FAQ

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD NEEDS SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY?

If you have a concern that your child isn't using as many words as other children their age or their speech is difficult to understand it can be hard to know when to seek specialist support. Your health visitor or child's nursery should be able to give you general information on speech and language development, so i would advise you to have a conversation with your health visitor and child's teacher first. You can also use the progress checkers below to guide you on when a speech and language therapy assessment may be needed.

https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/talking-point/childs-progress-checker/

https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/talking-point/signs-and-symptoms/

WHAT IS A SPEECH SOUND DISORDER?

It is normal for children to make mistakes as they learn to say new words. There is a predictable pattern to they way sounds are learned and the types of mistakes young children can make. These early 'mistakes' are known as 'phonological processes'. These processes are usually eliminated naturally from a child's developing speech system between approximately 3 and 6 years old (some earlier and some later) but sometimes these processes persist for longer than they should. For example, If your 2 year old is replacing 'back' sounds [k] + [g] with front sounds [t] +[d] they may say 'tat' for 'cat' or 'dough' for 'go'. This would be considered typical for a child at age two. If this error pattern is still persisting in an older child that may indicate your child has a phonological delay and may benefit from some specific support with listening to and saying sounds in words.

Some very young children with more severe speech difficulties will have very limited language, they may only have a few recognisable words and their understanding of what you say to them can often be much better than their ability to use words. You may be able to understand what they need if they are very good at showing you and using gesture and other non verbal communication but your child may find it very difficult to communicate with others.

A 'speech sound disorder' describes a persistent difficulty in saying sounds or words correctly. It is a general term for a range of different types of speech difficulty.

Types of speech sound disorder

Articulation Disorder (physical production of sounds)
Phonological Disorder (sound patterns)
Motor Speech Disorder (speech movements)
Articulation and phonology can also be affected by structural/physiological differences e.g (cleft lip/ palate)

Speech sound disorders can only be assessed and diagnosed by a Speech and Language Therapist.

DO I STAY WITH MY CHILD FOR THE ASSESSMENT/THERAPY?

Parents are encouraged to attend the Initial assessment. You may stay for all or part of the assessment depending on what you feel will work best for your child.

We will spend some time discussing the outcome of the assessment to help you to understand what you can do to support your child at home.

DO I NEED TO COMPLETE ANY PAPERWORK PRIOR TO THE ASSESSMENT?

Yes. You will need to return a singed copy of my T&C's prior to booking your assessment appointment.

Next, complete and return the case history form sent to you at the time of booking, this will help with discussion of your child's needs of the day of the assessment.