The figure came out of research that was unveiled at a conference heldby the commissioner and the Royal College for Speech and LanguageTherapists last week.
Delegates at the conference in Cookstown heard the "inadequate andinequitable" provision means 2,055 children are waiting to be assessedfor treatment, while 3,402 children have been assessed but are stillwaiting for treatment to start.
On average, children face waits ranging from three weeks to five monthsto be assessed and further delays of between two weeks and nine monthsto actually receive therapy. However, maximum waiting times can seechildren waiting much longer, suffering further setbacks in educationaland personal development.
Barney McNeany, the acting children's commissioner, said: "There aresome trust areas where children can wait two-and-a-half years fromreferral to therapy - that means the child may wait from startingprimary school to year three to receive support."
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