Allied Health Professions

Speech and language therapists provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and treatment for children and adults with communication and/or swallowing problems. Their work covers the areas of speech, language, voice, fluency, swallowing, reading and writing skills and includes teaching alternative and augmentative methods of communication. There are 283 speech and language therapists working within the HPSS in Northern Ireland.

Communication is vital to every aspect of our lives. Speech and language therapists work with people of all ages who have a wide range of communication difficulties. These include the production and appropriate use of speech sounds, understanding of spoken language and appropriate use of language. Some people may have a specific difficulty such as a stammer or a voice problem. Therapists are also involved in working with people who have difficulties feeding, chewing and/or swallowing.

Communication difficulties may be a result of a number of factors, or a combination of factors. These may include physical difficulties, a developmental delay, learning disabilities, stroke, hearing loss or deafness, degenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease, head injury, dementia, cancer of the mouth or throat, and cleft palate.

Opportunities are developing for bilingual speech and language therapists who have knowledge of minority languages.

Speech and language therapists use their specialist skills to assess each person. The therapist considers a wide range of information, including medical information and developmental history, as well as the results of formal assessment of the child/adult's skills and difficulties. The therapist also considers informal observation. Using this information, and following discussion with the carers as well as others involved with the child or adult, the therapist plans an individual course of therapy taking into account the needs of the individual.

Therapists may work directly with the child or adult on an individual basis or in groups, either a speech and language group or groups with another professional such as occupational therapist or teacher. Therapy may take place in a variety of settings including health centres and clinics, hospitals, mainstream and special schools and units, assessment and day care centres and the home.

Increasingly therapists are becoming involved in providing training, for example to teachers and classroom assistants, care staff in residential homes and staff in hospitals and health centres, and parents and parents-to-be. This preventative and educational role is becoming an important element of many speech and language therapy posts.