Children who lost language skills because of being isolated during Covid-19 lockdowns are at increased risk of behavioural difficulties and future unemployment unless they receive urgent help, speech experts say.
A survey by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists found that almost 90 per cent of nursery nurses said that more children had trouble understanding and using basic language.
With some in the two-to-four age bracket waiting for up to 18 months for specialist help, the college said there was concern over the effects of how lockdowns stopped infants from socialising with other children and their extended family.
Glenn Carter, head of the college in Scotland, said children were starting school with the language skills of three-year-olds or younger.
