Ideas to develop your baby or child’s communication skills. Find strategies, activities and resources that will help your child develop understanding, talking or communication skills. The resources and activities might be things you choose to do yourself at home. They might also include more particular activities advised by a practitioner or activities and programmes that your child's school or setting might use. You may find more specific activities that can be advised or delivered by a speech and language therapist.
Ideas to develop your baby or child’s communication skills. Find strategies, activities and resources that will help your child develop understanding, talking or communication skills. The resources and activities might be things you choose to do yourself at home. They might also include more particular activities advised by a practitioner or activities and programmes that your child’s school or setting might use. You may find more specific activities that can be advised or delivered by a speech and language therapist.
On these pages you will find information, advice and support to help your child's communication which is listed under universal, targeted or specialist and ideas to do at home, your child's progress, services, activities you can do and general information and websites you can go to. Click on one of the universal, targeted or specialist signposts or one of the green buttons below to find out more.
On these pages you will find information, advice and support to help your child’s communication which is listed under universal, targeted or specialist and ideas to do at home, your child’s progress, services, activities you can do and general information and websites you can go to. Click on one of the universal, targeted or specialist signposts or one of the green buttons below to find out more.
Ideas to develop your baby or child’s communication skill
Last Update - 30/Aug/2024
Speech, language and communication needs (SLCN)
The most fundamental life skill is the ability to communicate. Speech, language and communication needs is the term used to describe difficulties with:
The most fundamental life skill is the ability to communicate. Speech, language and communication needs is the term used to describe difficulties with:
producing speech sounds accurately
stammering
voice problems, such as hoarseness and loss of voice
understanding language (making sense of what people say)
using language (words and sentences)
interacting with others, for example, difficulties understanding and using the non-verbal rules of good communication, using language in different ways to question, clarify or describe things or taking into account other people’s perspectives.
Some difficulties are short-term but others will be more permanent and remain throughout childhood and adult life.
Everyone with SLCN is different and may have difficulty with one, some or all of the different aspects of speech, language or communication at different times of their lives.
Learn more about the signs and symptoms children struggling with talking and understanding words may experience from Speech and language UK.
Last Update - 09/Sep/2024
Information (targeted)
What is Makaton?
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression. Find out more about Makaton here.
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. It supports the development of essential communication skills such as attention and listening, comprehension, memory, recall and organisation of language and expression. Find out more about Makaton here.
Bookstart aims to encourage a love of books, stories and rhymes in children from as young an age as possible. Whether you’re a family wanting to find out what Bookstart can offer you, or an early years partner involved in delivering Bookstart, you’ll find all the information you need right here.
Bookstart aims to encourage a love of books, stories and rhymes in children from as young an age as possible. Whether you’re a family wanting to find out what Bookstart can offer you, or an early years partner involved in delivering Bookstart, you’ll find all the information you need right here.
Looking for some inspiration for your Bookstart pack? Watch these video’s to find out what other families are doing with their packs.
Last Update - 09/Sep/2024
Activities (targeted)
Early Talk Boost
A program for 3-4 year old children in nurseries improves language and communication skills by 6 months on average in 9 weeks with parental involvement through shared books. Most importantly, the programme helps to boost their language skills to narrow the gap between them and their peers. The programme aims to accelerate children’s progress in language and communication by an average of 5 months after 9 weeks.
A program for 3-4 year old children in nurseries improves language and communication skills by 6 months on average in 9 weeks with parental involvement through shared books. Most importantly, the programme helps to boost their language skills to narrow the gap between them and their peers. The programme aims to accelerate children’s progress in language and communication by an average of 5 months after 9 weeks.
Ask your setting for further information.
Last Update - 09/Sep/2024
Home learning play packs
There are five play packs Mark Making, Music Bag, Singing Bag, Sensory Bag and Peekaboo. These are play packs that are left with families between Home Learning Environment workers visits to ensure the families have the resources to carry out the strategies that are put in place.
There are five play packs Mark Making, Music Bag, Singing Bag, Sensory Bag and Peekaboo. These are play packs that are left with families between Home Learning Environment workers visits to ensure the families have the resources to carry out the strategies that are put in place.
Last Update - 09/Sep/2024
Peep learning together programme
Supporting children's learning through play by providing activities for parents, carers, and practitioners to engage in during weekly sessions and at home. Watch this video to find out more.
