Speech and language therapy for adults

Speech and language therapists who work with adults, work from a variety of locations.  This includes hospitals (inpatients and outpatients), clinics, health centres, care homes and people’s own homes.

Speech and Language Therapists work with people who may have speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties. These include:

• Stroke
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Voice difficulties
• Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
• Motor Neurone Disease
• Stammering
• Dementia
• Head and neck cancers

Dysphagia Care

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties with swallowing food and drink, the following videos provide helpful information about dysphagia.

These videos cover information on

• impact of Dysphagia on eating and drinking, health and wellbeing
• signs and symptoms of Dysphagia
• how to refer
• how SLT’s can help
• signposting to training resources
• IDDSI
• Dysphagia Care Plan, mealtime set up, level of support

Parkinson’s disease

Many people with Parkinson’s can experience communication difficulties, difficulties with saliva control or swallowing difficulties.

For more information please click on the links to access the leaflets below:

• Communication and Parkinson’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease advice for swallowing difficulties
• Advice to help control saliva

Voice Difficulties

Voice difficulties can have many different causes and can impact people in many different ways.

For more information on how to look after your voice, please click on the link below.

• Looking after your voice

Aphasia

Aphasia is caused by damage to the brain, e.g., stroke. Depending on which part of the brain has been damaged, different aspects of communication can be affected (using language, understanding language, reading and writing). The most common difficulty people with aphasia experience is word-finding difficulties. They have difficulty finding the correct words which often causes frustration.

For more information on word-finding strategies, please click on the link below.

• 10 word finding strategies

Making a referral

Referrals to speech and language therapy come from many sources including:

• hospital medical and nursing staff
• GPs and consultants
• dietitians
• nurses
• psychologists
• physiotherapists
• occupational therapists
• social workers
• family members
• self-referrals

You can make a referral to Adult Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) regarding a concern about a speech, language, communication or a swallowing difficulty by contacting the relevant Enhanced Intermediate Care and Community Rehabilitation Service:

North Ayrshire

All referrals made via North Ayrshire Enhanced Intermediate Care and Community Rehabilitation Services

Telephone: 01294 400616

Email: Clinical_IntermediateCare_North@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

South Ayrshire

All referrals made via South Ayrshire Enhanced Intermediate Care and Community Rehabilitation Services

Telephone: 01292 660444

Email: Clinical_IntermediateCare_South@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

East Ayrshire

All referrals made via East Ayrshire Enhanced Intermediate Care and Community Rehabilitation Services

Telephone: 01563 554401

Email: Clinical_IntermediateCare_EAST@aapct.scot.nhs.uk

If you wish to speak directly with a Speech and Language Therapist

When you telephone us, your call may go directly to our SLT department voice mail (the message will clearly state this is the SLT Department). Please leave a message with your name and contact phone number. We will return your call as soon as possible.

What to expect at your first appointment

SLTs work in many locations across Ayrshire and Arran. You could be asked to attend any of the following places for your appointment:

• hospital as an outpatient;
• a health clinic; or
• if appropriate, you could be visited at home.

You are welcome to attend with a friend or relative.

On average an initial consultation might take thirty minutes to one hour. During this time, we will have a discussion with you and carry out any appropriate assessments. The SLT will then look at all of the information and agree on what further steps to take, which might be:

• further advice;
• a course of therapy; or
• referral to another service.

With your consent, a report of the agreed outcome will be sent to the person or agency that referred you to the service.

Cancelling or changing appointments

If you need to change or cancel an appointment please tell us as soon as possible so that we can offer your appointment to another person.