Speech Therapy for Adults

Communication changes are part of the natural ageing process, particularly in light of the increasing medical needs and illnesses associated with ageing. While speech clarity may be affected by natural muscle degeneration, specific medical conditions often also have a large impact on both speech clarity and language processing (understanding what is said, and expressing a coherent response).

Difficulties can range from being unable to find the right word when you’re speaking, to having no speech or understanding at all. Parkinson’s disease, MND, stroke, head injury, dementia, MS and cancers are just some of the conditions that our Speech and Language Therapists can help to manage.

We are all familiar with the effect of muscle degeneration on muscular tasks such as walking and dressing; this normal degeneration also affects swallow safety, to the extent where a person’s health and well-being can be compromised. Typical signs of difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) include;

• Coughing when eating or drinking
• A feeling of food getting stuck
• Sneezing or eye watering
• Wet or gurgly voice
• Recurrent Chest Infections

Clear links exist between aspiration (food and drink “going down the wrong way”) and medical sequelae such as dehydration, malnutrition, respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, and hastened death. At The Speech Centre our goal is clear; to help our clients sustain safe oral nutrition to the maximum of their ability, through diet modification, compensatory strategies, postural changes and rehabilitation exercises.

The Speech Centre offer home visits to nursing home residents. We provide all equipment for in-house communication or swallow assessments, with detailed recommendations made to care staff following assessment. This can be of particular benefit to those with mobility issues, or where a person’s everyday environment impacts on their swallow or communication. People with dementia are especially at risk of swallowing or feeding difficulties, which can have a negative effect on their health and overall well-being.