Speech, language and communication skills are important components of a child’s development. When a child is growing up, their speech and language abilities give them access to the world and people around them. They learn to communicate effectively with others and shape their thoughts and feelings with the appropriate words, phrases or sentences. Studies have also shown that children who have good language and communication abilities perform better at school.

Some children, however, face challenges in their speech, language and/or communication, where they may experience unclear speech sounds, impaired language development or even feeding difficulties. Contributing factors could include hearing loss, cognitive or developmental deficits or brain injury.

Types of disorders include:

• Speech Disorder (Articulation, Phonology, Dysarthria or Apraxia of Speech)
• Language Disorder (Developmental or Acquired Language Disorder)
• Feeding, Eating, Drinking and Swallowing Difficulties (Fussy Feeding or Dysphagia)
• Social or Pragmatic Language Disorders
• Oromotor Difficulties
• Fluency (Stammering or Stuttering)
• Voice Disorders (Dysphonia)
• Hearing Impairment

Speech-Language Therapy (or Speech Therapy) is the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of such communication and feeding difficulties. It is highly recommended that intervention should start as soon as the child is diagnosed for better and more lasting improvements.

Speech-Language Therapy can help children to:

• Improve vocal quality
• Strengthen the ability to speak coherently
• Enable proper expression of their thoughts and feelings
• Prepare them for school with improvement in talking, writing, reading or listening
• Develop good eating and drinking abilities and habits
• Facilitate socialisation with peers and adults
• Develop self-confidence and healthy self-esteem
• Boost physical, mental and emotional health
• Improve quality of life
• Reduce frustration caused by communication breakdowns