What are oral/spoken language skills
Language is the “code” that we use to talk to and understand each other.
This includes vocabulary, understanding instructions and questions, formulating sentences, grammar, expressing ideas and feelings, explaining things, telling a story, and so on.
Babies start learning language and how to communicate from a very early age but some children have difficulty developing these skills.
Speech Pathologists are trained to determine when a child’s language skills are not developing as expected and how to help.
Language skills are crucial to children’s and teenagers’ social and academic success and research shows that supporting children’s language skills leads to long term better outcomes for them.
This includes vocabulary, understanding instructions and questions, formulating sentences, grammar, expressing ideas and feelings, explaining things, telling a story, and so on.
Babies start learning language and how to communicate from a very early age but some children have difficulty developing these skills.
Speech Pathologists are trained to determine when a child’s language skills are not developing as expected and how to help.
Language skills are crucial to children’s and teenagers’ social and academic success and research shows that supporting children’s language skills leads to long term better outcomes for them.
When should i seek help
For younger children not yet at school, this booklet from Speech Pathology Australia outlines some general milestones for language development.
If your child is not meeting some of these milestones, please consult a Speech Pathologist.
For school age children and teens, if you child is showing difficulties in any of the following areas, it is recommended that you consult a Speech Pathologist:
If your child is not meeting some of these milestones, please consult a Speech Pathologist.
For school age children and teens, if you child is showing difficulties in any of the following areas, it is recommended that you consult a Speech Pathologist:
- Difficulty understanding the gist of a story or retelling a story
- Difficulty understanding what they are reading (even when reading skills are good).
- Difficulty learning or remembering new vocabulary or concepts at school
- Keeping up with school work and homework
- Maintaining friendships at school
- Following directions
- Explaining a procedure logically
- Contributing to class discussions effectively