What is Speech and Language Therapy?
Speech and Language Therapy involves the diagnosis, treatment, and management of speech, language, and swallowing problems.
Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) in acute allied health are professionals who work closely with patients, families/whanau, and other health professionals (such as doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dietitians) to assess, diagnose, and manage/rehabilitate communication and swallowing problems in the acute hospital wards. SLTs at Waitemata DHB also work closely with SLTs in rehabilitation facilities, in the community, other hospitals, and in special schools to ensure seamless SLT treatment and management.
SLTs on the acute wards work with adults with conditions that may lead to communication or swallowing problems such as:
- stroke
- brain injury
- degenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease, dementia, and motor-neurone disease
- respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and recurrent pneumonia
- cancer of the head, neck, throat, and brain