What the service does
Who provides the service
How to access the service
Location of service
Useful links
What the service does
The Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Department works with newborn babies, infants, children and young people who have complex difficulties with:
- speaking
- feeding
- eating
- drinking
- swallowing
We provide specialist assessment and management of:
- emergent oral feeders secondary to laryngeal, cardiovascular or gastrointestinal conditions
- complex dysphagia and swallowing disorder
- communication disorders following acquired brain injury
- cleft and non-cleft related speech disorders, for example velopharyngeal dysfunction
- specialist treatment options such as electropalatography
- voice and speech loss due to airway problems, including the use of speaking valves for tracheostomy
- alternative communication needs, such as symbol charts and low and high tech communication aids
- feeding, swallowing and speech before tongue tie surgery
The Children’s Hospital has the only swallowing videofluoroscopy service for children in Northern Ireland.
Who provides the service
- Speech and language therapists
- Administration staff
Our regional service supports a network of professionals working in:
- district hospitals
- paediatric, child development and feeding clinics
- pre-school to secondary education
How to access the service
Children are referred by:
- the Children’s Hospital
- local hospital consultants
- community paediatricians
- specialist teams
Outpatients should be referred by a clinic letter. Inpatients should be referred by ringing the SLT Department on 028 9615 0320.
Location of service
Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Department
2nd Floor Administration Building
Children’s Hospital
Useful links
• NHS video on speech and language therapy
• Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists