The reasons that children may require speech and language therapy vary greatly. However some of the most common reasons for communication difficulties in young children can arise from: Cleft lip and cleft palate - A cleft lip or cleft palate results from the incomplete development of the structure of the mouth in the early stages of pregnancy. A cleft lip is a separation of the upper lip and a cleft palate is an opening in the roof of the mouth. Stammering - Primarily characterised by repetitions, pauses, and prolongations in speech Dyspraxia - A disorder that affects the child's ability to easily learn the muscle movements required for speech Autism - A condition that affects the normal development of the brain in areas of social interaction and communication Down Syndrome - Caused by a chromosomal arrangement that often results in degrees of developmental delay and certain recognisable characteristics Vocal Problems - A vocal problem, or voice disorder arises often from vocal abuse, and the formation of vocal polyps or nodules on the vocal folds, or chords, creating a harsh, raspy and sometimes strangled sounding voice. Articulation Delays/Disorder - A speech impairment characterized by a persons inability to produce speech sounds correctly, such as lisping or rhotacism (the inability to pronounce the letter r) Phonological Delays/Disorder - A speech impairment most commonly found in young children characterized by difficulty following the phonologic rules of their language. For example, a child might leave off all the beginning sounds of words, or always say the k sound instead of the t sound (tea would become key). The assessment, diagnosis and treatment of speech and language disorders require a high level of scientific knowledge and clinical skill. A speech and language therapist is a professionally qualified person who works with children and adults of all ages who have difficulty communicating. Most children who work closely with their therapist will find a significant improvement in communication ability through time.
Useful links
http://www.release.ie
http://www.cleft.ie