What is Speech and Language Therapy?

Speech and language Therapists work with adults and children who have communication difficulties and/or eating and drinking or swallowing difficulties. Speech and Language Therapists are skilled in the assessment, evaluation diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of complex communication disorders.

Who are we?

A team of Specialist Speech and Language Therapists supported by a team of Communication Co-ordinators.

What do we do?

The Speech and Language Therapy team supports the Hesley Group’s philosophy of enhancing lives. The aim of the team is to enable each student and resident to achieve his/her maximum potential for communication, whether this is verbal or non-verbal.

Speech and Language Therapy aims to support students and residents to communicate effectively both at home and school and within the wider community. To achieve this, the Speech and Language Therapy team works in partnership with families and members of the multi-disciplinary team, including Teachers, Clinical Psychologists, Applied Behaviour Analysts, Care Managers and Support Staff.

The Speech and Language Therapy team promotes a Total Communication approach, including the use of signing, symbols, photos and objects to support communication. The team also provides training and support for students, residents and the staff who support them in approaches such as PECS, TEACCH, Intensive Interaction and Social Stories.

Speech and Language therapists who hold additional qualifications in Dysphagia management advise on strategies for students and residents who present with feeding and swallowing difficulties.

Care Pathway Flowchart