Better conversations for DLD
This pathway is appropriate for children aged 6-8 with language difficulties, including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD).
The programme aims to promote the child’s spoken language and conversation skills by offering strategies for both you and your child to support your everyday interactions.
What is Better Conversations therapy?
‘Better Conversations’ is a therapy approach that aims to help children with language difficulties to have more enjoyable and successful interactions in their everyday lives. It involves working in collaboration with children and their main carers to identify and practise the best strategies for enhancing the content and flow of natural conversations.
As conversation is highly individual, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ formula. Instead, we will think together about your daily conversations and what makes them more enjoyable and meaningful. ‘Better Conversations’ is a flexible approach, based on a set of core principles that can be adapted for children and adults with a wide range of communication strengths and needs.
For the therapy to work, both the child and the parent or carer need to be motivated and involved. After all, it takes (at least) two to have a conversation…
The programme is delivered by student Speech and Language Therapists who are closely supervised by qualified specialist Speech and Language Therapists and follows evidence-based best practice recommended in Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) guidelines.
What does Better Conversations involve?
‘Better Conversations’ works by teaching strategies to you and your child which will support their language and communication development. In clinic, parents and children are taught and have opportunities to practise the strategies. Parents’ interaction with their child is video–recorded to provide them with feedback on their use of the strategies and the effect of these strategies on their child’s language and conversation development. Parents and children are asked to practise the strategies at home in play and everyday activities.
What is your commitment?
- To attend an initial assessment in Clinic
- Primary carer and child to attend the University clinic for 6 weekly sessions, each lasting up to one hour
- To agree to student involvement
- To agree to videoing for feedback and teaching purposes
- To practise the strategies with your child at home in play and everyday activities
- To attend a follow-up appointment after ‘Better Conversations’ has finished
- Following completion of the programme, most children will be discharged from our caseload
How do I know if Better Conversations is appropriate?
We will look at your referral information and at your child’s initial assessment results to make a decision about whether ‘Better Conversations’ is an appropriate pathway for you. We normally offer ‘Better Conversations’ to primary school-aged children with language difficulties, including Developmental Language Disorder.
Supervising therapists
The programme has been devised by:
- Dr Lucy Hughes, a qualified Speech and Language Therapist, registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (SL24463). Lucy has worked with children and adolescents with speech, language and communication needs for more than 20 years. She has specialised in language disorders, including DLD, since 2010 in both research and clinical settings.
What parents say about Better Conversations
“More time dedicated to conversation definitely supports language development. There are lots of strategies to help, but time, space and awareness are probably the best.”
“I think it’s a brilliant little therapy. It’s given me the tools to be able to help my son… It was so frustrating to have a conversation with him. I didn’t know if he was being silly or didn’t want to talk. But now I’ve realised I just need to give him more time.”
Please email paediatric-slt@reading.ac.uk if you have any questions.