Supporting children’s learning through play by providing activities for parents, carers, and practitioners to engage in during weekly sessions and at home. Watch this video to find out more.
Peep groups are for parents and carers and their young children – some are for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers (3-5) or young school-age children, while others are for mixed age children.
In Peep groups, practitioners and families share ideas and simple, low-cost activities that support your child’s learning in everyday life – talking, singing, sharing books and playing together. They’re also a great way to get to know other families.
Talk to your health visitor, early years setting or childminder about joining a group.
Last Update - 09/Sep/2024
Talk and Play
An interactive story and singing session to promote child development focusing on language and communication skills through sharing stories, singing and other area related activities.
An interactive story and singing session to promote child development focusing on language and communication skills through sharing stories, singing and other area related activities.
Eight one-hour weekly sessions aim to enhance communication skills in two-year-olds by involving parents and caregivers to promote language development based on research findings. Ask your setting for further information. Each session lasts for one hour.
Eight one-hour weekly sessions aim to enhance communication skills in two-year-olds by involving parents and caregivers to promote language development based on research findings. Ask your setting for further information. Each session lasts for one hour.
Tots Talking is an interactive programme and the weekly sessions are run by staff working in nurseries and early years settings who have completed Tots Talking training with one of Speech and Language UK’s Licensed Tutors.
Last Update - 09/Sep/2024
Children and Family Health Devon resources
Children and Family Health Devon have a number of toolkits (concentrating & listening, play, understanding words, using words and sentences, sensory processing, sounds and speech, social and emotional development, stammering) to help support you and your child.
Children and Family Health Devon have a number of toolkits (concentrating & listening, play, understanding words, using words and sentences, sensory processing, sounds and speech, social and emotional development, stammering) to help support you and your child.
We want to help every parent or carer in Torbay to find the right support at the right time. Support isn’t just for the tough times. It’s there to help make your whole parenting experience easier and more enjoyable.
We want to help every parent or carer in Torbay to find the right support at the right time. Support isn’t just for the tough times. It’s there to help make your whole parenting experience easier and more enjoyable.
Where you can get support
Torbay Family Hubs
We have 3 family hubs in Torbay but also offer services and support at home and in the community. Our hubs are –
St . Edmunds Family Hub, Victoria Park Road, Torquay,TQ1 3QH
Paignton Family Hub, The Beehive, Bishops Place, Paignton, TQ3 3DZ
Brixham Family Hub, The Barn, Brixham Enterprise Estate, Rea Barn Road, Brixham, TQ5 9DF
Our 0 to 19 Torbay Public Health Nursing (Health Visiting and School Nursing) services. 0 to 19 Torbay is a partnership of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, Action for Children and The Children’s Society.
Health visitors are registered nurses/midwives who have additional training in community public health nursing who work in partnership with community public health staff nurses who are trained nurses and community nursery nurses. They provide a professional public health service based on best evidence of what works for individuals, families, groups and communities; enhancing health and reducing inequalities for children 0 to 5 years and beyond. We can help with many areas of child development including sleep, behaviour, healthy eating, bladder and bowel issues.
Call our advice line: 0300 333 5352 Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Closed on bank holidays
The maternity service at Torbay Hospital offers Midwifery Led and Consultant Led care for approximately 2,000 women and birthing people per annum. The service is provided by midwifery teams based in the community giving antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care both at home, family hubs and in the hospital.
For all urgent concerns or questions please call the maternity triage phone on 01803 656588. Special Care Baby Unit: 01803 654602
Social media, just search NHS Infant Feeding Torbay.
Infant Feeding clinic – every Wednesdays at the Beehive, Paignton and Thursday at St. Edmunds, Torquay.
Baby Feeding Group – Monday’s and Wednesday’s check out the what’s on page for dates and times.
To see our lactation consultant Health Visitors, contact the advice line to make an appointment. Tel: 0300 333 5352 (Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm) or Email: publichealthnursing.torbay@nhs.net
National Breastfeeding helpline – Breastfeeding information and support available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Call 0300 100 0212 or chat via their website
Find out about our breastfeeding masterclasses by visiting our what’s on pages, just search breastfeeding masterclass.
