What is a speech and language therapist?
Speech and language therapists (SLTs) are allied health professionals. They work with children and adults who have difficulties with communication, or with eating, drinking and swallowing.
Speech and language therapists work closely with parents and carers and other professionals, such as:
- teachers
- nurses
- occupational therapists
- doctors.
There are around 10,000 practising SLTs in the UK. The National Health Service employs most of these. Other therapists work for education services or charities. Some therapists work independently and treat patients privately.
Speech and language therapists work in these areas:
- community health centres
- hospital wards
- outpatient departments
- mainstream and special schools
- day centres
- clients' homes
- courtrooms
- prisons
- young offenders' institutions.
Speech and language therapists work with:
Babies with
- feeding and swallowing difficulties
Children with
- mild, moderate or severe learning difficulties physical disabilities
- language delay
- specific language impairment
- specific difficulties in producing sounds
- hearing impairment
- cleft palate stammering autism/social interaction difficulties
- dyslexia voice disorders
- selective mutism
Adults with
- eating and swallowing and/or communication problems following stroke
- neurological impairments and degenerative conditions including: head injury, Parkinson's disease, motor -neuron disease and dementia
- cancer of the head, neck and throat (including laryngectomy)
- voice problems
- mental health issues
- learning difficulties
- physical disabilities
- stammering (dysfluency)
- hearing impairment