What is a Paediatric Speech-Language Therapist?

A paediatric speech-language therapist assesses and provides tailor-made treatments, support and care for children who experience difficulty communicating. Good communication involves the following skills:

• Speech: the ability to say sounds in words so that other people can easily understand you. (i.e., clearly, fluently, with the appropriate use of one’s voice and resonance)
• Language: involves both the understanding and sharing (i.e., expression) of ideas using words and sentences, usually in spoken or written form
• Social communication: the ability to accurately interpret the context of the conversation, understand non-verbal cues and follow the social conventions that govern communication, such as the use of social greetings, changing the way you talk to suit the listener and setting (i.e., a friend versus a person in authority), following conversational and story-telling rules (e.g., turn-taking, topic maintenance)..etc. These are essential tools in building relationships with other people. 
• Literacy: involves the reading and comprehending of text and the ability to express one’s ideas in writing.