Long Term Outcomes

The early remediation of speech and language disorders has an important preventative aspect. High rates of linguistic, educational and social impairment have been found in longitudinal studies to persist many years after a language difficulty is first diagnosed (eg. Bishop, D.V.M. & Adams, C., "A prospective study of the relationship between specific language impairment, phonological disorders and reading retardation", Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 1990). Without intensive, specialist help, these severely language disordered children may well become emotionally and psychologically disturbed, and are likely to experience a range of educational difficulties, in addition to suffering a permanent communication handicap.

In contrast, with skilled help available to them, these children are able to reduce the extent of their communication impairments, take advantage of educational provision, and ultimately lead normal independent adult lives. Between 1998 and 2003, 41% of children leaving the Unit returned directly to mainstream education and 7% returned to local language units. 38% transferred to the Meath School, a specialist school for children with specific speech and language difficulties run by the charity ICAN, and 13% went on to other special schools.

Initial data has been collected for a long term follow-up study of children who have attended the Unit. This reflects the wide range of experiences, difficulties and successes of this group of young people, including many who are living normal, indedependent adult lives.

(Reproduced with kind permission of the Nuffield Hearing and Speech Centre, Copyright NHSC)