Help for Children with SLCN
Afasic supports parents and represents children and young people with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN).
Children with speech and language and communication needs (SLCN) need to be taught the speech, language and social communication skills which other children learn naturally. The best results are achieved if such extra help is introduced as early as possible. Within this framework every child has his or her own individual needs
Speech, language and social communication needs
- Most children with speech and language impairments need speech and language therapy
- They will also need specialised teaching
- Some require access to signing in order to develop their communication and literacy skills
- Others may need alternative means of communication – for instance, voice boxes or symbols
- A number of children with severe difficulties need help throughout their school life and beyond.
It is important that teachers, therapists and parents work closely together to meet the needs of each individual child.
Most children with speech and language impairments need speech and language therapy. Speech and language therapists can undertake assessments to identify difficulties which a child may have.
A few facts about speech and language therapy:
Parents can refer their child to a speech and language therapist and do not need a referral from a GP.
A child who requires long-term speech and language therapy may require a statement of educational needs
The law in most cases regards speech and language therapy for children as an educational provision. It can be provided or funded by a local education authority (LEA) as well as by a health trust.
Research and experience tell us that:
Outcomes do vary but, with the right help, most children grow up to find work, live independently and have their own families.
Some children overcome their difficulties entirely. In particular, many young children who are not really talking at 2 catch up by the time they start school. This is most likely if the children do not have:
- difficulties understanding language
- behaviour problems or
- poor motor skills
The longer that SLCN persists into the school years, the lower the likelihood of it resolving completely. But the way it affects children tends to change as they get older. Their speech and language usually improve, often to the point where they can appear to the casual observer to talk quite well. What they find much harder, though, are the more subtle aspects of language they will increasingly encounter as they move up through school and into adult life – things like figures of speech, abstract concepts and complex sentence structures. These higher level language skills underlie the ability to:
- Make inferences, draw conclusions and interpret evidence
- Argue a case, explain your reasoning and express opinions
- Use and understand irony, sarcasm and word play
For more information go to: Afasic
Written by Rachel Harrison, speech and language therapist, on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services.
