Over 10% of children/young people have some form of speech, language and communication needs that persists and impacts on social, emotional, mental health as well as educational functioning.
In areas of high social deprivation in the United Kingdom approximately 56% of children start school with below age-related language skills. It is important to understand that Speech, Language and Communication Needs is known to be a significant risk factor for poor life chances and outcomes which is why it is vital that language and communication are understood as EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY. This video provides details of the impact language disorder, including DLD, can have on a child/young person and adult.
Typical characteristics of young people with SLCN can include:
- Expressive and receptive language difficulties, struggling to follow verbal instructions, understand the meaning of words/instructions and developing concepts.
- Reluctance to participate in group activities.
- Difficulties in organising ideas, structuring sentences, acquiring and accessing new vocabulary.
- Struggles to express their own thought and ideas.
- Difficulties in sequencing/organising events. This can include difficulties organising and structuring own work.
- The young person may struggle to participate in a reciprocal conversation.
- Language difficulties, eg below average receptive language skills, may lead to a barrier to learning and progression.
- Poor understanding of complex grammar.
- Difficulties with implied meaning and colloquialism (words/sentences without literal meaning). Also difficulties identifying sarcasm.
- Immature expressive language skills.
- The young person may display inappropriate interaction with others and may have difficulties with social relationships. This could be due to having difficulties understanding social cues and non-verbal cues.
- The young person’s communication and interaction difficulties may lead to frustration or emotional and behavioural difficulties.
- Social interaction difficulties, the young person is not able to transfer strategies/skills between situations or into adulthood.
- Difficulties with sustaining engagement whilst undertaking learning activities.
