Service for Adults
In the adult department the Speech and Language Therapists work with people who have difficulty communicating and eating/drinking/swallowing. These difficulties can occur as a result of;
- brain injuries (e.g. stroke, traumatic brain injury)
- progressive neurologicalconditions (e.g. Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neuron Disease, Dementia)
- other medical or surgical conditions (e.g. respiratory, gastrointestinal problems, patients who have had a tracheostomy inserted, Ear, Nose and Throat problems)
- Mental health conditions
Difficulties may include:
Dysarthria: Dysarthria is a speech disorder resulting from weakness or incoordination of the muscles used for speech. Speech may sound quiet or nasalised and speech sounds may appear slurred or be slow and laboured.
Apraxia of Speech: Apraxia of Speech is a speech disorder resulting from difficulty putting speech sounds together.
Aphasia: Aphasia is a disorder of language which can result in difficulties with understanding, speaking, reading and writing. It is caused by brain damage from a stroke, head injury, brain tumour or other neurological condition.
Voice Disorders: Voice disorders can result from many different causes including muscle tension, psychological factors, structural abnormalities, laryngeal conditions and neurological conditions. Voice problems may lead to changes voice quality.
Difficulty Communicating: People with dementia and with mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia may have difficulty communicating and interacting with others.
Dysphagia: Dysphagia is a difficulty eating, drinking and/or swallowing foods and liquids.
We aim to ensure all assessments and treatments provided are evidence based and in line with current best practice. All staff are involved in a programme of continuing professional development and we regularly evaluate and audit our practices and treatment outcomes to ensure a high standard of service provision.
We provide a wide range of diagnostic assessments and treatments including:
- Videofluoroscopy
- Fiberoptic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)
- Manometry
- Videostroboscopy
- Vitalstim
- Lee Silverman Voice Therapy (LSVT)
Information leaflets
Links to information leaflets
Paediatric Service
In the children’s department the Speech and Language Therapists work with children who have difficulty communicating and/or eating/drinking/swallowing. These difficulties can occur in association with;
- Neuro-developmental difficulties (e.g. global developmental delay, intellectual disability, autistic spectrum disorders, motor disorders, Cerebral Palsy)
- other medical or surgical conditions (e.g. respiratory, gastrointestinal, Ear, Nose and Throat, neurological problems)
When should children be referred?
Children should be referred as soon as there are any concerns about their communication or eating/drinking/swallowing. We provide a service to children from birth.
A child should be referred to the speech and language therapy service if they present with any of the following:
- Difficulty interacting or avoiding interacting with parents/siblings/peers
- Avoiding eye contact
- Difficulty taking turns
- Difficulty understanding what is being said to him/her appropriate to his/her age
- Vocabulary development is limited for his/her age
- Displaying frustration at not being able to communicate his/her message
- Difficulty breast or bottle feeding
- Difficulty moving to solid foods
- Coughing or choking when eating or drinking
- Eating only a very limited range of foods
Information leaflets
