If you have spoken with professionals involved with your child and followed the advice provided but still think that your child needs additional targeted or specialist support, the following teams can help.
Speech and language therapists
Speech and language therapists (SLTs) play a key role in the diagnosis of children with different speech, language and communication needs.
Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) provide a range of toolkits that you can use with your child before contacting SLT for a referral.
If you decide that you would like to get in touch with a speech therapist you can make a referral to CFHD – you don’t have to ask a GP to do this for you.
There are resources available that can help you to plan and submit an effective referral to speech and language therapy services. Speech and Language UK has developed a series of factsheets that cover the decision-making process for making referrals, what to consider about your child, and how to build a speech, language and communication profile.
The Communication and Interaction Team
The Communication and Interaction (C and I) team offers support, advice and guidance to staff working in education settings in Devon.
In collaboration with schools and other professionals, the team support parents or carers through parent programmes for both autism and SLCN.
Direct engagement with parents or carers is always facilitated in partnership with school staff.