The SSLI Ireland website has now launched. www.ssli.ie. This website has been created by parents to give support to other parents and to provide information about what SSLI is, the assessment process, the language class and much more.
Specific Speech and Language Impairment (or disorder as it is sometimes known) is a disability which is usually diagnosed in early childhood. Children with SSLI have exceptional difficulty learning and generalising speech, language and communication skills. Their communication skills do not develop in the same way as other children's. Research suggests that SSLI occurs in about 5% of the childhood population. There is no known cause for SSLI. The speech and language difficulties in SSLI are specific and persistent and are not due to an overall learning difficulty, hearing loss, environmental deprivation or autistic spectrum disorder. SSLI is different to a speech and language delay. Speech and language delay is typically characterised by less severe difficulties which resolve over time or with therapy.
The vision for the future of this website is to publicise SSLI, educate ourselves and others more on this condition and work on trying to obtain more help and services for children with SSLI. We also intend to organise information evenings around the country with expert guest speakers.
There is a forum attached to the website so parents can chat to other parents or ask a speech & language therapist, occupational therapist or psychologist a question.
This website has been created by a minority of parents who are working off their own experiences and is still a work in progress so any feedback or help you can offer would be very much appreciated.
We hope this website assists you in understanding more about SSLI and relieves some of the anxiety that you may have regarding your child.
