Speech and language assessments are a complicated process and are different for each client. The therapist is looking to establish the child?s communication strengths and weaknesses, and identify any communication breakdowns. Specifically they will be looking to ascertain the level and severity of impairment.
Attention – a child needs to be able attend, focus and concentrate on verbal and non-verbal communication.
Hearing – a child needs to be able to physically hear speech without difficulty. Some children are born with hearing impairment, others may develop otitis media or glue ear after ear infections. Any hearing impairment can affect a child’s ability to acquire speech and language effectively.
Listening/Auditory processing a child needs to be able to make sense of what they are hearing.
Language processing a child needs to be able to process incoming language for meaning (at sound, syllable, word, phrase, sentence and conversation levels). This allows vocabulary and concept development.
Reading, writing, spelling (dyslexia) are also aspects of language processing in written language, where the recognition and perception of sounds is necessary for the processing of letters.
Sentence formulation – a child needs to be able to express themselves in a coherent and logical manner by formulating sentences accurately, secondary to what they intend to say.
Articulation – a child needs to be able to produce clear speech, by planning and producing accurate articulatory sequences. The child also needs to be able to self-monitor their speech to ensure that what they are saying is accurate, and to self-correct if necessary.
Communicative context – the child needs to be able to communicate effectively in social situations, by reading social cues and inferring meaning from the use of non-verbal communication such as facial expression, tone of voice and body language.
Sensory processing is also important as the child’s balance, coordination and other senses including tactile and kinaesthetic feedback affects their perception of communication.
A child may have impairments at one or more of these levels, as they are not distinct processes independent of each other, but are intertwined and related. For example, if a child has an auditory processing difficulty then this may also affect their ability to produce language effectively
If you think that your child may benefit from speech and language therapy or associated therapies, Integrated Treatment Services could be of help. Contact us here:
https://integratedtreatmentservices.co.uk/contact-us/enquiry
Sarah Bennington, July 2012
Written on behalf of Integrated Treatment Services.
Integrated Treatment Services is a private Speech and Language Therapy service based in Leicestershire, East Midlands and Southern England. It specialises in providing highly-skilled Speech and Language Therapists, but also associates with other therapeutic professionals, including Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists and Arts Psychotherapists.
