Effects of adversity & trauma on speech, language & communication development

Presenters:
Dr Jagdish Kaur Barn (Educational, Child & Family Psychologist) and Natalie Colvin (Speech and Language Therapist specialising in complex needs).

Seminar Outline:
In this seminar we will consider how an exploration of a child’s speech, language, and communication (SLC) skills is a crucial aspect of development and important when formulating an overall psychological profile following ongoing adversity and trauma.

We will outline how delayed SLC impacts many of the other areas considered in a holistic assessment (e.g. emotional presentation), how to identify SLC needs and what to do about it.

We will cover the following key points:
 What we mean by speech, language, communication.
 Typical speech, language, and communication development.
 How historical and ongoing adversity and trauma impacts development of speech, language, and communication.
 Avoiding misdiagnosis, the importance of assessment through intervention and consideration of other factors (e.g. EAL).
 Interventions to support development (including working with caregivers).
 The questions to ask schools to obtain an understanding of a child’s current SLC strengths and needs.
 Referral routes when in-depth SALT assessments are needed.