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The speech and language therapy team supports children with speech, language and communication needs and those with feeding and swallowing difficulties.

Speaking and eating uses the same muscles and speech and language therapists are specially trained to help with specific difficulties with feeding and swallowing.

Some children they see may have a medical condition or diagnosis or learning difficulty, but many do not. They provide support to children across the whole of Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth.

Speech and language therapists provide support and advice for children from birth to 19 years old. No types of difficulty or disability are excluded as they provide support based on need, not diagnosis.

They support children with one or more of the following difficulties:

  • unclear speech (speech sounds)
  • not understanding what is being said (understanding of spoken language)
  • vocabulary and putting words together into sentences (spoken language)
  • mixing with other children and adults (social communication skills)
  • only speaking in certain situations (selectively mute)
  • stammering or stuttering
  • hoarse or husky sounding voice
  • hearing impairment / deafness.

Speech and language therapists assess children to build up a picture of their skills and find out their exact abilities, difficulties and needs. This may include one or more of the following:

  • formal assessments or tests

  • informal based play assessments

  • watching the child at nursery, school or home to see how they communicate or eat / drink

  • talking with those who know them best and speaking to other professionals involved in their care.

After your first appointment, if further support is needed, they may suggest one or more of the following.

Advice and coaching to parents, carers and other professionals to help them apply practical ideas to support your child

Training and advice for parents and other professionals involved in your child’s care

Direct therapy, either individually or in groups

Activities and programmes for home and pre-school or school

Discussion and liaison with other agencies to allow us to work together to meet your child’s needs

Onward referral to other agencies or professionals who may be able to help

Advice from another member of the Children’s Therapy team.

How to contact the Speech and Language Therapist team:

You can call them on 0300 300 2019  or write to them: Children’s Therapy Service, Stoneham Centre, Moorgreen Hospital Site, Botley Road, West End, Southampton, SO30 3JB