Experts in speech, language and communication have created a book about the importance of listening to children with SLCN.

It is called ‘Listening to Children and Young People with Speech, Language and Communication Needs,’ and £1.50 from each sale, goes to Afasic to help its work supporting children with speech and language difficulties and their parents.

This book focuses on the challenges in listening to children and young people with SLCN and offers expert insight from researchers, speech and language therapists and social workers from a diversity of disciplines such as health, education and social care.

It also provides a range of creative techniques and solutions for listening to children and young people.

Among the 52 contributors are; The Communication Trust’s Professional Director Wendy Lee, Hazel Roddam PhD, Chair of Council at the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, and Chris Markham PhD, a senior lecturer from University of Portsmouth.

Although experts acknowledge the benefits of consulting children with SLCN, very little has previously been written about the challenges involved in the process.

Personal perspectives are also provided by Abigail Beverly, a young person who grew up with SLCN and graduated from Central St Martin’s in London , and Robbie Simons, a student with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Linda Lascelles, Chief Executive Officer at Afasic, said: “We’re delighted to have contributed to this book and that the authors have decided to give all the royalties to Afasic.

This will go towards our work in helping children who have a speech and language impairment. Too often this group of children is invisible. If we are to understand what they want from services and how they can best be tailored to meet their needs, it is crucial for us to listeand consult with them.”

The book is available to order from publisher JR Press priced at £19.99 (not including postage and packing).