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Helping Kids with Language Problems
At least one in five children will have difficulty learning (Westwood & Graham, 2000). This means approximately five children in an average school class will struggle. For many children, their learning difficulty originates from an underlying language difficulty, a disability or the result of a prolonged illness such as cancer.
Language skills underpin all learning and are essential to a child's success at school. Speech and language problems have a major impact on a child's verbal and written skills and comprehension. |
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Language skills underpin all learning and are essential to a child's success at school. Speech and language problems have a major impact on a child's verbal and written skills and comprehension. They also affect the ease with which a child forms friendships and their overall quality of life. As children grow, language skills become critical for employment, relationships and day-to-day interactions with others.
Without help a learning difficulty may result in bleak implications such as problematic behaviour, delinquency and criminality, school truancy and drop-out, unemployment, drug abuse, poor social relations, and poor self-esteem and depression (Holborrow & Neville, 1999). Such outcomes cast this issue as a critical one for society as a whole.
Children with language and communication difficulties usually require the expertise of a Speech and Language Pathologist to counteract their difficulties and prevent negative long-term consequences.
Learning Links' Speech Pathologists assess children with communication problems. They then work with each child, the child's parents and teacher to help overcome or deal with any difficulties and reach their full potential.
They help a child process language and reproduce their thoughts so they can communicate effectively through oral and written work. Speech Therapy helps vocabulary development and improves sentence structure, sequencing and organisation of ideas - all extremely important for success at school.
Once children are identified as needing the help of a Speech and Language Pathologist, it is crucial to start therapy as early as possible to correct problems before they become entrenched and to decrease the need for therapy down the track.
A recent NSW Parliamentary Report highlighted the fact that waiting lists for community health based therapy are often 12-18 months or longer. This is partly because government departments overseeing health, education and disability services do not place priority on providing therapy services to children at educational risk.
Parents have the option of sending their children to private speech pathologists but this option is often far too expensive for many families.
Learning Links offers reduced rates compared to private practice and will further discount or even waive fees for children from financially disadvantaged families. We are often their only hope for help without having to wait over 12 months and sometimes more.
Each speech and language assessment costs Learning Links $250 per child, while weekly 30 minute sessions cost us $55 per child.
An assessment and 10 sessions of therapy for one child costs $800. This amount of support can make a real difference to child and help them to better cope in class and feel happier about themselves. It may just reduce the chances of them dropping out of school early and increase their chances of further education and meaningful employment.
Donations to Learning Links are tax deductible and receipted.
How do I give?
Please send a cheque or your credit card details to:
Learning Links
12-14 Pindari Road
Peakhurst NSW 2210
(specifying that your donation is for "Helping Kids with Language Problems")
Or simply fill out the online donations form.
Is there an allowance for administrative fees? No, all money goes directly to fund Helping Kids with Language Problems.
Contact details for further information:
Robyn Collins, General Manager, Marketing & Fundraising
Telephone: (02) 8525 8249
Fax: (02) 9584 2054
Email: rcollins@learninglinks.org.au
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