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Improving Speech, Language and Communication Skills
LEARNING LEARNING IMPROVING SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Anna Lawlor, Primary Speech and Language Therapist
What is Speech and Language Therapy?
As some may be unfamiliar with Speech and Language Therapy and what it involves, let us begin with a brief introduction. Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) provide support to people of all ages with a wide range of speech, language, and communication needs (SLCN), including:
• Difficulties understanding what others say • Problems with using language (vocabulary, sentences) • Difficulties with producing sounds correctly • Social interaction difficulties • Stammering • Voice problems
SLTs assess and treat speech and language and communicate needs to enable others to communicate better. Although we work with people who have specific SLCN, we also provide information and support for the speech and language development of all children. Who needs it and why does it matter?
Speech, language and communication abilities are essential life skills. In fact, in terms of employability, good communication skills are rated highly as a prerequisite for young people applying for their first job. Below are some facts related to SLCN:
• Seven percent of children at the age of around five have SLCN • Children with poor language skills at age 5 are four times more likely to struggle with reading at 11 years of age • Children with vocabulary difficulties at the age of 5 are significantly associated with mental health issues, poor employment outcomes and problems with literacy • Developmental Language Disorder (difficulties understanding and/or using language not explained by hearing problems or a physical disability) affects approximately two students in every classroom • SLCN are the most common type of special educational need in children that are 4 to 11 years of age
Speech and Language Therapy is effective in supporting those with SLCN. It can also benefit children and young people beyond language improvements and includes gains in social skills, peer relationships, selfconfidence and literacy skills.
What does it look like at Bangkok Patana?
SLTs work in a range of settings including hospitals, clinics and schools. Being based in a school provides an opportunity to work closely with teachers and parents to support the communication skills of students.
Students are seen for Speech and Language Therapy in individual one to one sessions or in a small group setting. In addition to direct sessions, support may also be provided through advice, resources and training for teachers and parents. I have recently had the opportunity
to work with a whole class during a lesson which was very exciting and I look forward to further exploring my role in the classroom in the future.
The Primary Learning Support Department also run well established groups using the ‘Social Thinking’ curriculum. Having ‘good’ social skills means following unwritten social rules in society. These lessons help students understand ‘how the social world works and why specific social skills are important in different contexts’.
Teachers in the Primary School use ‘Sign4Learning’ which uses signs (based on British Sign Language) along with the spoken word to increase learning of targeted vocabulary. This academic year we have also introduced a new Extra Curricular Activity (ECA) called ‘Singing and Signing’ where we sign key words as we sing them in songs. Signing can be helpful for children with communication difficulties for English as an Additional Language (EAL) students, as well as all children, as it provides a visual reinforcement of spoken words.
Final thoughts
This is my first year at Bangkok Patana School and I am very much enjoying my role here. I look forward to continuing to build support for students with SLCN and raising awareness of what Speech and Language Therapy can offer. If any parents and/or members of staff have concerns or are interested in learning more about Speech and Language Therapy, please feel free to get in touch with me anytime.
References and Resources:
Bercow: Ten Years On, 2020. Speech Language and
Communication Factsheet [Online]. [Accessed 14th January 2021]. Available from: https://www.bercow10yearson. com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Speech-languageand-communication-factsheet-final2.docx.pdf GARCIA WINNER, M. 2008. Think Social! A Social Thinking
Curriculum for School-Age Students. Think Social Publishing, Inc. Makaton, 2020. Who uses Makaton? [Online]. [Accessed 14th
January 2021]. Available from: https://www.makaton.org/
TMC/TMC/About_Makaton/Who_uses_Makaton.aspx RADLD, 2020. Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) Fact
Sheet [Online]. [Accessed 14th January 2021]. Available from: https://radld.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/
DLD-Fact-Sheet-English.pdf RCSLT, 2020. Supporting Children and Young People [Online]. [Accessed 14th January 2021]. Available from: https:// www.rcslt.org/wp-content/uploads/media/Project/
RCSLT/rcslt-supporting-children-fact-sheet.pdf?la=en&hash=3 1C6D86B8916DA4EA6374825D03D67D289DC34ED RCSLT, 2020. What are Speech, Language and Communication
Needs? [Online]. [Accessed 14th January 2021]. Available from: https://www.rcslt.org/wp-content/uploads/media/
Project/RCSLT/rcslt-communication-needs-factsheet.pdf?la= en&hash=0AE5CCD92C2A06D73B67F661815EBFE9A 387517D RCSLT, 2020. What is Speech and Language Therapy? [Online]. [Accessed 14th January 2021]. Available from: https://www.rcslt.org/wp-content/uploads/media/
Project/RCSLT/rcslt-what-is-slt-factsheet.pdf?la=en&hash=1F 2F048362707F33F1E288A5383736CC7C105912 Sign4Learning, 2020. Welcome to Sign 4 Learning [Online]. [Accessed 14th January 2021]. Available from: http:// www.sign4learning.co.uk/