One in five children in South Western Sydney are at risk of poor language outcomes.
The COVID-19 lockdowns have increased the risk of developing communication delays as social interactions and engagement in early learning environments have been limited.
The importance of language skills
Language skills are needed to understand and communicate across different environments. A child’s early language skills are predictive of long-term outcomes.
The harm of watching and waiting
Watching and waiting as children return to pre-COVID community activities will not rectify a language delay. It is better for a child to wait on a waiting list for early intervention which will maximise their outcomes.
It’s more important than ever to refer early, as waiting times in both public and private services have significantly increased since the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Instead: screen and act
Every consultation is an opportunity to screen a child’s communication.
In addition to the Blue Book, you can use this screening checklist (communication milestone checklist) to identify when a referral to a speech pathologist is needed (where and how to refer).