

PLAY MORE…… Your success and happiness depends on it….

Delve deeper into PLAY

Read the book: PLAY - How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul by Stuart Brown

#Play

by Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. …….because Speech Therapy Matters

Communication For All

Communication is a basic human right. 1 in 5 of us will experience Communication Difficulties at some point in our lives.

Individuals, Businesses, Schools and Community Groups can support people with Communication difficulties by signing up for free #CommunicationAccess training developed by RCSLT and partners

Communication Access UK training to help support people with communication difficulties more effectively.

Sometimes the smallest changes bring about the biggest impact in people’s lives

It’s good to TALK

• Time - give time

• Ask (preferred method of communication. Don’t make assumptions)

• Listen - give your full attention

• Keep Trying (communication is a two way process)

Equality Act 2010 - make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities (including Communication Difficulties)

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

The opposite of Anxiety

…. What pops into your head when you think of the opposite of anxiety?

“Calm” “Relaxed”

what if you were to look at TRUST as the opposite of anxiety

For many people with autism they have difficulty with TRUSTING

• Other People

• Their Body (sensations/ feedback)

• The World around them

Barry Prizant & Dave Finch talk about TRUST and how we can support and build Trust in their Podcast

https://uniquelyhuman.com/2021/01/28/autism-and-building-trust/

I have shared this podcast directly with several people and they have found it so beneficial I thought it would be useful to share more widely.

I have added some key take away points from the podcast:

1. Allow your child to “be heard”. Acknowledge and try to understand their attempts to communicate. Interpret that tug of the hand, being pushed away, the point, the gesture, the vocalisation, the request to “stop” as meaningful communication. Support your child in getting their message across and being heard.

2. Dependable, reliable, clear. Do what you said you would do. If it is outdoor play at 10.00 then do it. Use VISUALS and GESTURES to support your spoken output. Take time to explain social rules and expectations.

3. Predictable, Structure, Consistent. Use Visual Times Lines/ schedules to prepare your child and make things more predictable.

4. Shared Control. Rather than imposing control give real options/ choices. Help your child feel in control and having an active part in their life rather than having things done to them. Engage them in collaborative problem solving, e.g. I wonder what we could wear on our feet so they don’t get cold and wet when we are playing outside?

5. Acknowledge Emotions. If we dismiss how they feel then how can they learn to trust their own body and the feelings they are experiencing. Validate their experience and provide supports for emotional regulation.

6. Use Respectful Language.

7. Avoid Excessive Intrusion. Reduce or eliminate physical prompting. Ask permission before using physical intrusion.

8. Positive Emotional Experiences. Celebrate successes. Take photos of activities, events that your child has enjoyed being engaged in. Support your child in building positive emotional memories. Create positive emotional memories by following your child’s lead and engaging in having a joyful experience together (no agenda, no challenges, no work)

9. Support self-regulation
   

Anxiety…..

Trust

Highly Recommended Book
Uniquely Human: A different way of seeing autism by Barry Prizant

#Anxiety

#Trust

#Autism

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

Screen Time

How much screen time is too much?

For under twos there is limited evidence for any benefits. For preschoolers the advice is less is best

for school aged and above: ……we are all different and therefore the amount of time spent on screens will be different for each child, young person or adult.

Firstly let’s look at the PROS for screen time

• escape from a tough world

• high Dopamine release (pleasure neurotransmitter)

• stimulating (instant & continuous)

• social (games/ social media/ connections)

• virtual world - feels more under your control

• instant gratification

• predictability

• repetition (calming/ soothing)

ScreenTime

However over time you need to do more to get the same levels of gratification/ release of dopamine and thus we start a vicious cycle of spending longer and longer using screens.

Agree on Limits

It is better to go for extra/ realistic amount of time than less and never keep to the limits/ rules.
The management of screen time initially is controlled by adults who choose the apps/ timers/ length of time allowed, but this control needs to be gradually released as children get older. We need young people to develop the skill of control and for them to manage their own screen time. Gradually allow the young person to select the apps/ timers/ alarms/ alerts that work for them. Talk together about what is a “reasonable” amount of time to be on screens/ gaming.

If a young person is displaying the following behaviours seek professional help. For example: lying around gaming; stealing; aggressive/ destructive behaviours.

When you set limits you as the adult need to understand the game/ activity, e.g. what does the game involve; how long does a typical game last; do you need to save progress; etc (this will involve you discussing the game with your child or sitting alongside them whilst they are playing the game or actually playing the game).

Pulling the plug will only result in a meltdown

• too quick/ sudden/ without warning

• inconvenient time

It is often helpful to give a 15 minute warning where you can together set realistic choices of what can be achieved in the time left.

Balance

How much is too much? The best question to ask is: “Is it getting in the way of other things?”

Our day consists of:

• Daily Activities ( wash, getting dressed, eating, etc)

• School/ work

• Chores

• Exercise

• Spare time

• Bedtime routine/ Sleep

Spare Time may include: gaming & hobbies. Just keep a check that gaming is not interfering with the other parts of the day.
Try and encourage and develop other areas of interest/ hobbies which don’t involve screen time. What else is your child/ young person interested in?

