The word Specific is used because it is a difficulty isolated to speech and language alone. These difficulties are not associated with other conditions, such as cerebral palsy, hearing impairment or autistic spectrum disorders. The words Speech and Language are also used because the child could have a difficulty with either the sounds of language (speech) or understanding the language they hear.

The communication charity ican explains that children with SLI are individual.

They may:

• Have difficulty saying what they want to, even though they have ideas

• Talk in sentences but be difficult to understand

• Sound     muddled; it can be difficult to follow what they are saying

• Find it difficult to understand words and long instructions

• Have difficulty remembering the words they want to say

• Find it hard to join in and follow what is going on in the playground

Some children have mild problems that are short-lived while others have severe and persistent difficulties with both understanding and talking.

Children with SLI often find ways of getting by such as watching and copying. Having SLI can be frustrating for children; they may develop behaviour difficulties because of this. Very often children with SLI have difficulty learning to read and spell.

What causes SLI?

There is no obvious cause of SLI. We know that the speech and language part of the brain does not develop in the right way, even though there are no other problems, and that genes play an important part in causing SLI. Unfortunately there is no medical test to see if a child has SLI or not.

How many children have SLI?

Studies have shown that in 5 year olds, SLI affects about 2 children in every classroom (about 7%). It is more common in boys than girls.

How can children with SLI be helped?

Children with SLI won’t learn language in the same way as other children, just by being spoken to and encouraged. They need language to be taught. They need to get the right support to do this so that they can learn and develop to their full potential. Without this support, SLI may cause a child lifelong difficulties.

Children with SLI will continue to need support throughout school. The type of difficulties a child with SLI has can change as they get older. For example they may get better at understanding what other people are saying but still struggle to put sentences together.

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists states that this is a language impairment which impacts on the child’s ability to reach their full potential. It affects the child’s ability to communicate effectively, access the school curriculum, and has emotional and social consequences which affects participation and well-being.

The speech and language therapist will provide programmes/interventions packages which are aimed at developing specific dimensions. For example, in school age children the packages of care aim to help the child better access the curriculum and develop appropriate social skills and provide advice and support on social interaction in different settings in and out of school.

Go to www.ican.org.uk to read the SLI Handbook for more information about SLI.

Visit www.rcslt.org for more information on SLI.

Written by Rachel Harrison, speech and language therapist, on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services.

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