"I definitely think there should be more speech-language pathologists -- whether or not they have the money," said Liz Baile, Catholic schools special needs co-ordinator.

"We could use two between two districts, definitely."

Since September 1996, the speech-language department from Stanton Regional Hospital has offered full-fledged programs to school-aged children.

Selected children are referred to the clinic when the speech-language pathologist visits each school in the district every six days. The pathologist works with the teachers and parents to see that the children get the kind of professional help they need.

"The biggest barrier to learning and language is a child with a language difficulty," said Baile.

Speech-language pathologist Wendy MacDonald agreed that the program needs to grow in order to offer services to more children.

"Results from a recent evaluation form regarding SLP services in the school indicated while the service is valuable, a visit once every six days is not sufficient to meet the needs," she said. "It is hoped that this service can be expanded in the future."

Eighty students in the Catholic district are getting language treatment -- a high number, she said, for a city as small as Yellowknife. The students, more than half aboriginal, are being treated for mild-to-moderate speech deficits, said Baile.

"Language development is where most children need help," she said.

Baile cited a lack of communication between parents and their children, as well as the erosion of the English language, as two of the main reasons for the problem.

"In order for kids to read and write, they have to have a good foundation of the oral language first," said Baile.