Speech and Language Therapy Service

What we do?

We assess, diagnose and treat children and adults (from birth to the end of life) who have feeding, swallowing or communication impairments. These may range from mild to severe. We work with individuals, groups or on a consultative basis. We also run workshops and training activities for parents, carers and other professionals.

About the team

Our team of Speech and Language Therapists are members of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists and are registered with the Health Professions Council. We are trained to degree level and are committed to continuing professional development, undertaking post-graduate courses in specialist areas.

What is a communication impairment?

• Congenital factors, for example, Downs Syndrome, Cleft Palate, Cerebral Palsy
• Progressive disorders, for example, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Dementia
• Acquired disorders following Stroke, head injury, encephalitis, meningitis
• Cancer
• Voice disorders
• Dysfluency (stammering)
• Developmental delay
• Specific language disorders
• Specific speech sound difficulties
• Hearing impairment
• Learning disability

Paediatric Service

Who do we see?

Our team provide services to children from birth to 18 years. We provide care to children with difficulties in:

• Speech Development
• Language Comprehension and Expression
• Learning Difficulties
• Voice Disorders
• Stammering
• Swallowing
• Social Communication

Locations

The Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy Team deliver services from various locations throughout the Island. The team is based at Central Community Health, Westmoreland Road Douglas, however children and their families access the service through a number of settings, including:

• nurseries and primary schools (mainstream and specialist)
• Home visits
• Speech Therapy Clinics: Douglas Community Health Centre, Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital, and Thie Rosien Clinic, Port Erin.

What do we do?

• We provide the Island's pre-schoolers and schoolchildren with an assessment, review and therapy programme in order that each child reaches his or her full communication potential.
• We ensure that all children with feeding and swallowing difficulties receive prompt assessment and recommendations on feeding regimes for each individual child.
• We refer, through established protocol, children for off-Island assessment at specialist clinics.
• We work within a multidisciplinary team, joining with representatives from Health and Education.

How to refer

Written referrals can be sent to:

Adult Service

Who do we see?

The clients we see include those with:

• Communication or swallowing difficulties resulting from brain injury or stroke
• Communication or swallowing difficulties resulting from progressive neurological conditions (for example, Parkinson's Disease; Multiple Sclerosis; Motor Neurone Disease; Dementia)
• Voice problems
• Dysfluency (stammering)
• Communication or swallowing difficulties resulting from Head and Neck surgery

Locations

The Adult team delivers a service to in-patients at Nobles and Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital (RDCH), including the Rehabilitation Unit (Ward 20, Nobles Hospital) and the Hospice. Outpatient clinics are held at Nobles Hospital and when appropriate clients are also visited in their homes or in Residential or Nursing Homes.

What do we do?

Following assessment treatment plans will be developed to meet individual needs and may include:

• Therapy to rehabilitate lost function
• Provision of advice and strategies to maximize current function. For patients with swallowing difficulties this may involve modification of consistencies and textures of food and drink
• Education of family / careers
• Advice on communication aids (where appropriate)
• Onward referral to other agencies / professionals (for example, dietetics; radiology; ENT)
• Liaison with support groups and other professionals

We also provide training (in communication and swallowing difficulties) to other members of the multi-disciplinary team (nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and healthcare assistants)

How to refer

For swallowing problems please contact your GP or nurse who will make a referral on your behalf. For communication difficulties you may go through your GP or other medical professional or contact us directly: