There is nothing more elemental in all existence than communication it is the very essence of life. All creatures great and small, even unto the tiny amoeba, are connected in an endless ebb and flow of messages. But it is in humans that we see its ultimate expression in the marvellous vehicle of language. In a highly competitive, upwardly mobile society of ours, verbal skill is very essential. Effective speech is of the utmost importance if one is to gain and maintain a status in the society, or to get the material possessions which are constantly held up to us as goals to be desired. Disorders of speech and language in childhood are not uncommon. Therapy for them requires understanding of the processes involved in the normal development of speech and language function.