What is the role of a Speech and Language Therapist?

One thing we notice a lot as Speech and Language Therapists is a lot of people aren’t fully aware of what we actually do.

To complicate things even further, our title doesn’t actually cover the full scope of our role.

Speech and Language Therapists play a crucial role in assessing, diagnosing and treating, not only communication but also swallow disorders that result from various causes such as Stroke, Brain Injury, Neurological Conditions (Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia, Parkinson’s), Cancer.

Our key roles and responsibilities include:

• Assessment and Diagnosis:
  • Evaluate speech, language, voice, cognitive-communication and swallowing abilities
  • Use a mixture of standardized and informal assessments to identify the nature and extent of the disorder.

• Treatment, Planning and Intervention
  • Develop and implement individualized therapy plans tailored to our client’s specific needs and goals. Whether that’s returning to work, or being able to go to the shop independently to safely managing a normal consistency diet once again.
  • Use a range of therapeutic techniques to improve speech articulation, language comprehension and expression, voice quality, fluency and safe swallowing.

• Rehabilitation and Recovery
  • Work with clients, long-term, who are recovering from conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury or surgery.
  • Help re-establish communication and swallowing functions to enhance quality of life and independence.
• Support for Progressive Conditions
  • Provide ongoing support and therapy for client’s with conditions like Parkinson’s, Motor Neuron Disease or Dementia.
  • Focus on maintaining communication strategies for as long as possible or providing families/carers with helpful strategies to support individuals with progressive conditions.
• Education and Training
  • Provide bespoke training packages or 1:1 education for families and/or care givers about the nature of the disorder, strategies for communication and techniques for safe swallowing.

Above all, we focus on person centered care. Meaning we will work with you and your family to ensure we have your best interests at the heart of every part of our input.

If you’re unsure of whether Speech and Language Therapy could help you or your loved ones, just ask us! We’re always happy to have a chat, even if it means we can point you in a more appropriate direction.

Get in touch via our contact form by following the link below:

Speech Matters Speech TherapyContact – Speech Matters Speech Therapy