Our Early Help Universal offer covers an umbrella of services which are available to all children and families. Our Early Help Service is available to children and their families and is made up of two types of services that combine in different ways to form Torbay’s Early Help offer.
These are universal services and targeted services.
Universal services include: Post-16 education, schools, early years settings, housing and finance advice and support, family hubs, children’s centres and youth centres, GP surgeries, libraries, maternity services, specialist public health or community nurses and community connectors.
Targeted services include: Early Help Panel, Family support, health professionals, mental health services, special education needs support services, jobcentre plus, school attendance and exclusion support, domestic abuse services, alternative provision, housing services, police, substance misuse services and targeted youth services.
Housing & Cost of living surgeries
Youth Homeless Prevention Service
Family Group Conference
Parenting Drop ins
Parenting Teens Group
Reducing Parental Conflict/EPIC partnership for whole family support
The Outreach Worker supports children with developmental delays by providing strategies during home visits focused on chatting, playing, and reading for four weeks.
The Outreach Worker supports children with developmental delays by providing strategies during home visits focused on chatting, playing, and reading for four weeks.
Download our leaflet for information on the services and support available in Torbay for infant feeding, your mental health and wellbeing and early communication.
Download our leaflet for information on the services and support available in Torbay for infant feeding, your mental health and wellbeing and early communication.
Libraries Unlimited runs libraries in Torbay on behalf of Torbay Council. The four public libraries in Torbay are: Paignton Library, Torquay Library, Brixham Library and Churston Library. All libraries offer a range of events and activities, free access to books and information, free WiFi and a range of digital resources including eBooks and digital magazines.
Libraries Unlimited runs libraries in Torbay on behalf of Torbay Council. The four public libraries in Torbay are: Paignton Library, Torquay Library, Brixham Library and Churston Library. All libraries offer a range of events and activities, free access to books and information, free WiFi and a range of digital resources including eBooks and digital magazines.
Find a library and opening hours, join the library, renew and reserve items and see what’s on. Libraries in Torbay
Last Update - 09/Sep/2024
Bookstart
Bookstart aims to encourage a love of books, stories and rhymes in children from as young an age as possible. Whether you’re a family wanting to find out what Bookstart can offer you, or an early years partner involved in delivering Bookstart, you’ll find all the information you need right here.
Bookstart aims to encourage a love of books, stories and rhymes in children from as young an age as possible. Whether you’re a family wanting to find out what Bookstart can offer you, or an early years partner involved in delivering Bookstart, you’ll find all the information you need right here.
Last Update - 09/Sep/2024
Who do I talk to if I have concerns?
Talk to your Early Years Setting or Health Visitor at the
Talk to your Early Years Setting or Health Visitor at the
2 – 3 year Early Years Progress check
2 – 2.3 year Health Visiting developmental review. call the 0 to 19 Torbay advice line on 0300 333 5352 (Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm) or Email: publichealthnursing.torbay@nhs.net
Or you can talk to one of the early years team at any of our family hubs. Click here to find out about the support available in Torbay
Last Update - 09/Sep/2024
Your child's progress (targeted)
Progress Tracker from Speech and Language UK
1.9 million children currently struggle with talking and understanding words. Speech and Language UK's progress checker is based on what they know about how babies and children develop skills. Choose the age of the child and then answer the questions. At the end, they will direct you to some helpful advice and resources.
1.9 million children currently struggle with talking and understanding words. Speech and Language UK’s progress checker is based on what they know about how babies and children develop skills. Choose the age of the child and then answer the questions. At the end, they will direct you to some helpful advice and resources.
Speech, Language and Communication - Ages and Stages Guides
I CAN’s Talking Point gives parents/carers and practitioners the information they need to help children develop their speech, language and communication skills. If a child has difficulty with speaking, they may need help, or they may struggle in nursery or school. With the right help, they can develop the skills they need.
I CAN’s Talking Point gives parents/carers and practitioners the information they need to help children develop their speech, language and communication skills. If a child has difficulty with speaking, they may need help, or they may struggle in nursery or school. With the right help, they can develop the skills they need.
Last Update - 30/Aug/2024
Torbay Portage Service SEND Local Offer
What is Portage? Portage is a home teaching service for families with pre-school children who have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). The success and popularity of Portage is based on the premise that it promotes parents/carers as the key figures in the development of their child.
