What is Speech and Language Therapy?
Paediatric speech and language therapy involves working with any child aged 0 – 18 years, to support and develop their speech, language and communication skills. I work with children who might require augmentative and alternative communication, autistic children, children with Developmental Language Disorder (previously known as Specific Language Impairment, Language Disorder, Developmental language impairment), expressive language delay, children with learning disabilities, receptive language delay, selective mutism, social communication disorder and speech sound delays and disorders.
Every child I see is comprehensively assessed before an individualised treatment plan is agreed. Treatment can involve a wide range of evidence-based techniques, tools, strategies and approaches designed to alleviate the symptoms of speech, language and communication difficulties. Treatment will also involve advice and support for families and educators so that everyone involved with your child can be armed with knowledge and skills to be the best support for them.
I offer therapy that is significant, fun and motivating. Movement, sensory experiences and play are incorporated into every therapy session and evidence based practice guides me in developing my treatment plans.
What are some of the different Treatment tools available?
I can offer a number of treatment tools, strategies, and approaches as part of your child’s treatment. Some of these include:
Animal Interactions
I will soon be lucky enough to be able to offer animal assisted speech and language therapy. The animals, and interactions with them can be used to increase client motivation and participation in treatment, and provide an engaging and meaningful way to target speech, language, and social communication. The animals that I currently work with and hope to be soon offering during some therapy sessions include goats, ducks, rabbits, and alpacas.
Intensive interaction
Intensive interaction teaches and develops the ‘fundamentals of communication’ – things such as having fun and playing, sharing attention with another person, using and understanding eye contact and facial expression, vocalisations leading to speech, and taking turns in exchanges of behaviour. It works on early interaction and is about supporting people to enjoy being with others – to relate, interact, understand and practice communication routines. It is an approach designed to help people at an early level of development, people who have autism and people who have severe, profound or complex learning difficulties.
Teletherapy
The use of technology in speech and language therapy and other health services has expanded exponentially over the last few years. Teletherapy allows for easy access to quality speech and language therapy in cases where regular clinic visits are not an option. Travel time, distance and cost are no longer barriers to intervention. Research has also demonstrated no apparent loss of quality of intervention. All that is required is a good wifi/broadband connection and an adult to act as the therapists ‘hands’ to facilitate presentation and manipulation of therapy materials.
SCERTS
The SCERTS Model is a research-based educational approach and multidisciplinary framework that addresses the core challenges faced by children and people with ASD and related disabilities, and their families. SCERTS provides specific guidance for helping a child become a competent and confident social communicator, while preventing behaviours that interfere with learning and the development of relationships. It is designed to help everyone involved work cooperatively as a team, focusing on building competence in Social Communication, Emotional Regulation and Transactional Support.
The SCERTS Model can be used with children and older individuals across a range of developmental abilities, including nonverbal and verbal individuals. It can be used from initial diagnosis, throughout the school years, and beyond. It can be adapted to meet the unique demands of different social settings for younger and older individuals with ASD including home, school, community, and ultimately vocational settings.
Therapy outdoors
The clinic at Willow Tree Therapy Services is set within 5 acres of land which provides an exceptional opportunity for therapy sessions outdoors. As well as visiting, feeding and interacting with the animals, there are large open spaces and coming soon, sensory trails to explore.
Where will Therapy be delivered?
I will usually provide therapy in the clinic setting, both indoors and outdoors if appropriate. However, there will be occasions where it is more effective for therapy to be delivered in the school or nursery setting, or even at your home. Therapy is always person centred and decisions about where intervention should take place will always be done on an individual case basis.
When will therapy be delivered?
Following assessment if therapy is recommended this will be offered as soon as possible. You will have been advised on potential wait times in the initial consultation. I will make a recommendation regarding how often and how long your child’s sessions should be and always aim to offer you a few potential times and dates. Every child is unique; however, I typically recommend regular speech and language therapy, once a week for 45 or 60 minutes.
The clinic is open from 8.30am to 8pm and appointments can be offered from 9am to 7pm.