Speech and Language Therapy Toolkit

Our Speech and Language Therapy Toolkit contains advice, activities and general resources to help with the development of children and young people's speech, language and communication skills.

Common Queries

 

Early Communication

Before children learn to talk they need to develop their early communication skills, such as: looking, joint attention, taking turns and listening. Some children have difficulties with social skills and interaction i.e. being able to use language and non-verbal communication including eye contact, facial expressions and body language. These skills are regarded as the foundation to speech, language and communication development.

Please see our resources below to help support the development of early communication skills.

Strategies to help understanding:

Interaction Strategies:

Visuals:

Useful Websites:

Early Language

Some children take longer to start using single words and to learn how to put words together into short phrases and sentences.

Please see our resources below to help support the development of early language skills. You may also want to look at our Late Talkers: How to help your child page for further strategies and advice.

Early Language Downloads:

Useful Websites:

Language

Spoken language means; grammar, vocabulary, the structure of sentences, re-telling stories/events, understanding questions, following instructions. Children can have difficulty with some or all of these areas.

Children who have difficulties with language past the age of 5 can be diagnosed with 'Developmental Language Disorder'. Read our Developmental Language Disorder parent information leaflet.pdf [pdf] 411KB for further information.

Language Downloads:

Expressive / Grammar

Understanding / Blank Levels

Narrative

Colourful Semantics

Vocabulary

 

Visuals

Secondary

Useful Websites:

Speech Sounds

Some children have difficulty with certain sounds, which can make them difficult to understand.

Please see our resources below to help your child listen and hear the difference between sounds. There is also information about typical development to help guide parents and professionals to know when to refer their child for further support.

Speech Sound Downloads:

Stammering

Around 5% of children will experience stammering, particularly between the ages of two and five. Stammering or stuttering is when your child: repeats parts of words (‘m-m-mummy’) repeats short words (‘and-and-and’), gets stuck on the first sound and nothing comes out (‘…I want an ice cream'), and stretches out sounds (‘mmmummy’) You might also notice that your child: uses body movements to help get their words out, shows tension in their face, holds their breath or takes big breaths before talking or avoids eye contact when talking. Each child is different and your child may experience any combination of the above stammering behaviours. 

Please see our resources below to help support your child who stammers, and further information about how and when to seek help.

Stammering Downloads:

Useful Websites:

Reluctant Talkers / Selective Mutism

Some children can become reluctant to talk or communicate in certain environments or with certain people.

Please see our resources below to help children who are reluctant with their talking.

Reluctant Talkers Downloads:

 Useful Websites:

Eating and Drinking

Difficulties with swallowing food and/or drinks is known as ‘dysphagia’. 

Signs of Dysphagia:

  • Coughing or choking before swallowing
  • Breathing difficulties when feeding
  • Back Arching
  • Gagging
  • Loss of food/liquid from mouth during mealtime
  • Difficulty chewing foods at age appropriate level
  • Noisy or wet vocal quality following eating
  • Extended time required for meal times

How can Speech and Language Therapists help?

We often work with colleagues of different professions for example, Dieticians, Occupational Therapists, Paediatricians and Physiotherapists to:

  • Assess a child’s swallowing difficulties
  • Improve safe swallow function
  • Improve nutritional intake
  • Provide tips for making mealtimes easier at home
  • Implement feeding/swallowing techniques
  •  Develop treatment plans based on each individual child’s needs

Please see our resources below to help children who have difficulties with their eating and drinking.

Eating and Drinking Downloads :

 Useful Websites:

Voice

Voice disorders in children occur most frequently between the ages of 7 and 12 years. Hoarseness (also known as dysphonia) refers to altered vocal characteristics such as voice quality, pitch, resonance, vocal effort or loudness.  Heavy use of the voice or using a loud volume can increase the risk of voice disorders such as vocal nodules in children.  Some children may experience voice difficulties as a result of psychological or emotional factors.  Dysphonia usually resolves within 7-10 days.  However, individuals with a hoarse voice for more than 3 weeks should be assessed by their GP and / or ENT.

Please see our resources below to help support your child with voice difficulties.

Voice Downloads:

Useful Websites:

Other Useful Links

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As a patient, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support. 

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