Speech therapy is the more commonly used abbreviation for the longer term speech and language therapy, carried out through the work of a speech and language therapist.
As the fuller name suggests a speech and language therapist is not only interested in the speech sounds used by a child/young person or adult, but also the language systems used by that person.
A speech and language therapist working with Children and Young People would want to assess and understand the persons;
* Attention and listening/concentration skills
* Play and imagination skills
* Understanding of language concepts - e.g do they know concepts such as big, little, on, under, above, below, tall, short.
* Understanding of language structures - can they follow and understand words in sentences "pick up the big apple".
* Expression of language concepts - can the person use concepts such as big, little on, under appropriately?
* Expression of words in sentences - are the order of words in sentences correctly used?
* Social communication and understanding of social rules; can the person take turns in conversation, understand humour, repair conversations.
* Use of language - can they use language to greet, to comment, to request, to refuse, to question?
* Behaviour; often many people present agitated and frustrated behaviour patterns as a result of not being able to communicate their needs effectively.
How do you train to provide Speech Therapy?
A speech and language therapist carries out a degree course in Speech and Language therapy at one of only 10 Universities offering the course throughout the U.K.
Most courses run over four years and two or three Universities offer a post grad entrance following a previous degree.
Candidates require A levels to enter onto the course, although some equivalent qualifications may be accepted.
The course itself Is very intensive, running across five days a week, plus placement. Throughout the course training speech therapists should gain lots of practical experience of Paediatrics and adults through their weekly or block placements.
When qualifying a newly qualified practitioner must meet the Royal College Speech and Language therapists Competencies with the first year or two of practicing.
Speech therapy is registered under;
* The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy (RCSLT) - who provides each qualified therapist a certificate to practice.
* The Health Professions Council (HPC) - who register all speech and language therapists to enable them to practice.
* Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP) - who provide a support forum for speech therapists working in the Independent Sector.
Where you will come across Speech Therapy?
Speech therapists can work for the National Health Services or Independently as part of the therapists own practice, or where they are employed directly by a school/care setting.
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