Speech and language therapy

We work with adults with speech, language and/or swallowing difficulties which may have resulted from:

• Stroke
• Progressive neurological conditions e.g. dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease
• Head and neck cancer
• Acquired brain injury
• Brain tumours
• Other conditions e.g. Myasthenia Gravis, Guillain Barre and Huntington’s disease

We assess, diagnose and manage patients with swallowing difficulties and/or communication problems.

Referrals to the service are usually made by staff on the ward for a communication or swallow assessment.

We provide an inpatient service to patients in the Alexandra Hospital, Redditch and Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

We run a specialist head and neck cancer service and specialist outpatient dysphagia clinic for people who have been referred by the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) team at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Specialist clinics for people with voice problems are held at the Alexandra and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals and Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre.

The role of Speech and Language Therapy involves:

Communication:

• Informal and/or formal assessments of speech, language and voice are completed as appropriate
• Advice and therapy exercises may be provided
• Support and advice is offered to the patient, family/carers and others involved in their care
• Communication charts/alphabet charts may be provided to help facilitate communication
• Written advice leaflets will be provided along with contact details for the Speech and Language department involved
• If you need continued support once you leave hospital, we will talk to the appropriate community services to arrange a follow up for you.

Swallowing:

• An assessment of swallowing is undertaken Including trialling different food and fluid consistencies to ascertain if these can be swallowed safely/easily
• Recommendations will be made and communicated to the patient, their family/carers and others involved in their care
• Exercises or strategies may be provided to help improve swallow function
• If appropriate a referral for further instrumental assessment to examine the swallow in more detail may be advised
• Written advice leaflets will be provided along with contact details for the Speech and Language department involved
• If you need continued support once you leave hospital, we will talk to the appropriate community services to arrange a follow up for you.

[widgetkit id=”49″]