To provide a facilitatory, small group, clinically driven pre-school; intensive therapy; and early intervention programmes for children with significant speech, language, hearing and communication challenges.

To provide outreach initiatives, including working with children from less privileged backgrounds; and providing training to those working with children from less privileged backgrounds.

To continue to be a recognised resource for education, training and research.

At the Centre we believe that language learning starts at birth and occurs in a dynamic and integrated manner. We follow a social-pragmatic approach to language learning, where language learning takes place through engagement and meaningful interaction.

It has been shown that communication difficulties arising from specific speech, language and/or hearing impairments can be significantly reduced during the pre-school years through intensive and appropriate interventions. Research has proven that this communication intervention results in a reduction in later social, emotional and scholastic challenges.

The Centre was developed by the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the University of the Witwatersrand in the early 1970s. There is still a strong relationship between the Centre and the School of Human and Community Development at the University. The Centre is a resource base for student training and research while the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology remains a valuable resource for the Centre in terms of continuing professional development of our staff.