Speech and language therapists
Speech and language therapists work with all ages, from newborn babies with feeding and swallowing difficulties, to adults who have suffered strokes, head and neck cancers, or progressive neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis.
Referrals
There are three ways to get a referral to the speech and language therapy service. You can:
- be referred by your GP, consultant, teacher or other professional working with you
- self–refer (for voice disorders you need an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) assessment first)
- be referred by a parent, carer, friend or family member (with your permission)
Where clinics are held
Most of the services we provide are at community clinics, including:
- William Knott Centre, Overdale hospital
- Communicare Centre, St Brelade (children only)
- The Bridge, St Saviour (children only)
- Pathways Centre, St Clement (children only)
However, when necessary people can be seen and assessed wherever they are: at home, in hospital, at school or in a nursing / residential home.
The services we offer
We provide help and support for children who have the following conditions:
- delayed or disordered language development
- difficulty with producing and using speech sounds
- difficulty in understanding
- difficulty in the use of language for social interaction
- a stammer
- hearing impairment
- a voice disorder
- eating, drinking or swallowing difficulties
Children's treatment that may be offered
Following an initial assessment, the therapist will plan a management programme. This may involve:
- monitoring your child’s development
- a course of group or individual therapy delivered by a therapist
- a therapy programme to be undertaken by yourselves, or nursery or school staff
If your child is of pre-school age, you may be offered a 6 week training course which teaches how to promote language learning opportunities for children with communication difficulties or language delay.
Pre-school children with a severe language disorder may be referred by their therapists to the Pre-School Language Group at Rouge Bouillon School. This is a joint Education Department / Speech and Language Therapy provision with a teacher and a speech and language therapist running sessions jointly.
The service to school-age children is delivered in close collaboration with the Education Department and in a variety of schools.
Adult's treatment that may be offered
Adults referred to the service may have:
- speech, language or swallowing difficulties resulting from brain injury or stroke
- speech, language or swallowing difficulties resulting from a progressive neurological condition (e.g. motor neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease, dementia)
- a voice disorder
- a stammer
- speech, language or swallowing difficulties associated with learning difficulties
Following assessment, a therapy plan will be agreed with you. This may involve:
- setting and review of therapy goals
- individual or group therapy
- self-directed work
- practise with carers or rehabilitation assistants
In order for therapy to be as effective as possible, speech and language therapists work collaboratively with other health and social care professionals also involved with your care.
Clients with voice disorders are managed in collaboration with the ENT department. Speech and language therapy also deliver services as part of the:
- multi-disciplinary community stroke team
- memory clinic
- neurocare team
- community network team
Speech and Language Therapy for the Adult Learning Disability Service
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