What is Portage? Portage is a home teaching service for families with pre-school children who have Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND). The success and popularity of Portage is based on the premise that it promotes parents/carers as the key figures in the development of their child.
Portage aims to enable parents/carers to become effective teachers of their own children using evidence based interventions and teaching strategies. All Portage Home Visitors (PHV) are key workers, co-ordinating family-focused services.
The Torbay Portage Service is a registered service with the National Portage Association (NPA). The team consists of 4 practitioners, a Team Lead and 3 home visitors. All Portage Home Visitors are qualified in special educational needs and have undertaken specific Portage training associated with the NPA.
Portage is a home visiting service for pre-school children with special educational needs and their families. We offer a framework of support which includes regular home visits by a Portage Home Visitor, care-coordination with all others involved with the child and family and signposting to local and national support and information.
Home visits may include face to face visits, virtual communication such as Zoom or telephone calls. All interaction will aim to cover the following:
A holistic assessment of the child’s development using Early Years assessment tools, child observation, parent views and current health assessments
Identification of parental key priorities in terms of their child’s learning and/or any care-coordination or signposting needs
Modelling of play activities and strategies with parents to support their key priorities in their child’s learning and development
Portage Home Visitors will also liaise with the child’s current Early Years setting to establish shared Individual Learning and Development Plan targets using a small steps approach.
To be eligible for this service, you must live in Torbay and have a child with significant additional needs or a disability. Referral to the service can be made by using the service referral form on Portage – Torbay Council
How will Portage Home Visitors work with me? The PHV arranges to visit the parent/carer and the child at home on a regular basis. At first the PHV works closely with the parent/carer assessing the child’s strengths and needs and the priorities of the family.
Time will be spent getting to know the child, what interests them and how best they learn new skills.
The PHV will liaise with other people involved with the child and prepare a shared plan of support. The plan will be broken down into small steps with an appropriate set of activities. These will include the child’s known interests to ensure the teaching and learning is fun and enjoyable. The staff at the child’s early years provision will be included in practising the activities in the plan.
The support plan is reviewed regularly together.
Your PHV can be your first point of contact when you do not know who else to get in touch with. They will keep in regular contact and offer support through home visits and/or telephone/video calls.
Information on what to typically expect, top tips and things you can do to encourage your baby, toddler of child’s communication.
Conception to birth
Talking to your bump
Bonding can begin before birth. Babies’ brains develop very quickly during pregnancy – they can hear and feel things too. Did you know that babies’ hearing starts developing from about sixteen weeks into pregnancy? By 6 months of pregnancy, your baby can hear music and voices, recognise familiar voices, learn and remember
Babies recognise voices and can start to respond even while they’re still in the womb. Feeling your baby move and kick in response to your voice and your touch makes those early conversations really rewarding and making a connection with your baby helps you feel very close to them even before they are born.
Bump chats TOP TIPS
• Find regular quiet times when you can talk and sing to your baby
• Try ‘turn taking’: when you feel them kick, rub that spot. Wait for another kick and respond again
• Babies hear their mother’s heartbeat all the time, day and night. Try gently tapping or making a sound along with it
• Encourage partners, grandparents and any older siblings to get involved too
• You may notice your baby relaxes at the sound of familiar voices, and becomes calmer and quieter when you are talking to them. Notice how your baby responds
• If you’re not sure what to say, try reading a baby book aloud or sing nursery rhymes or talk about everyday things, your baby will just enjoy the sound of your voice
• Gently rocking and moving to music is a good way for your baby to develop good physical, movement skills and balance even before birth.
From birth to 6 months
Remember, not all children develop at the same rate but during this time I will:
make sounds, like cooing, gurgling and babbling, to myself and with other people
make noises to get your attention
watch your face when you talk to them
get excited when I hear voices coming, showing excitement by kicking or waving my arms or making noises
smile and laugh when other people smile and laugh
make sounds back when talked to.
My parents might want to speak to a Health Visitor or GP if:
I struggle to keep my milk down.
I’m not startled by loud noises.
I don’t use my eyes to watch you when you talk to me.
I don’t ever smile back when someone is communicating and smiling at me.
I don’t show interest in my parent’s face when talking to them.
Remember, not all children develop at the same rate but during this time I will:
make talking noises – babble strings of sounds, like ‘ma-ma-ma’, ‘ba-ba-ba’
make noises, point to things and look at you to get your attention
start to say sounds that will become my first words and use gestures
start to understand words like ‘bye-bye’ and ‘up’ especially when a gesture is used at the same time
recognise the names of familiar objects, things like ‘cup’ and ‘bowl’, ‘teddy’ and ‘mummy’
look at you when you speak or when I hear my name called
take turns in ‘conversations’, babbling back to an adult
My parents might want to speak to a Health Visitor or GP if:
I’m not doing some of the things a younger child would (see previous age boxes)
I have not made any babbling or other sounds by 6 months
I don’t point by 12 months I don’t try to get your attention (this might be by making noises, eye contact, facial expressions, reaching, throwing toys from my buggy or highchair)
Remember, not all children develop at the same rate but during this time I will:
begin talking! I will be able to say around 20 words. These are usually things I hear a lot at home or in my early years setting – such as ‘milk’, ‘doggy’, ‘hurrah’, ‘bye-bye’, ‘more’, ‘no’
say words in a baby way, but the words usually sound the same each time I say them
understand some simple words and short phrases. These are usually things I hear a lot during the day, such as ‘coat on’, ‘drink’, ‘shoes’, ‘bus’, ‘in your buggy’, ‘dinner time’, ‘all gone’
recognise and point to familiar objects when you ask me
enjoy games like ‘peek-a-boo’ and ‘patacake’ and toys that make a noise – I still like the comfort of a familiar adult nearby
be exploring my world and starting to enjoy simple pretend play, like pretending to talk on the phone
My parents might want to speak to a Health Visitor or GP if:
• I’m not doing some of the things a younger child would (see previous age boxes)
• I don’t show enjoyment of being with a familiar adult
• I don’t look towards familiar people or objects when their names are said
• I don’t bring objects to an adult to show or to share.
• I don’t follow simple instructions.
• I don’t look for or go to a familiar adult for comfort when I am scared, upset or hurt.
• I don’t try to show you things by pointing at them and looking back at you.
• I don’t use gestures like nodding or shaking my head, waving, putting my hands out in a ‘where’s it gone?’ gesture.
To contact the 0 to 19 Torbay health visiting team, please call us on 0300 333 5352 (Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm) or email: publichealthnursing.torbay@nhs.net
By 2 years
Remember, not all children develop at the same rate but during this time I will:
• use over 50 single words like ‘juice’, ‘car’, ‘biscuit’
• be starting to put short sentences together with two to three words, such as “more juice” or “bye-bye daddy”
• be asking simple questions such as “what that?”, “who that?”. They might do this quite a lot!
• understand between 200 and 500 words
• understand simple questions and instructions like “where’s baby”, “go and get your coat”, “mummy’s turn”
• enjoy pretend play with their toys, such as feeding dolly or pretending to drive a car, usually making noises and talking while playing
• become very frustrated when they cannot get their message across. This is one reason for toddler tantrums
My parents might want to speak to a Health Visitor or GP if:
• I’m not doing some of the things a younger child would (see previous age boxes)
• I don’t play with objects by pretending? – e.g. give teddy a drink; using a box as a doll’s bed; pretend talk on the phone
To contact the 0 to 19 Torbay health visiting team, please call us on 0300 333 5352 (Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm) or email: publichealthnursing.torbay@nhs.net
By 3 years
Remember, not all children develop at the same rate but during this time I will:
• use up to 300 words and use different types of words to do different things; to describe what things look like (‘big’, ‘soft’) where they are (‘under’, ‘on’) what they are for (‘eating’, ‘playing’) and to describe how many (‘lots’)
• refer to something that has happened in the past
• put 4 or 5 words together to make short sentences, such as “me want more juice”, “him want his coat”
• ask lots of questions
• have clearer speech, although I will still have some things I don’t get quite right. I might say things like ‘pider’ instead of ‘spider’. However, people who know me can mostly understand me
• listen to and remember simple stories with pictures
• understand longer instructions, such as “put on your coat and get your bag” or “where’s mummy’s coat?”
• understand simple ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘where’ questions
• play more with other children and join in with play
• play more complex imaginative games
• be able to have a proper conversation, though I may flit around the topic a bit and be difficult to follow at times
• be able to recognise how other people feel and will try to do something about it (e.g. “Ah, Josie sad. She need a hug.”)
