What Are Speech, Language And Communication Needs?
The term speech, language and communication needs describe difficulties across one or many aspects of communication
including:
• Problems with producing speech sounds accurately
• Stammering
• Voice problems, such as hoarseness and loss of voice
• Problems understanding language (making sense of what people say)
• Problems using language (words and sentences)
• Problems interacting with others. For example, difficulties understanding the non-verbal rules of good communication
or using language in different ways to question, clarify or describe things.
Speech, language and communication needs can be addressed through effective early intervention. Others are more
permanent and will remain with a person throughout their childhood and adult life.
Who Has Speech, Language And Communication Needs?
Speech, language and communication needs can occur in childhood as primary difficulties with speech, language and communication or secondary to other developmental conditions such as autism. They can also be acquired in adulthood.
Children
Speech, language and communication needs are some of the most common childhood disabilities. They are also linked with social disadvantage: more than half of children in socially deprived areas may start school with impoverished speech, language and communication skills. Developmental conditions that appear in childhood, such as stammering or speech impairment disorders, often cause speech, language and communication needs in children and young people. Some conditions are present from birth and individuals may need support throughout their lives. For example, children with cerebral palsy often experience difficulty articulating particular speech sounds, while some cannot make themselves understood at all.
Adults
Acquired disorders often cause speech, language and communication needs in adults. For example, brain injury or progressive illnesses can occur at any point across an individual’s life span. A third of stroke survivors say their ability to understand, speak, read or write is affected by their condition and everyday tasks, such as answering the telephone, become impossible.
Why Is It Important To Address Speech, Language And Communication Needs?
Speech, language and communication needs can have a detrimental impact on the quality of life of both children and adults. For example, conditions such as aphasia and dysarthria (difficulty speaking caused by problems controlling the muscles used in speech) can cause difficulties in communicating basic needs, holding conversations and participating in social situations. In the case of individuals with severe and complex needs, they may experience profound problems in both understanding and using language and have severe social interaction difficulties. Speech, language and communication needs can also have a direct impact on children’s development and educational outcomes, health and wellbeing. If left unaddressed, they can adversely affect children across their life span.
Speech And Language Therapy Can Help
Speech and language therapists assess and treat speech, language and communication needs in people of all ages to help them to communicate to the best of their ability. Using specialist skills, speech and language therapy work directly with patient, carers and other professionals to develop personalized strategies that support people with speech, language and communication needs. They also provide training and strategies to the wider workforce, such as teachers and care assistants, so they can identify the signs of speech, language and communication needs, improve the communication environment of people with speech, language and communication needs, and provide effective support.