Sadly, research has found that 71% of children sentenced in the youth justice system in England and Wales had speech, language and communication needs. This is deeply concerning and something the Welsh Government must investigate in greater depth.
However, it’s not only the children in the youth justice system who are being let down. Research also indicates there is a high incidence of poorer early language skills in socially deprived areas, with 32% of children with speech, language, and communication needs living in areas of high social disadvantage.
This means that many children start school with poor speech, language, and communication skills, and, sadly, this can hold them back in their learning. We have seen these same issues progress into adulthood, and we urgently need to break this cycle and improve outcomes.
As some of you may know, I actually underwent speech and language therapy due to my hearing loss as a child, and 30 years later, it’s disheartening to see limited progress in improving this issue, especially given the research indicating its detrimental impact across all aspects of life.
According to StatsWales, as of March this year, 10,055 people were waiting for audiology services in Wales, with over 4000 people waiting over 14 weeks. Given the link between misdiagnosed hearing issues and the resulting moderate to severe harm to an individual’s speech and language development, it is surprising that the Welsh Government has not taken steps to address this.
In the Senedd Chamber, I have repeatedly asked the Welsh Government about contracting private high-street audiologists to provide audiology services in a more convenient and accessible manner, in the same way they contract private GPs, dentists, and pharmacists to offer NHS services. Unfortunately, this suggestion has always been dismissed, despite it being utilised in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
As your regional Member of the Welsh Parliament, I will continue to advocate for this issue, pushing the Welsh Government to consider policy initiatives such as mandatory pre-school language assessments and specialised language education for preschool children to bring about real change. The Welsh Government often prioritises projects that nobody wants or asks for, wasting essential public funds. I am committed to fighting for our children and communities who deserve better.
ENDS
