ABSTRACT
Hearing tests are always worthwhile to rule out hearing impairment as a potential barrier to development of speech, language and communication. Where face-to-face speaking, listening and social interaction were once priorities, access to tablets, phones and other devices has changed the nature of communication and reduced time available for direct personal engagement. The main areas of difficulty are associated with social interaction and communication which impact on ability to form and develop relationships. Assessment and observations suggest the possibility of General Language Impairment with its implications for social interaction and engagement in Nursery and beyond. Increasingly, Joe presented with issues relating to the social use and understanding of language which were impacting on his interaction and relationships with others; an Autism Spectrum Disorder had not been diagnosed. Sometimes, children are described as having a Specific Language Impairment or a Language Disorder, where one or more aspects of language development are weak in relation to others and/or general cognitive ability.
