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.