Understanding language and learning

Language and learning are inextricably intertwined. Problems with communication can impede a child’s ability to succeed in school. Eighty per cent of school-age children with a diagnosed learning disability have a primary difficulty with the language-based skills of reading and/or writing/spelling (U.S. Department of Education, 2002). An underlying literacy deficit can hinder a child’s academic success across all subjects.

Language delays or disorders and your child

While language delays or disorders should be taken seriously, they are not uncommon—and they are identifiable and fixable. Some difficulties to look out for include:

  • Language delays or disorders:
    • Your toddler is “late” to start talking
    • Your child’s language comprehension or speech is not as well-developed as that of other children his or her age
    • Your child’s vocabulary or grammar is poor
  • Speech sound or motor speech disorders:
    • Your child’s speech is difficult to understand
    • Your child has trouble making specific mouth movements or sounds
  • Socio-communication difficulties:
    • Your child has difficulties using language to converse or interact with others
    • Your child does not use words appropriate to a given social situation

How the Montreal Fluency Centre can help?

The Montreal Fluency Centre changes lives by helping children overcome learning and language barriers. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, our team of licensed professionals assesses each child and formulates a comprehensive, research-based treatment plan, implementing it in partnership with parents and, often, with the child’s daycare or school. Our robust bursary program means no one is ever turned away.

We believe in forging alliances that will enable every child to become a self-assured, capable and involved member of their community. We work with parents, offering them not only the most effective speech therapies for their child, but also support, collaboration and assurance. We are dedicated to teachers who want to provide effective, evidence-based information and strategies to help each student succeed. We recognize the benefits of knowledge-sharing between like-minded professionals and community agencies. In short, we value being part of a larger, collective effort to understand and meet the needs of children with learning and communication challenges.

Because at the end of the day, it’s about changing lives.

Instilling a sense of confidence and self-worth in a young child is critical. The ability to speak without fear of ridicule or being ostracized is key to their development. What the Fluency Centre does goes beyond speech therapy, it goes to instilling a feeling of pride and confidence in the child.

–Peter J. Guidote, MFC Board