Speech & Language Difficulties
Communication is at the heart of learning, friendships, confidence, and daily life. When a child or young person is struggling to talk, be understood, or make sense of language, the impact can be felt across every part of their world.
Early, specialist support makes a significant difference. If you are concerned about your child's speech or language development, get in touch to refer your child for an Speech & Language Therapy Assessment.
Types of Speech & Language Difficulty
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Late talker/speech delay: fewer words than expected for age, or a slower rate of language development that may or may not resolve without intervention.
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Unclear speech: difficulty being understood by familiar and unfamiliar listeners, which can affect confidence and social participation as a child grows.
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Language disorder: difficulties understanding or using sentences, vocabulary, and grammar that go beyond what is expected for a child's age.
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Developmental Language Disorder (DLD): a persistent difficulty with language that is not explained by another condition such as autism or hearing loss, and that requires specialist long-term support.
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Stammering / fluency difficulties: disruptions to the flow of speech that can affect communication confidence and willingness to speak in social or academic settings.
When to Seek Help
For younger children, clear milestones can help guide whether a referral is needed:
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no words by 12 months,
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fewer than 50 words by 24 months, or
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not joining words by 28–30 months.
These are all indicators that an assessment would be beneficial.
For older children, persistent speech or language difficulties that are affecting school performance, friendships, or confidence are reason enough to seek specialist input. If you are unsure, we would always rather hear from you early.
Our Approach
We begin with a thorough assessment to identify the specific nature of your child's difficulty before recommending any intervention; because the right therapy depends entirely on understanding the right problem. Our approach is family-centred: we coach and support the adults around the child/young person as well as working directly with the child/young person, so that progress continues beyond the therapy room. Where school is a factor, we provide written recommendations for classroom support and liaise directly with teachers and SENCOs.
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