Speech Therapy

A very significant factor contributing to a child's quality of life is their ability to communicate effectively with their environment. The goal of the speech therapists is help the patient use language through speech or any other form of communication which is suitable to the child's age, abilities and needs.

In ALYN's Speech Therapy Department infants, children and adolescents suffering from congenital, developmental or acquired conditions undergo an initial evaluation relating to use of language, speech and feeding function.  Following the evaluation a personalized treatment program will be created according to the patient's abilities and needs.

Types of treatment for children with speech problems:

Language and speech – difficulties with language and speech may express themselves through articulation, comprehension and reading and writing skills as a result of problems of functional movement and control over eating and swallowing functions resulting from congenital conditions or acquired head injuries.

Voice – voice problems may manifest themselves through a hoarse or weak voice and respiratory insufficiency as a result of brain injury, injury to the vocal chords or respiratory problems.

Supportive alternative communication - in cases where a child cannot express themselves verbally an alternative form of communication is created using state-of-the-art technology i.e. communication boards, voice outputs and switches to activate them, or a computer with communication.  This alternative communication is suited to a particular child's needs and abilities.  

Eating and swallowing - difficulties in eating and swallowing can manifest themselves whilst an infant is nursing,  bottle feeding, going through the transition from bottle feeding to eating with a spoon, chewing and eating solid food, transition from alternative feeding to feeding by mouth and difficulties in swallowing and selective eating. These difficulties can often be the cause of an infant's failure to thrive.