For whom?
The Centre de logopédie (CL) (Centre for language and hearing therapy or Centre for the development of language, auditory and communicative skills) supports children and young people with speech and language disorders and / or hearing impairments and those experiencing significant difficulties in acquiring spoken language than the majority of children or young people of the same age.
Children with hearing impairment receive assistance from their early age until their professional integration. For children with language disorders this extends from cycle 1 to the end of secondary education.
Mastering language is a fundamental element in the development of children's personality, their academic success, their social integration and their future professional integration.
That is why early detection and management of language disorders, as well as hearing impairments that often go hand in hand, are a public health priority. In Luxembourg, language and speech disorders are systematically screened in all classes of cycle 1 of elementary school.
How?
The CL offers children with language disorders and / or hearing impairments better access to language (oral or written), while promoting their harmonious physical and mental development. The main objective is inclusion or reintegration of children into the elementary school of their commune or a nearby secondary school.
Due to school requirements, specialised care on a fixed-time basis is essential in many cases, either externally or in a regional group or in a full-time class at the CL. One or more years of specific education, intensive rehabilitation and therapy can significantly improve the auditory and communicative skills of children, allowing them to acquire the necessary basics for their integration.
Teaching, auditory-verbal education, rehabilitation and therapies are based on action, experience, reflection, participation and dialogue in spoken or sign language. Methods focus on international scientific concepts and active prevention of dyslexia, dysorthographia and dyscalculia.
For this purpose, the activity of the CL focusses on the student's need with :
- systematic screening for language and speech disorders (cycle 1) ;
- parental guidance ;
- a differential diagnosis (identification of the disorder) and a therapeutic and multi-professional diagnosis (identification of measures to be implemented) at the Centre ;
- an educational audiology (prevention, evaluation and rehabilitation of hearing disorders in children) ;
- external language and speech rehabilitation as well as auditory-verbal education (in individual or small group sessions) for children with language disorders and/or hearing impairments ;
- specialised classes from cycle 1 to 4, for children with language disorders and/or hearing impairments ;
- sign language education for children with hearing loss ;
- secondary education at the lower cycle ;
- psychological and social guidance ;
- rhythmic education courses ;
- music therapy sessions ;
- psychomotricity and air tramp sessions ;
- continuing education for teachers ;
- information and exchange evenings for parents.
Each unit of the CL (except the administrative unit) consists of a section "hearing impairments" and a section "language and speech disorders".
The specialised education unit manages classes and groups. Most of the classes are located in the main building in Strassen; some are integrated in elementary schools or secondary schools.
Cycle 1-4 and secondary school groups are organised regionally by teachers specialising in speech therapy, supported by speech therapists.
The diagnosis, consulting and monitoring unit provides :
- systematic screening and entry diagnosis with parents and teachers at elementary school ;
- diagnosis and orientation groups: a multidisciplinary team observes a small group of children for two weeks to establish a differential and therapeutic diagnosis and prepare an orientation report;
- council of parents and teachers at elementary schools and secondary schools.
The rehabilitation and therapy unit includes psychomotor and occupational therapy, music therapy, speech therapy and interventions of sign language interpreters.
By whom?
The missions of the CL are carried out by a multi-professional team including teachers specialising in logopaedics, teachers, educators, speech therapists, pedagogues, psychologists, social workers, sign language interpreters, psychomotor therapists and occupational therapists, who collaborate with the educational teams of schools and the directors of elementary education.
Teamwork predominates. Professionals of different specialties consult on a regular basis. Pooling different points of view is a major asset in the implementation of effective individual education and rehabilitation.