Speech and Language Therapy

Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) work across the acute and rehab inpatient settings in the management of patients with both communication and swallowing disorders.

Communication impairments that SLTs help to diagnose include difficulties in expressing or understanding spoken or written language, difficulties in producing speech due to weakness in the speech muscles, voice difficulties, and social communication difficulties. Once identified, SLTs may work 1:1 with a patient targeting their areas of difficult.

They also work extensively with a patient’s family members in order to support them to communicate effectively with their loved one. SLTs also help to identify alternative or augmentative means of communication (AAC) that may be necessary in order to help a patient express their wants and needs (this might include paper-based or hi-tech devices).

In the rehab setting, SLTs often organise group-based therapy sessions where patients can practise their communication skills in an informal and engaging social setting.

Across settings, SLTs work closely with other members of the multidisciplinary team, often completing joint sessions to encourage integrated and seamless care, ensuring that the patient’s holistic needs are taken into account.

SLTs are also responsible for the diagnosis and treatment of swallowing disorders (dysphagia). Across settings, this often involves bedside assessment of a patient’s swallowing abilities with close working with the medical and dietetics team to ensure safety of oral intake. SLTs may undertake further instrumental assessment of swallowing if required. Intervention for swallowing impairments might include exercises targeting the strength and skill of the swallow muscles or diet and fluid modification.

On the critical care and hyper-acute rehabilitation wards, SLTs are also involved in the management of tracheostomies, working closely with the medical team and respiratory physiotherapists to monitor the secretion management and swallowing abilities of patients, and supporting assessment of suitability for weaning.

SLTs are also present in some of the outpatient clinics and will see patients with newly diagnosed motor neurone disease or with neuromuscular disease as part of the multidisciplinary services. Further information about these clinics may be found on The Walton Centre website.

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