Cognition and learning / Speech and communication difficulties
Cognition and learning
Speech and communication difficulties
When speaking or being understood is difficult, it helps to clarify what support the person needs.
Get free informationUnderstand what's happening.
A child may be hard to understand when speaking, struggle to follow an explanation or have trouble finding the words to describe something. Producing sounds, understanding language and expressing ideas are distinct skills. It helps to identify what is difficult, when it started and when it happens, without assuming lack of effort or shyness.
Speech, language and participation.
Speech is how we produce sounds. Language helps us understand and express ideas. Communication also includes taking turns, gestures and how we use language with other people. A child may need support in one or several of these areas. A single sign cannot establish a diagnosis.
Observe specific situations
It helps to know if it is difficult to pronounce, understand instructions, build phrases or maintain a conversation. It matters about age, evolution, hearing and how it affects school, play and relationships. Observations from the family and teachers provide different contexts.
Take into account all your languages
Using Catalan and Spanish is not by itself a disorder. It is appropriate to explain when and with whom each language is used and where the difficulty appears. An accent or the influence of one language on another is not enough to label a problem. It is not recommended to leave a family language by default.
Guiding the right support
Goals depend on what the child needs, such as understanding more easily, making themselves understood or taking part with less effort. Where appropriate, coordinate with speech and language therapy, paediatrics or a hearing assessment. When you first get in touch, ask what care, ages and languages the centre can cover in your situation.
Support that takes your wider needs into account
Areas explain what you may worry about; services specify how we can work with you. Initial guidance helps connect both.
Neuropsychology for children
Learn how to learn and develop. Design the supports you need.
Learning
Explore how language, reading and homework are related.
Before you take the first step
If the difficulty concerns you, persists or limits the child's participation, you can seek advice without waiting for a diagnosis. Explain what you have noticed and give examples. Guidance depends on the child's age and developmental history. If they have lost skills they previously had, raise this with a paediatric professional.
It should not be attributed only to nervousness. In addition to repetitions or blockages, effort, avoidance and how you live to talk matter. Listening with time and without pressure helps to take care of the conversation; the need for specific intervention requires professional evaluation.
What is difficult, since when, in which languages and what supports have been tested. Indicates if there are previous reports and how it affects daily life. This page guides on child development; the difficulties that appear after a brain injury in an adult person require a different assessment.