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Early intervention is best
Speech, language and communication skills are vital to a child’s early development as they underpin both learning and social interaction. Children should be developing their first words by 18 months. By two years old children should be combining words to make two or three word phrases and extending their vocabulary significantly to around two hundred words. By four, they should be intelligible in speech and have acquired a wide, nearly adult range of sounds.
Around 6% of children are affected by some form of speech, language or communication disorder. This causes great frustration for the child and s/he may ‘withdraw’ in certain situations, using physical means to communicate. Additionally, inadequately understanding language significantly impacts on learning and also affects emotional development and behaviour. People underestimate a child’s potential simply because they may not express themselves well.
A referral to a speech and language therapist is appropriate if a child is nearing two years and hasn’t started using any words, or if by two and a half they are not making little phrases, or, if their speech is fairly unintelligible by three and a half.
Therapy is structured in various ways. The London Children’s Practice provides group sessions and 1-1 therapy, and visit a large number of schools. Research has shown that early intervention is extremely effective. It’s far easier to work with children in areas of speech and language when they are in the early stages of learning, whilst skills are developing. By addressing speech and language difficulties at an early age, this hopefully prevents other areas of learning, behaviour or social development being affected.
The London Children’s Practice is a multi-disciplinary clinic offering a fully comprehensive assessment, diagnostic and therapy service for families and children requiring any level of child support. The practice embraces the full spectrum of speech, language and communication disorders – from speech difficulties, voice disorders and weaknesses in expressive and receptive language to literacy difficulties and social communication impairments.
Simply contact LCP on 020 7467 9520, or email clinic@londonchildrenspractice.com to see how we can help. Main clinic in Wimpole Street, W1 with a new clinic opening shortly in Lee Green. Other clinics in Hampstead, Wandsworth and Chelsea.
Published at: 16 July 2010
