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Types of speech, language and communication needs

Your child's speech, language and communication needs may look very different to other children's needs. The main types of SLCN include:

Speech needs

May include:

  • speech sound difficulties – trouble saying certain sounds clearly (for example 't' instead of 'k')
  • phonological difficulties – patterns of sound errors, such as leaving off the last sound in words
  • childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), previously known as Verbal Dyspraxia – difficulty coordinating the mouth movements needed for speech
  • stammering or stuttering – speech that is interrupted by repetitions or blocks
  • voice difficulties – a hoarse, strained or unusually quiet voice.

Language needs

May include:

  • receptive language difficulties (understanding or comprehension difficulties) – finding it hard to understand instructions, questions or new words
  • expressive language difficulties (use of language difficulties) – struggling to find the right words, build sentences or tell stories.

Receptive and expressive difficulties include:

  • grammar difficulties – mixing up past and present tenses, leaving out small but important words or difficulty producing longer more complex sentences
  • vocabulary difficulties – difficulty learning new words, or recalling known words.

Social communication needs

Your child may have difficulty using language in social situations, including:

  • understanding how to interact and communicate with other people
  • understanding the unwritten social rules that help people communicate and build relationships
  • understanding and responding to verbal and non-verbal communication, such as facial expressions, gestures or tone of voice
  • understanding jokes, sarcasm or idioms
  • using communication differently in different situations.

Social communication needs are sometimes called pragmatic language difficulties, which means difficulties with the social use of language.

Link to other conditions

Your child may have SLCN as part of another condition. This means their difficulties are connected to a wider pattern of strengths and challenges. Some common conditions which often include SLCN are:

  • autism
  • learning disabilities
  • deafness
  • cerebral palsy

Your child may have SLCN that is not associated with another condition, for example if they have a developmental language disorder. This is a long-term difficulty with understanding and using language with no known cause.

What to look for

Read about things you may notice if your child has SLCN