Where can I get information, help and advice about my child’s speech and language development?

NHS Start for Life has a wealth of information regarding the health and development of babies and toddlers. Their section called 'Learning to Talk' has lots of advice and ideas for supporting the speech and language of your little ones.

https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/learning-to-talk/0-to-6-months/

Birmingham Community Healthcare- Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service

are one of the NHS services we use to support children at Mapledene with their Speech and Language needs. Their website provides information on referrals and waiting times.

The service also provide an advice line for parents/carers who have concerns about their child's speech and language development, as well as concerns regarding eating, drinking and swallowing.

The speech and language therapy team can offer advice, strategies and support.

The phone line is open 24 hours a day and a short message can be left. Qualified speech and language therapists are available to respond to messages on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9am and 4pm on: 0121 466 6231

Please note that the child/ young person you are calling about must be:

• * aged 0-18 years (or up to 19 only if in full-time special school education)
• * registered with a Birmingham GP or attending a Birmingham School.     
•  
• https://www.bhamcommunity.nhs.uk/patients-public/children-and-young-people/services-parent-portal/birmingham-slt

Speech and Language UK(formally known as I CAN)     have  resources all about children’s speech, language and communication designed for parents, people that work with young children and young people themselves. It contains information about supporting children’s speech and language development and helps you to identify if a child is having difficulties or falling behind. IF they are struggling, it tells you what you can do to help. 

Information and support

They also have very useful guides to the typical developmental of speech and language skills in babies, children and young people. 

Ages and Stages

The Communication Trust is a consortium of over 40 voluntary sector organisations that bring together their expertise to ensure that speech, language and communication needs of all children are met. For parent resources, go to https://www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk/resources/resources/resources-for-parents/

Afasic was founded to help children and young people with speech and language impairments and their families. It works in partnership with local and national government,  professional and statutory bodies and other voluntary organisations. They have some excellent checklists that show typical Speech and Language development milestones.

http://www.afasic.org.uk/resources/free-downloads/recognising-a-problem-and-getting-help/

Action for Stammering Children (ASC) is a UK charity helping the 150,000 children and young people who stammer. ASC's vision is a society where children and young people who stammer have the same opportunities and quality of life as their peers. For more information on how to support a child who stammers, visit

https://actionforstammeringchildren.org/

RADLD (Raising Awareness of Developmental Language Disorder) are committed to spreading awareness of DLD (Developmental Language Disorder). They have resources that explain what DLD is, the impact it can have and how to get help. They also have an annual 'DLD Awareness Day'.

https://radld.org/

The Birmingham Community Healthcare website has additonal information on DLD and can be found here - NHS DLD Support