My parents might want to speak to a Health Visitor or GP if:
• I’m not doing some of the things a younger child would (see previous age boxes)
• I don’t regularly use words to express myself
• I don’t follow simple, everyday instructions
• I can’t settle and play with activity that I choose myself even for a very short time
• I don’t show any response when somebody talks to me
• I don’t show any interest in communicating
• I am not using sentences with 2 words
• I seem to have stopped making progress with my talking
• I use gesture to get what I want rather than using the words
• My parents can’t understand what I say
• I rely on being shown what to do rather than on understanding the words people say.
To contact the 0 to 19 Torbay health visiting team, please call us on 0300 333 5352 (Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm) or email: publichealthnursing.torbay@nhs.net
By 4 years
Remember, not all children develop at the same rate but during this time I will:
• ask lots of questions using words like ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘why’
• be able to answer questions about ‘why’ something has happened
• use longer sentences and link sentences together, E.g. “I had pizza for tea and then I played in the garden”
• describe events that have already happened, E.g. “We got dressed up and we went to the hall and singed songs. All the mummies and daddies did watch”
• have mostly clear speech, though will continue to have difficulties with a small number of sounds – for example ‘r’ – as in ‘rabbit’, ‘l’ – as in ‘letter’, ‘th’ as in ‘thumb’, ‘sh’ as in ‘show’, and ‘j’ as in ‘jam’
• listen to longer stories and answer questions about a story they have just heard, for example, simple questions such as “Who did Cinderella dance with at the ball?”, “Were Cinderella’s sisters kind?”
• understand and often use colour, number and time related words, for example, ‘red’ car, ‘three’ fingers
• enjoy make-believe play
• start to like simple jokes – though often their own jokes make little sense
• start to be able to plan games with others
My parents might want to speak to a Health Visitor or GP if:
• I’m not doing some of the things a younger child would (see previous age boxes)
• I don’t use sentences with 3 words or more
• I don’t understand simple commands
• Close relatives can’t understand me most of the time
• I struggle to turn ideas into sentences
• My words are often jumbled, and my ideas are difficult to follow
To contact the 0 to 19 Torbay health visiting team, please call us on 0300 333 5352 (Monday – Friday 9am to 5pm) or email: publichealthnursing.torbay@nhs.net
By 5 years
Remember, not all children develop at the same rate but during this time I will:
• take turns in much longer conversations
• use sentences that are well formed, for example, “I had spaghetti for tea at Jamilia’s house”
• be learning more words all the time as well as thinking more about the meanings of words, such as describing the meaning of simple words or asking what a new word means
• be able to re-tell short stories I have heard in roughly the right order and use language that makes it sound like a story
• use most speech sounds. However, I may have some difficulties with more difficult words such as ‘scribble’ or ‘elephant’ and some speech sounds such as ‘r’ and ‘th’ may still be difficult
• enjoy listening to stories, songs and rhymes and will start to make up my own
• ask relevant questions or make relevant comments in relation to what I’ve have heard
• understand spoken instructions without stopping what I’m doing to look at who is speaking to me
• understand more complicated language such as ‘first’, ‘last’, ‘might’, ‘maybe’, ‘above’ and ‘in between’
• understand words that describe sequences such as “first we are going to the shop, next we will play in the park”
• choose my own friends
• use talk to take on different roles in imaginative play, to interact and negotiate with people and to have longer conversations
• use talk to help work out problems to organise my thinking and take part in activities
My parents might want to speak to a Health Visitor or GP if:
• I’m not doing some of the things a younger child would (see previous age boxes)
• I don’t use sentences with 3 words or more
• I don’t understand simple commands
• Close relatives can’t understand me most of the time
• I struggle to turn ideas into sentences
• My words are often jumbled, and my ideas are difficult to follow
• I have poor understanding of spoken language.
• Strangers cannot understand much of my speech.
• I have difficulty with abstract ideas such as size or time.
• I cannot identify the words to be able to say what I want.
• I struggle to organise my words into an order when I talk, e.g. I might miss connecting and describing words – I might say ‘playing ball’ instead of ‘Jake is playing with the ball’.
Talk to your school nurse, GP, school/setting practitioner
CFHD All age Advice line 0333 321 9448 (Mon-Fri 2pm-4.30pm