What does an Adult Speech and Language Therapist do?
The Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) service anticipates and responds to the needs of individuals or at-risk groups who may experience speech, language, communication and/or swallowing difficulties. The service works in partnership with these individuals, their families and with other members of the multidisciplinary team to reduce the impact of these difficulties on people's well-being and their ability to participate in daily life. These problems may have been caused by a range of disorders and disabilities including:
- Stroke
- Degenerative neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
- Head Injury
- Head and neck cancer
- Other cancers
- Voice disorders
- Dementia
- COPD
- Post-surgical complications
- Tracheostomy
- Swallowing problems associated with the frail elderly
- Learning disability
The SLT service is involved in training other staff groups to screen for dysphagia and to help manage patients with communication and swallowing difficulties.