One in 14 children unable to speak properly

[Guest guest]

I personally believe the number is even higher than this in the US...if anyone

took the time to look at speech impairments outside of those diagnosed autistic.

It's becoming clear that unless we consider apraxia a " form " of autism as UK

autism expert Dr. Simon Baron Cohen presents for (just about everyone!) our

children remain voiceless...at least this article shows that somewhere in the

world someone has taken notice...and cares!

From Times Online

June 30, 2009

One in 14 children unable to speak properly

Joanna Sugden

Rising numbers of children are not able to speak properly, official figures

indicate.

The Government's own figures also show it has failed to reduce the number of

secondary school children with emotional, behavioural and social difficulties

compared with last year.

Communication difficulties have been linked to poor academic achievement,

substance abuse, increased depression and criminal activity.

Almost one in seven primary school children with special educational needs has

trouble with speech - making it the most common special educational need.

Experts say this figure is a reflection of a much wider problem and say seven

per cent of all primary pupils struggle with language and communication skills.

The Government promised an extra £52 million for speech and language provision

last summer after a major review conducted by Bercow, the Tory MP who is

now Speaker of the House of Commons, which criticised schools for neglecting the

issue.

" Instead of being an optional add-on, communication skills should be at the

heart of the primary curriculum... speech and listening have been elbowed out of

schools for literacy and numeracy for too long, " the Bercow review said.

In 2004 - the first year the figures were compiled - just over a fifth (20.6 per

cent) of all primary pupils with special educational needs had specific speech

problems. The figures have been increasing year on year ever since.

Figures released by the Government today show that almost a quarter (24 per

cent) of those primary pupils with special needs have problems with speech - a

rise of 0.2 per cent since last year.

Campaigners blame the increases on cuts to speech and language therapy in

schools and neglect of the issue in secondary schools. They say it is creating a

dangerous timebomb for students who will leave school unable to string a

sentence together.

Virginia Beardshaw, chief executive of iCan, a speech charity, said: " Children

with statements [of special educational needs] are the tip of the iceberg. There

are two to three children with specific speech and language needs in every

primary school class. "

She said speech and language needs were still the most dominant of all special

educational needs.

The money promised has not yet been provided to primary schools, Ms Beardshaw

added.

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