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Policies & Services > Community Services > Speech and Language Therapy (SALT)


Speech and Language Therapy (SALT)

  

Speech and Language Therapists support children’s speech, language and communication.

Reviewed on : 8 Oct 2024

Reviewed by : GP Gateway Editor

Expires : 8 Oct 2026

About Children’s Speech & Language Therapy

Please see right hand panel for the Speech and Language Therapy referral forms.

  • Please note that we now have separate referral forms for communication and eating/drinking (swallowing/dysphagia) referrals.

If a child needs referring for communication assessment and eating/drinking assessment please complete 2 separate referral forms.

Please ensure that all parts of the form are completed in order that the referral can be accepted- in particular info re:

  • 3 months ‘intervention’ for language referrals (can include Welcomm activities, specific advice and information given and progress monitored etc)
  • Parental consent (can be discussed and signed by professional)
  • Safeguarding information
  • Detail about the communication/feeding concern.

Please read the referral criteria on the first pages carefully before referring.

Speech and Language Therapists support children’s speech, language and communication and we work with children 0 to 16.

These children may experience difficulties in the following areas:

  • Using clear speech
  • Listening to and understanding language
  • Talking in words and sentences
  • Social interaction
  • Fluent speech (stammering)
  • Eating and swallowing

There are many reasons why a child may find speech and language difficult.

Some examples include:

  • Hearing impairment
  • Cleft palate
  • Physical difficulties
  • Learning difficulties
  • Autism
  • For many other children there is no obvious explanation for their difficulties.

Our team of therapists includes specialists in all these areas. 

Alternative access to services

Click on this link or image below for web page

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Coventry Guidance  
Speech and Language Therapy SALT (Adults)

Referral email address:

CBS.General@uhcw.nhs.uk

What we do

We provide support and advice to individuals who have difficulties with swallowing, speech, language, voice or communication.

There may be a number of reasons why people experience these difficulties. For example it may be because someone has had a stroke, has a progressive neurological condition such as Parkinson’s, Motor Neurone Disease, and Multiple Sclerosis. They may also have Dementia or a chronic condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

We work with adults who may have one or more of the following difficulties and who have a Coventry GP:

  • Producing speech and using speech
  • Stammering/stuttering
  • Understanding language – spoken and/or written down by other people
  • Using language e.g. finding the right words to say, or write down
  • Voice problems e.g. a hoarse or croaky voice
  • Swallowing food and/or drinks and medications

How we help

We assess the person’s difficulties and work with them to set and meet realistic goals. We aim to empower the individual to better understand and manage their condition and the difficulties they may be experiencing with swallowing or communication. Where possible, we aim to help a person regain or maintain their communication and swallowing skills.

We may offer:

  • Therapy sessions
  • Written and verbal advice, information and strategies to help everyone involved understand and support the person’s difficulties
  • Review sessions
  • Referrals on to other health care professionals

Who we work with

  • The individual who has a communication or swallowing difficulty
  • Their relatives or carers
  • Care home staff
  • Other health care professionals e.g. GP, Dietician, Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist, Psychology

Where we work

  • Individual’s homes
  • Nursing and Residential homes
  • City of Coventry Health Centre

Communication

We work with adults (18+) with a Coventry GP who are experiencing communication difficulties. This could include difficulty understanding what other people say, difficulty putting sounds together to produce words and sentences, difficulty finding the correct words or difficulty speaking clearly. These difficulties occur for many different reasons, including due to neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s or dementia, or because of a stroke or brain injury. We support individuals with communication needs, their families/friends and carers to develop strategies for effective communication. If appropriate, we may also provide direct therapy

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

We work with adults (18+) with a Coventry GP who use or need Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC). AAC refers to any method of communication that does not rely on speaking, including paper-based systems such as Communication Books or more high-tech systems such as electronic speech devices. People use AAC because they find it difficult to communicate verbally. This could be due to a stroke or brain injury, a progressive condition such as Motor Neurone Disease or a developmental condition like Cerebral Palsy. We work closely with individuals, their families and carers to find the most appropriate method of AAC. This could involve onward referral to specialist agencies if needed

Dysfluency

We work with young people (17+) and adults with a Coventry GP who have difficulty producing words and sentences fluently. People may have been dysfluent since childhood, or may have developed dysfluency as a result of a brain injury or neurological condition. There are two main types of dysfluency: stammering (also known as stuttering) and cluttering; some people may stammer and clutter. Dysfluency can cause significant frustration and affect people’s work and social lives. Although we cannot cure dysfluency, we can provide therapy and strategies to support people to manage their dysfluency and minimise its impact on their lives

Dysphagia

We work with adults (18+) with a Coventry GP who have difficulties with their swallowing.  Dysphagia is the medical term for difficulties with swallowing.  Some people have difficulties swallowing food, liquids and/or medications. This is often due to weak, or dysfunctional nerves and muscles involved in swallowing

If a person has difficulty with their swallowing, it may mean they are not able to eat and drink comfortably or safely as food/ drink could be going into their lungs. This could lead to them developing a chest infection

We support people with swallowing difficulties by assessing their swallowing and providing information and advice to try and make them as safe and comfortable as possible when eating or drinking. This may mean we advise them to have certain types of foods or drinks to enable them to swallow more effectively and safely or we may give them compensatory strategies to use when swallowing

Voice

We also provide support for adults (18+) with a Coventry GP who have problems with their voice. They may be experiencing hoarseness, a loss of voice, alteration in pitch or ongoing discomfort in the throat. We assess the specific difficulty they are experiencing and will aim to provide exercises, information and advice to improve voice or throat symptoms

Referrals

  • For swallowing and voice input, a person must be referred by a health professional (see referral forms)
  • For all other communication input e.g. support with speech, language and  dysfluency, an individual may self-refer
  • All referrals for voice must be seen by an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor before they come to our service
  • Please see attached the new referral form for the Community Adult Speech and Language Services 
  • If you have any queries or are unsure about a referral, please do not hesitate to call the team on 02476 237027

 

Rugby & South Warwickshire Guidance  

Speech and Language Therapy Service (Rugby)
Children’s Speech and Language Therapists work with children from the age of 12 months who demonstrate difficulties with social communication, eating and swallowing or a language disorder.

Please click links in the right panel on this page to access the referral form and referral information.

Paediatric Dysphagia Service
Is a specialist In-patient and Community Service for children with difficulty in eating, drinking or swallowing.  Our service offers support for children from birth through to late adolescence depending on the nature of each child’s needs.

Children referred to the Dysphagia Team will be seen by a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) for a full assessment of their eating/drinking and swallowing skills.

Please click links in the right panel for more information about the Paediatric Dysphagia Service.

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