healthflex - Services: Speech Therapy

Speech and language issues can affect all ages and often affects all aspects of a person's life. A speech and language therapist is trained to assess and identify communication and swallowing problems. They will work with the person using techniques that are aimed at overcoming their communication difficulties.

Speech and Language Therapists are trained to work with a variety of people but generally specialise in certain areas. For example:

Children with communication difficulties where they may not understand what people are saying to them, difficulties producing certain sounds or specific problems such a hearing impairment, stammering or autism
Adults with communication or swallowing problems perhaps resulting from Stroke or other illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neck and throat cancer
Voice problems such as those associated with vocal strain, for example vocal nodules or tired, aching throat
Difficulties resulting from learning difficulties, physical disability and hearing problems
Babies with feeding and swallowing difficulties

Speech and Language Therapy Services Available at Healthflex

Screening assessment
This is often useful when parents or relatives are concerned about a speech and language problem and want to find out more about the difficulty and whether they should be seeking specialist help.

Specialist Services for:
Communication problems where the person may not understand what people are saying to them or have difficulties putting words together, for example, after a stroke.

Producing certain speech sounds, for example, associated with a number of neurological conditions.

Swallowing problems, for example, coughing and choking whilst eating or drinking.

Professional voice users who wish to safeguard their voice whilst working for example, teachers, lawyers and telesales staff.

Adults and children who have been seen by an ENT specialist who has recommended voice therapy, for example for children with vocal nodules.

More information about Speech and Language Therapists can be found at www.rcslt.org/aboutslts/