What Is Speech-Language Therapy?
Speech and Language therapy is concerned with the management of disorders of Speech, Language and communication. . A speech disorder refers to a problem with the actual production of sounds, whereas a language disorder refers to a difficulty understanding or putting words together to communicate ideas.
Speech Disorders
Articulation disorders: – producing sounds in syllables/words incorrectly to the point that other people can’t understand what’s being said.
Fluency disorders: – include problems such as stuttering, the condition in which the flow of speech is interrupted by abnormal stoppages, repetitions (st-st-stuttering), or prolonging sounds and syllables (ssssstuttering).
Resonance or voice disorders: – problems with the pitch, volume, or quality of the voice that distract listeners from what’s being said.
Language Disorders
Language disorders can be either receptive or expressive:
Receptive disorders refer to difficulties understanding or processing language.
Expressive disorders include difficulty putting words together, limited vocabulary, or inability to use language in a socially appropriate way.
These difficulties can arise on their own or as part of a wider difficulties e.g. dyslexia, ADHD and ASD.
Speech and Language Provision at the Unicorn School
Each child who is highlighted as having a possible Speech, Language or communication difficulty is informally or formally assessed. From here the appropriate management plan can be tailed and implemented for the individual child. The majority of therapy is provided through 30 minute 1:1 sessions, from 1 to 4 times per week depending on their level of need. Paired work and small groups for learning social skills are also used where appropriate.
Our Ofsted inspector stated in February 2012 that “effective provision for speech and language therapy adds a further dimension of excellent quality to the teaching.”