What is a Paediatric Speech-Language Therapist?

A paediatric speech-language therapist assesses and provides tailor-made treatments, support and care for children who experience difficulty communicating. Good communication involves the following skills:

Speech: the ability to say sounds in words so that other people can easily understand you. (i.e., clearly, fluently, with the appropriate use of one's voice and resonance)
Language: involves both the understanding and sharing (i.e., expression) of ideas using words and sentences, usually in spoken or written form
Social communication: the ability to accurately interpret the context of the conversation, understand non-verbal cues and follow the social conventions that govern communication, such as the use of social greetings, changing the way you talk to suit the listener and setting (i.e., a friend versus a person in authority), following conversational and story-telling rules (e.g., turn-taking, topic maintenance)..etc. These are essential tools in building relationships with other people.
Literacy: involves the reading and comprehending of text and the ability to express one's ideas in writing.

"You need language skills to communicate. And you need to communicate to learn."

(American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], n.d., "Effect of Speech and Language Problems on Learning" section, para. 1). Communication is not just speaking but involves hearing, listening, gesturing, understanding, social skills, reading, and writing. The earlier intervention is received in addressing any communication difficulties.

The more likely a child will become the effective communicator s/he needs in the life spheres most vital to them, i.e., home, school, and friends.

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