Speech and language therapy

Who are we?

The Dorset Speech and Language Therapy Service is organised into three main areas of service and in each our provision spans the county of Dorset:   

• Adult Acute and Community Service
• Adult Learning Difficulties Service 
• Paediatric Service.  

Dorset Speech and Language Therapy Service Mission Statement

To provide wherever possible, evidence based services that anticipate and respond to the needs of individuals who experience speech, language, communication or swallowing difficulties. To work in partnership with individuals and their families / carers and with other professions and agencies to reduce the impact of speech, language, communication or swallowing difficulties on people’s wellbeing and their ability to participate in daily life.

What do we do?

As an entire service some of the roles we undertake are:

• assessment and differential diagnosis of speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders
• intervention focussed on the individual with communication or swallowing difficulties
• health promotion work and prevention work
• professional advice including consultancy; second opinions; advising and counselling carers
• providing a variety of training programmes for trained and untrained staff who work with patients with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
• training of Speech and Language Therapy students, support practitioners, volunteers and other members of the team
• service management, research and quality assurance.

Who do we work with?

We work with individuals of ALL ages – children (neonates to school age), adolescents and adults with:

• special needs in: speech; voice; fluency; language; communication; psychologically based communication disorders; social skills; literacy; swallowing functions; Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
• special needs in communication or swallowing disorders associated with: diagnosed impairments, genetic and medical conditions; trauma; developmental delays; mental health problems; learning disabilities.

We also work with individuals or teams supporting those with special needs such as:

• parents, families, caregivers, communication partners, friends and colleagues
• employers, general public, volunteers, youth justice, further education services, medical services, other professionals (e.g. teachers, social workers).

Where do we work?

We operate in various areas including:

• education areas e.g. nurseries and schools, Surestart, Children’s centres
• health and social care e.g. hospitals, rehabilitation centres, GP practices
• individual’s home
• legal system e.g. prisons, court tribunals, adult and child protection
• voluntary / charitable organisations
• independent practice

Causes of communication and swallowing difficulties

Many communication and swallowing difficulties arise from:

• medical conditions (such as stroke, cancer or a progressive neurological disorder)
• genetic conditions and syndromes (such as Down's syndrome, cleft palate)
• developmental delays and disorders
• physical impairment
• learning disability
• sensory impairment.