Speech, Language & Communication Therapy

We offer a range of therapy pathways for children and adults.

Speech and Language Therapy can support children and adults who experience difficulties with communication, understanding language, or expressing themselves clearly. Someone may benefit from speech therapy if they have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, understanding spoken language, forming sentences, following instructions, or engaging in conversations and social communication. It can also help individuals with stammering, voice difficulties, or communication differences associated with autism, ADHD, or learning differences.

Speech and Language Therapy aims to develop effective communication skills and support confidence in everyday interactions at home, school, work, and in social situations.

  • Our speech and language therapy (SLT) sessions are personalised to support the unique needs of each child, young person or adult. Therapy may follow a recent formal assessment, or, if one is not available, our speech and language therapist will carry out a formal/ informal assessment during the initial session to identify areas of need and agree on goals.

    Following this, we’ll recommend a bespoke intervention plan. The number and frequency of sessions will depend on the level of support required, which we’ll discuss with you in detail.

  • We have a team of Speech and Language Therapist’s able to Support in the following areas

    We work with children and young people with a wide range of speech, language, and communication needs, including but not limited to:

    • Speech sound disorders (e.g. articulation delay, phonological delay/disorder)

    • Language delay and developmental language disorder (DLD)

    • Selective mutism

    • Social communication difficulties (including those linked to autism spectrum condition)

    • Stammering / stuttering

    • Voice difficulties

    • Hearing impairment-related communication needs

    • Cleft palate-related speech difficulties

    • Down syndrome and other genetic conditions

    • Communication difficulties linked to neurodevelopmental conditions

    • Complex needs / non-verbal communication

    If you’re unsure whether SLT is right for your child, we’re happy to advise and guide you through the process.

  • Sessions are around 45 minutes long and packed with engaging, child-friendly resources including toys, visual supports, games, and online interactive tools. These are carefully chosen to keep your child motivated and make therapy both fun and effective.

    Between sessions, we’ll provide carry-over tasks and practical ideas to reinforce progress at home or in school.

    Therapy can take place in our clinic, home, school, or online, and will be delivered by a qualified speech and language therapist or therapy assistant, depending on the plan in place.

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    • Specialist assessments for autism, ADHD, speech and language, and learning differences

    • Professional reports and recommendations to support EHCP applications and reviews

    • Consultation with teachers and SENCOs to help implement effective support strategies

    • Psychoeducation sessions to help pupils understand their diagnosis and strengths

    • Speech and language therapy to support communication and learning in the classroom

    • Staff training and workshops on neurodevelopmental differences and inclusive practice

    • Ongoing liaison with schools and professionals to support a joined-up approach to care and education

Speech & Language Therapy Process

Therapy Pathways

Speech therapy with child and adult

Speech Therapy

  • Speech therapy helps by strengthening the voice, manner and placement of the tongue, teeth, lips and palate to clearly produce speech sounds. Our speech helps us to communicate and be understood by a range of people.

  • • Difficulty with producing speech sounds
    • Being misunderstood by others
    • Parents or caregivers may have to translate for you
    • Withdrawing from communicating with others

  • • Phonological awareness
    • Nuffield programme
    • Cued articulation
    • Auditory discrimination
    • oro-motor exercises

  • A Speech and phonological awareness assessment may be needed to help diagnose your condition. The process follows the format below:

    1) A detailed speech assessment will be carried out to identify speech and/or phonological processing errors.

    2) A feedback session is offered within 7 days of the assessment.

    3) A detailed report with the outcome (diagnosis), analysis of findings and recommendations are provided.

Language therapy with child and adult

Receptive and Expressive Language Therapy

  • Language therapy may support the understanding and use of vocabulary and concepts, making semantic associations, using accurate grammar, following instructions and building sentences to include conjunctions. When language is supported, children are better able to access their learning environment and confidently participate in communication exchanges.

  • • Limited vocabulary: less than 50 words at 18 mos., 200 words at 2 yrs., or 1,000 words at 3 yrs.

    • Difficulty formulating sentences (use of vocabulary, grammar, syntax)

    • Difficulty understanding verbal instructions, questions and concepts.

    • May have difficulty processing and learning new information.

  • Black sheep press resources.
    • Language through colour
    • Shape coding
    • Vocab voyage
    • Narrative resources
    • CLEAR pictoys
    • Derbyshire Language programme
    • Language for Thinking
    • Language for Behaviour and Emotions
    • Time matters
    • Rhodes to Language
    • Semantic links

  • A Language and Communication Assessment may be needed to help diagnose your condition. The process follows the format below:

    1) A detailed language assessment will be carried out to identify working memory, receptive and expressive language needs.

    2) A nursery/school/college observation or meeting with the class teacher is completed.

    3) A feedback session is offered within 7 days of the assessment.

    4) A detailed report with the outcome (diagnosis), analysis of findings and recommendations are provided.

Social Communication therapy with child and adult

Social Communication Therapy

  • For you, your family, and your wider network to develop an understanding and awareness of neurodiversity

    Use your differences to channel your strengths and achieve your goals

    Learn what strategies may support you in social situations

    Increase your emotional literacy and ability to express your feelings and thoughts

    Develop self-awareness and learn about your differences

    Learn about the wider neurodiverse network and local support services that may help

  • • Decreased/absent response to sounds and voices

    • Decreased eye contact or face watching

    • Limited safety awareness

    • May not understand non-literal language (sarcasm, humour, idioms)

    • Difficulty with understanding social cues (body language, emotions/feelings of others, etc.

    • Inappropriate judgement (appropriate vs. inappropriate situations and topics)

    • May prefer playing alone or only engaging in play with others on own terms.

    • Difficulty making and maintaining relationships with others​

    • Getting overly upset with change or transitions from activity to activity

  • • Talking mats
    • Social Thinking
    • Lego Therapy
    • Zones of Regulation
    • Black sheep press
    • Talkabout by Alex Kelly
    • Emotional literacy
    • Social stories
    • Play-based activities
    • Parent and Child interaction therapy
    • Makaton
    • AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)
    • Picture Exchange Communication System

  • A Speech, Language and Communication Assessment, Autism Assessment or ADHD Assessment may be needed to help diagnose your condition. The process follows the format below:

    1) A consultation is offered to determine what assessment pathway is required.

    2) A pre-screen questionnaire is completed.

    3) A Speech and Language Therapist will conduct an assessment with you or your child.

    4) For child-only assessments - A nursery/school/college observation or meeting with the class teacher is completed.

    5) A feedback session is offered within 7 days of the assessment.

    6) A detailed report with the outcome (diagnosis), analysis of findings and recommendations are provided.

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Lycali offers a professional and friendly service where time and attention can be taken to ensure the service received is of the highest standard and there is minimal waiting time. Our specialist team will always take the time to provide expert advice so you are aware of all the pre- and post-diagnostic and therapy services available. Our clinic is for children and adults, based in Thanet and surrounding areas. We provide online or in-person therapy sessions.

About Lycali

Because Every Individual Deserves to Be Understood