What do they do?
Speech and language therapists offer support to children and adults who experience problems communicating. They also assist individuals who have difficulties with eating, drinking and swallowing.
There are around 11,500 speech and language therapists working in the UK, most of whom are employed directly by the NHS. Some, however, work for local authorities, charities or private organisations.
The therapists will work with children and young people in settings such as children's centres, courts, hospitals and schools.
Why is speech and language therapy important?
Almost half of children who start school experience problems with speech and language, according to the Communication Trust. Children with speech and language difficulties can struggle to make friends, display challenging behaviour and perform poorly at school. Poor speech and language skills can also be an indicator of whether a young person will go on to offend. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) estimates that more than 60 per cent of young people in custody have speech or language difficulties.
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