Build Self Awareness

It is helpful to become aware of what makes your child mad or upsets them. Try and avoid games that upset your child or make them angry (again this will vary).
Be aware of games that they get sucked into/ tend to loose all sense of time. This is especially pertinent for those personalities that can become “hyper focused”. Use apps/ timers to support them in setting limits and not ignoring everything else.

Transitions

Can you switch tasks quickly?
If transitions are difficult then Screen Time/ Gaming is NOT going to be beneficial during short breaks throughout the day or at the start of the day.

Sleep 💤

How long do you need to decompress at the end of the day?
Avoid screen times before bedtime (the length of time needed to decompress will vary for each person).
Avoid screens in bedrooms.

by Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……..because Speech Therapy Matters

Easter Holidays

Have an Egg-cellent Easter break

I will be working till 1st April…. Before having some time off with my boys.

Sessions will start again on 19th April 2021

A little bit of potato printing on brown wrapping paper. Use a cookie cutter to make some different shapes… have FUN 🤩

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……….because Speech Therapy Matters

A day of reflection

As we reach the anniversary of Lockdown… it is a time to remember and reflect

And then the whole world walked inside and shut their doors

And said we will stop it all

To protect the sick

To protect the weak

To protect the old

To protect us all

And nothing

Nothing in the history of humankind ever felt more like love than this

Some thought provoking questions:

What is the most important thing you have learnt this year?
Take nothing for granted…

How have you changed?
Being grateful for the small everyday things in life…

What new routine do you want to keep?
To get out in nature more…

Thank you for your part in helping us stay safe

#NHS

#key-workers

#Stay@Home

Thinking of all those who have lost loved ones during this past year

Happy St Patricks Day ☘️

An Irish Blessing ☘️

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

and rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Looking forward to when we can get back to see all our family and friends across the Irish Sea

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……..because Speech Therapy Matters

The SaLT who did a Vault

On #WorldBookDay a little poem written for all those SaLTs who did a vault into the world of tele-therapy.

We looked!

Then we saw her/ him come to a halt!

We looked! 

And we saw her/ him!

The SaLT who did a vault!

And s/he said to us,

So whilst Face2Face is still in our dreams

And we patiently wait for that special day.

I’ve got a few tricks that work on Teams 

I know some good games that we can play

I know everything’s shut 

And we can’t be in the same room.

But there’s no need to be stuck in this rut 

For today we can meet on Zoom

So you don’t need to stay away

Your sessions need not come to a halt.

There’s so many good games we can play 

When you know a SaLT who did a vault

Many thanks to all who guided us through those initial weeks of getting started on the path of online SaLT.
A big thank you to all those who have shared resources and ideas to help keep all our children and young people engaged in SaLT sessions online.

And a massive thank you to all those families and schools who have joined me on this journey through the world of #TeleSaLT

#TeleSaLT #mySaLTday

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……….because Speech Therapy Matters

Spring is Coming

Spring is on its way….

So let’s Spring into Action and go on a Scavenger Hunt. On your walk:

Listen to

• birds

• children playing

• sticks breaking

• lawnmover

• splashing water

What else can you hear?

Smell

• freshly cut grass

• a flower

Feel

• wind

• the rain

• the sunshine

• some squishy moss

• grass on your bare feet

• bark on the tree

Look for

• animal footprints

• human footprints

• fish in the water

• bird in a tree/ on a bird feeder/ on a wall

• spring flowers

• buds on the tree

What animals did you see?

Pretend to be different animals

• slither like a snake

• pant like a dog

• fly like a bird

• hop like a bunny rabbit

• gallop like a horse

• stomp like a dinosaur

• crawl like a crab

• jump like a frog

• Snap like a crocodile

#ImitateBodyMovements #CommunicativeGestures

Play Animal Charades ……….Take turns at guessing what animal everyone is pretending to be.

#TurnTaking

#Spring

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……….because Speech Therapy Matters

Make a stick man

This half term collect some sticks whilst out on a walk… then make your own stickman to go on various adventures. What will your stick become? … a flag, a Pooh stick, an arrow, a pencil, a wand….

Use your sticks to make various shapes. How many sticks do you need to make - a triangle? a square? a hexagon? A rectangle?

Uh oh it looks like a dog is chasing my Stickman.

Later on why not curl up on the sofa and read “Stickman” or watch it on BBC iPlayer.

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. …….because Speech Therapy Matters

Half Term

#Teletherapy #TeleSaLT #Snow

Yippee it’s FriYAY and even better it is half term. Whatever you get up to have a fabulous half term break.

Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. …….because Speech Therapy Matters

Write a letter

There is something quite special about receiving something in the post. So why not draw a picture or write a short note to someone you can’t see in person at the minute. It might be:

• a friend

• a grandparent

• a parent

• a nephew or niece

• a cousin

• aunt or uncle

• teacher

Who will you send your letter to?

#FebruaryLove

#ActsOfKindness

#SendLove

by Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ………because Speech Therapy Matters

Acts of Kindness

As we enter February I challenge you to 14 days of kindness. What can you do to Share the Love 💕

Here are a few ideas to get you started

By Sarah Winstanley, SaLT

Communication Lincs Ltd. ……..because Speech Therapy Matters