Speech therapy is a type of support that helps children and adults develop or improve their communication skills. It is usually provided by a qualified speech and language therapist who assesses a person’s communication needs and creates activities to support their development.

For children, speech therapy can help with speech sounds, language development, vocabulary, understanding language, sentence formation, and social communication. Some children may have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, expressing their thoughts, understanding instructions, or participating in conversations.

Speech therapy can also support children with communication difficulties related to developmental conditions, hearing problems, neurological conditions, or other needs. Therapy activities are often designed to be engaging and age-appropriate, using games, stories, pictures, conversation, and everyday activities.

Parents and caregivers play an important role in supporting progress. Practising communication skills at home, reading together, talking with the child, listening patiently, and encouraging the child to express themselves can complement professional therapy.

Early support can be especially helpful when a child is experiencing ongoing communication difficulties. A speech and language therapist can provide an individual assessment and recommend appropriate strategies and support.