Synopsis

Speech and language disorders are prevalent and debilitating for affected individuals. Yet for over 400 years since the first reports of speech and language disorders in the medical literature, there has been little understanding of causation for these conditions. Advances in genomic sequencing and analysis are rapidly revealing insights into genetic aetiologies for severe childhood speech disorder, and our campus have been at the forefront of embedding new approaches in clinical practice at The Royal Children's Hospital. Here we discuss new horizons in the clinical management of severe speech disorder, where aetiology is harnessed to lead to more targeted and earlier management of symptomatology.