Advice Leaflets - Children

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'Language Delay' should no longer be used. Children under 5;0 years of age - recommend the use of 'Speech, Language and Communication Need (SLCN)' or 'Language Difficulty'. If the childis 5;0 or older, then 'Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) should be considered. If the child is yo8nger than 5;0 years but the language difficulty is likely to persist until 5;0 and beyond, then a diagnosis of 'DLD' should be considered.

'Speech Sound Disorder(s)' (SSD) is NOT A DIAGNOSIS. Children referred with suspected SSD should receive a detailed diagnosis following comprehensive assessment. Using the Dodd et al. model, this is likely to be: • +/- 'Articulation Disorder' (the child cannot imitate single phones on request) • +/- ONE of the following phonological diagnoses: ⁃ 'Phonological Delay' (the errors are observed in younger children); ⁃ 'Consistent Phonological Disorder' (the errors are NOT observed in younger children's speech, but words are realised the same way each time), ⁃ 'Inconsistent Phonological Disorder (IPD)' (WORDS are produced differently on each attempt >40-50%) • Severity is a SEPARATE consideration. • 'Phonological Delay' refers to the phonological patterns, NOT the child or young person and NEVER becomes 'Phonological Disorder' • 'Consistent Phonological Disorder' indicates at least one non-developmental phonological process such as backing, but may also include one or more delayed phonological processes. Do NOT use *'Phonological Delay and Consistent Phonological Disorder'