Communication difficulties put children at greater risk of poor literacy, mental health issues and poorer employment outcomes in adulthood. Speech and language therapy is a vital service that improves children’s language and communication skills, and aids their personal development.
How Speech And Language Therapy Services Can Help
Speech and language therapy is an effective intervention in supporting children with speech, language and communication needs. Benefits extend beyond language gains and include improvements in social skills, peer relationships, self-confidence and literacy.
Children And Young People’s Mental Health Services
Many children and young people who access mental health services have speech, language and communication needs. These include communication needs that existed prior to a mental health problem, and communication difficulties which are part of a mental health disorder, or a combination of the two.
What Are Speech, Language And Communication Needs?
A person with speech, language and communication needs may have difficulties understanding and remembering what is said to them; explaining and expressing themselves; or following the ‘rules’ of social interaction. Some speech, language and communication needs are considered to be a hidden disability, because they are not immediately obvious.
How Does Communication Impact On Mental Health?
Role Of Speech And Language Therapy In Autism
• Adolescents with developmental language disorder (DLD) are more likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety
than their peers.
• Problems with pragmatic language (social communication) in childhood are associated with psychotic experiences in
adolescence.
Communication difficulties are a barrier to accessing psychological therapies
• Many psychological therapies rely heavily on the individual’s ability to use language – to identify treatment goals,
articulate the difficulties they are experiencing, reflect on their strengths and resources, and regulate their own
behavior and interactions.
• Therapies may need to be adapted for children and young people with neurodevelopmental conditions, learning
disabilities or other communication needs.
How do mental health problems impact on communication?
Mental health disorders can impact a person’s ability to communicate. For example:
• Eye contact, facial expression and intonation may be reduced in people with depression.
• Children who are socially anxious may find it difficult to speak to an unfamiliar person. Selective mutism is an anxiety
disorder in which a person is unable to speak in certain social situations.
• People with psychosis may experience disorganized thinking and speech.