Between the ages of three and six, your child becomes more aware of the world around them, and their communication skills become more developed. Their brains are also advancing at a rapid rate to process what they understand and how they would like to be understood. 

Your child communicates using a range of different actions, including speaking, using sounds, gesturing, body language and facial expressions. Everyone needs to be able to communicate to connect with others, express feelings and emotions, and have their needs meet.

Communication for all children can at times be frustrating when they cannot express what they want to. They may not understand others (receptive language), may be unable to make themselves understood (expressive language), or their ability to communicate is still developing.

For some children with CP, controlling their mouth and face muscles may be difficult, which can affect their speech. Contracture of the muscles related to the vocal cords, mouth and face can affect the formation of words, and they may experience other effects such as grimacing or salivating or experiencing difficulties with eating and drinking. 

Communication difficulties sometimes occur with young children with dyskinesia, the type of CP that affects the whole body.

If you’re concerned about your child’s communication development, talk to your GP or paediatrician. They can provide you with a referral to a medical or allied health professional, such as a speech pathologist, who will be able to provide your child with a comprehensive assessment and create a program to meet their individual needs.

For young children who do not speak or have limited speech, there are augmentative and alternative communication systems available, which can help them to communicate using technology.

Advances in assistive technology have helped to improve the quality of life for young children with CP by supporting them to communicate more effectively with those around them.

Biomedical research and technology engineers are currently looking at how to develop assistive technology that can translate thought to speech, although this is still in development. If thought to speech technology can be achieved, equipment for people who have no or limited speech will enable them to communicate with their family, their friends and the world around them.