What is speech and language therapy?

Speech and language therapists help people communicate to the best of their ability by assessing and treating speech, language and communication problems. They also treat people who have eating, swallowing and drooling problems.

Ways in which the therapist can help include:

• Providing exercises to improve communication on a one-to-one basis, or in a group
• Advising on specific communication difficulties
• Suggesting breathing and postural techniques to facilitate better voice and overall communication
• Offering tips and strategies to make particular activities easier, such as talking on the telephone
• Recommending special tools and equipment to aid communication
• Assessing and treating difficulties with eating, drooling and swallowing
• Advising carers.

Speech and language therapists can be based in both hospital and community settings. When treating people with Parkinson’s, they tend to work alongside other healthcare professionals as part of a multidisciplinary team. They are also involved with a growing number of initiatives that work on voice in a group setting such as ‘Quivers and Quavers’ ¹, an exciting voice therapy project in the UK.

 

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