1. Children’s Speech and Language Therapy

2. Language Development 18 Months Expect at 18 months:
6-50 single word representations, e.g. ba = ball
Can point to body parts
Refer soon after 18 months if:
child can not
respond to own name
select an object from 3 by name
follow instructions in context
request things through any means, e.g pointing
use sounds to refer to people or objects
engage in turn taking in play

3. Language Development 2.5 years Expect at 2 years:
Understands most everyday actions/words
follows a two part command,
e.g. give dolly a drink
Uses over 50 words and two to three words
in a phrase
Speech is unclear
Refer at 2.5 years if
Child can not follow simple instructions as above
Is not using short phrases
Is not playing constructively

4. Speech Sounds
Refer at age when the box ends or after the age of 3 years if child sounds very disordered and very unintelligible

5. Language Development 3.5 years Expect at 3 years
Understands concepts like colours, size, position
follows commands out of context
singing songs/telling simple stories
make believe play
unclear speech (see sound chart)
Refer at 3.5 if:
Can not follow commands out of context
Lack of imaginative play
Not engaging in stories/songs

6. Language Development 4 years Expect:
Understands, shape colour, quantity, position
participates in social conversation
becoming grammatically correct and clear
forming friendships
Refer soon after 4 if:
Speech is unclear for sounds which should be
in place(see sound chart)
concerns with social communication
Difficulties in above areas

7. Language Development School Age Children will continue to develop in:
Concepts e.g. hot, cold, size shape etc.
Story telling
‘Wh’ questions - who what where when why etc
Speech should be clear by the age of 8 years
Refer if:
Language skills are below average for their age
and this is not attributable to a learning disability
Learning disability is severe and alternative
communication is required
Speech difficulties - unclear or dysfluency (stammer)

8. Other Reasons to Refer is selectively mute
At any age refer if the child :
is stammering
has a voice disorder
has a cleft palate
is not interacting appropriately with others,
e.g no eye contact, not turn taking etc.
is selectively mute Go

9. Inappropriate Referrals
Children with speech sound difficulties which
are within normal limits (see sound chart)
(especially ‘s’ ‘f’ ‘l’ ‘r’ ‘th’ or clusters ‘sp’ ‘cr’
Children with lisps under 7 Years
Children with mild to moderate delay
Children with literacy difficulties only
Stop