Home Speech and language therapy

Speech and language therapists assess and treat speech, language and communication problems in people of all ages. They help people to become independent communicators using speech, gesture and/or communication aids as needed. They also work with people who have eating, drinking, chewing and swallowing difficulties. They work as part of a multidisciplinary team and have close links with teachers, doctors, nurses, psychologists, occupational therapists and other health professionals. We work in hospital and community settings; on inpatient wards, in outpatient clinics, schools, health centres and clients' homes.

The scope of the problem

In India:

• A large proportion of children and adults have speech and language disorders, which may be associated with adverse, long-term outcomes that impact on individuals, families, and communities
• 5% of children enter school with difficulties in speech and language.
• 30% of people who have had a cerebrovascular accident have a persisting speech and language disorder.

Typical patients seen by speech and language therapists

These include:

Babies

• who have problems with feeding and/or swallowing.

Children with:

• Learning difficulty
• Physical disability
• Language delay
• Difficulties in sound production
• Hearing problems
• Cleft palate
• Stammering
• Autistic spectrum disorders
• Dyslexia
• Voice disorders
• Selective mutism

Adults with:

• Eating, swallowing and/or communication problems following stroke.
• Neurological impairment or degenerative conditions such as head injury, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease and dementia.
• Cancer of the head, neck or throat (including laryngectomy).
• Voice problems.
• Mental health problems.
• Learning difficulty.
• Physical disability.
• Stammering.
• Hearing problems.