Hamayal 
Echolalia is the repetition of words and phrases that a child has heard — echoing back something said by another person, or a line from a favourite programme, song or story. Far from being meaningless or a habit to stop, repeating is often a genuine part of how a child learns language and communicates: the … Read more
Young children’s speech is naturally unclear at first, and it becomes clearer gradually as their sounds, words and sentences develop. The people who know a child well — parents, grandparents, siblings — usually understand far more than strangers do, because they know the child’s words, routines and ways of saying things. There is no single … Read more
Receptive language is a child’s ability to understand words and sentences — the listening side of communication. Long before children can say words themselves, they are busy making sense of the words they hear: recognising familiar names, following simple instructions and working out what everyday phrases mean. Understanding usually runs ahead of talking, and it … Read more
At a first speech therapy appointment, the therapist gets to know you or your child, listens to your concerns, and explores communication through conversation and gentle activities, so they can build a clear picture and agree the next steps with you. There is nothing painful involved, nothing to revise for, and no pass or fail … Read more
Losing your voice — when the voice becomes hoarse, weak, or disappears altogether — is most often caused by laryngitis, which is inflammation of the voice box. It commonly follows a cold or a period of heavy voice use, and in many cases the voice gradually returns as the inflammation settles. This guide explains what … Read more
Oral phase swallowing problems are difficulties in the mouth stage of swallowing — the stage where food is chewed, mixed with saliva, gathered into a soft lump called a bolus, and moved to the back of the mouth ready to swallow. When this stage does not work well, food may collect in the cheeks, slip … Read more
Slurred speech after a stroke is usually caused by dysarthria: the stroke has weakened or disturbed the coordination of the muscles used for speaking, so the words are formed less clearly even though the person knows exactly what they want to say. The brain’s messages to the lips, tongue, jaw, voice and breathing muscles arrive … Read more
Thinking more slowly after a stroke means the brain needs more time to take in information, work through it and respond — a change often called slowed processing speed. The person’s knowledge, personality and intelligence are still there; everyday thinking simply takes longer, rather like a familiar journey now travelled at a gentler pace. Given … Read more
Broca’s aphasia is a type of aphasia in which speaking becomes effortful and comes out in short, broken phrases, while understanding usually stays much stronger. It happens when the parts of the brain that build sentences — in and around the area known as Broca’s area — are damaged, most often by a stroke. The … Read more
A sensory food aversion is a strong, genuine reaction against a food because of how it tastes, feels, smells or looks — not a dislike a child can be talked out of. For some children, a particular texture, flavour or smell registers so intensely that their body reacts before they have any choice in the … Read more