Suffering in silence

Number of kids with speech issues soaring

- BY SOPHIE HUSKISSON Political Correspondent

POVERTY, the pandemic and activities being replaced with screens have caused a surge in speech and language issues among children.

Jane Harris, chief executive of Speech and Language UK, has issued a rallying cry to ministers ahead of the release of their long-awaited special educational needs and disabilities strategy. She said the system is “absolutely failing a huge number of children”, with a record fifth struggling with speech and language.

Nearly half of these children have SEND-related speech challenges, such as a form of neurodivergence or disability.