Background: Functional Communication Disorders (FCDs) are one specific presentation of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). FND is characterised by neurological symptoms, such as sensory and motor symptoms, which are not explained by neurological disease. Speech and language therapists (SLTs) have expertise in managing communication disorders,…

Background: Children who show disproportionate difficulty with the pragmatic as compared with the structural aspects of language are described as having pragmatic language impairment (PLI) or social communication disorder (SCD). Some children who have PLI also show mild social impairments associated with high-functioning autism or autism spectrum…

In May 2009, the Minister for Children and Early Years, gave a commitment to Parliament to establish a working group to report on how the "Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004" (the Act) is affecting children and young people who: (1) are looked after; (2) are young carers; (3) have mental health disorders; and…

Background: Post-stroke dysarthria rehabilitation should consider social participation for people with dysarthria, but before this approach can be adopted, an understanding of the psychosocial impact of dysarthria is required. Despite the prevalence of dysarthria as a result of stroke, there is a paucity of research into this communication…

Questionnaire responses of 723 schools for severely mentally retarded, physically handicapped, communication disordered, and autistic children or nonvocal communication systems in England, Scotland, and Wales indicated a slow down in the trend of using nonvocal systems in all countries, with the Makaton Vocabulary predominating. (CL)

Autism spectrum disorders, as the name suggests, do not represent a single nor straightforward set of needs to be met. The challenges facing education and other professionals, and the young people whose needs are being addressed, are considerable. The key is to see past the presenting issues, often behavioural in nature, to the communication…

Interviews with 11 local education authorities in the former Strathclyde Region (Scotland) examined the provision of services for children with "disorders of language and communication," related outreach and support services, terminology problems (autism subsumed under "communication disorders"), staffing, and referral…

A 3-year study of 12 regional and 3 island authorities in Scotland investigated: (1) the speech and language therapy needs of pupils with special education needs; (2) forms of collaboration among parents and professionals; and (3) the perceived effectiveness of different models of speech and language therapy service delivery. The research results…