Children and young people can have naturally occurring developmental speech, language and communication differences. These differences can make joining in with others and participating in daily life more challenging.
Children may not as easily understand what other people are saying and they may find social interaction more difficult. Some children may be harder to understand, or later to speak and be slower in putting their words together.
A Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) can help families and carers to understand their child’s development so they can support their child in the most helpful way. Sometimes they may need to do some assessment to fully understand how the child is developing and what supportive approach works best for them. The SLT will work with you and always inform you of any assessment they do and agree any plan of action.
For more information look at the Speech and Language Therapy page on the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists website.
How can Speech and Language Therapists Help Children and Young People?
Because every child with speech, language and communication needs is unique, different approaches suit different children and their families. We will always aim to enable you, your child and the important adults in their life to find the best communication style for your child.
We will always put your child’s well-being first and help everyone in their life to understand, accept and support communication differences.
Every child with speech, language and communication differences is unique. When making a therapy decision, we use different approaches. We know these approaches work from our professional experience and research. We want therapy plans to focus on the needs of the child and their family. Results will be different for every child. This will be based on their own unique circumstances and motivation.
Treatment approaches aim to enable children, young people and their carers to maximise their skills. We also aim for children and young people to manage their own communication needs. They may need support from the adults in their world to do this. We will work together to agree a plan focussing on what matters to a child and their family.
Our care will always include advice and support. It may also include home programmes or support packs for school. In some cases we may work directly with you and your child. This may be in one to one settings, in clinics and at home. It could sometimes be in schools and nurseries depending on your child’s needs.
Some children have long term communication difficulties. These will not be resolved by attending Speech and Language Therapy. In these cases, we will support you and others in your child’s world to make the most of your child’s skills. We will do this by giving advice and ideas to try at home and school.
Children can have eating, drinking and swallowing differences. This may be as a result of a physical difficulty and/or can be a sensory difference. A Speech and Language Therapist will investigate the cause of the difficulty and look at any factors that could be influencing these differences. Children may have difficulty moving onto solids foods, have a limited diet, food refusal, or experience coughing, gagging or choking whilst eating and drinking.
The Speech and Language Therapist will assess the eating, drinking and swallowing skills and give advice to families, and carers. This advice may relate to a child’s positioning, how a child is fed or textures of food and drink. Speech and Language Therapists link with parents and other professionals involved as part of the team around the child or young person ensuring that they have positive and safe feeding experiences. An Eating and Drinking Plan may be written to act as a guide to support your child in their home, school or anywhere else they go.
Where do Speech and Language Therapists work in Specialist Children’s Services?
Speech and Language Therapists and Speech and Language Therapy Health Care Support Workers work in:
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (in the community and with inpatients)
The Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow (providing services to inpatients and outpatients)
Specialist Community Paediatric Teams
How do I contact a Speech and Language Therapist?
How do I contact a Speech and Language Therapist?
Speech and Language Therapists support children and young people with communication differences. These communication differences may have an impact on their everyday life.
If you are worried about your child’s understanding, talking, speech sounds or interaction you can contact us directly using the links for your area or the Helpline number for your area.
If you have any concerns about your child or young person’s eating, drinking or swallowing please contact your Health Visitor or GP in the first instance.
If you are looking for advice and support and are not known to Speech and Language Therapy then contact the advice line for your area.
Speech and Language Therapy Teams
If your child or young person is known to Community Speech and Language Therapy you can contact them using your local Speech and Language Therapy details.
If your child or young person is known to a Speech and Language Therapist at the Royal Hospital for Children you can find their contact details on the Speech and Language Therapy page on the RHC website/app.
If your child or young person is known to CAMHS Speech and Language Therapy contact them using your local CAMHS Team details.
How do I share feedback about Speech and Language Therapy?
How do I share feedback about Speech and Language Therapy?
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is committed to providing high quality care and treatment to our patients, and excellent service to others who use its services. Your feedback helps us build on what works well and improve what could be better.
Feedback
We encourage sharing feedback with staff delivering care, but offer various other ways for you to tell your story. It’s important to us that you can share your feedback about NHSGGC at a time and place you feel comfortable. You can find out more on our Share your feedback page.
Complaints
We understand, that sometimes things go wrong. If something goes wrong or if you are dissatisfied with something we have done, or have not done, please tell us and we will do our best to put things right. If we cannot resolve matters in the way you want, we will explain why it is not possible to do as you suggest. Find out more about our Complaints procedure or for further advice on how to make a complaint, please contact us via:
Approved By:
Speech and Language Therapy Professional Lead, KIDS Content Group, SCS Clinical Governance Executive Group
Reviewer name(s):
KIDS Content Group.
We are one of the leading paediatric care centres in the UK, and the largest in Scotland. We provide family centred care to newborns, infants, children and young people both in hospital and in the community.
KIDS for Families
Every child with speech, language and communication differences is unique. When making a therapy decision, we use different approaches. We know these approaches work from our professional experience and research. We want therapy plans to focus on the needs of the child and their family. Results will be different for every child. This will be based on their own unique circumstances and motivation.
