Speech and Language Therapy Service - SaLT
The Speech and Language Therapist aims to reduce the impact of speech, language, or communication needs (SLCN) and eating, drinking, and swallowing difficulties. This may be by:
• promoting awareness of children’s speech and language development and needs by working with parents and carers and a wide range of other professionals to maximise the child’s communication environments
• identifying, assessing, and defining interventions for children who are experiencing speech, language, and communication difficulties such as understanding spoken or signed language, communicating verbally using sentences and vocabulary appropriate for their age, using speech sounds appropriate for their age, social interaction, and play, stammering, voice production
• providing appropriate therapies that promote the development of age-appropriate communication skills
• providing specialist support to children and young people with complex learning difficulties and/or health needs
• reducing the impact of eating and drinking and swallowing difficulties caused by medical, neurological, or structural abnormalities.
What is AAC?
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) supports individuals to achieve their basic human right to be heard and included in an equitable way (Communication Matters, 2023). AAC tools, devices, techniques and strategies enhance speech, language and communication contributions for people who cannot entirely rely on their unsupported communication abilities. There are various types of AAC that can be considered for a child or young person, no one being better and it maybe that more than one methods is needed
Speech and Language Therapists are specialists in language and communication difficulties and as such strive to be part of interdisciplinary teams that support AAC assessment, provision, use and support.
We will work with the child or young person, families, schools, Occupational Therapists, Teachers of the Deaf, Physiotherapists to determine the most appropriate AAC to support the child or young persons communication needs.
If you feel that a child or young person needs AAC please refer them to the Children and Young Persons Speech and Language Therapy Service or speak to the current Speech and Language Therapist.
Link to Children's Speech and Language Therapy Service