Speechmag

Free conversing with Sharynne McLeod article now available

Being a speech-language pathologist herself, internationally renowned educator, researcher and editor Sharynne McLeod knows how much our profession likes to talk.

During a study day in Bristol in July ('Speech Sound Disorders in Children - Seminar for SLTs'), Sharynne made a point of encouraging the 50 attendees to shift seats at each interval and talk to someone new. It may feel more natural to find a seat and stick with it, but I enjoyed experiencing her informative, challenging and inspiring seminar from different vantage points, and discussing it with a variety of friendly speechies. Definitely something to do again at future events.

To finish, Sharynne got us each to blow up balloons and write on them the main two messages we would take away from the day. The activity also involved a song and punching the balloons around, which I imagine goes some way towards explaining why I still remember that I wrote 'siblings' and 'polysyllabic words' on mine.  

There were, however, many other equally important messages about making sense of the literature, writing for publication and making a difference across the globe, which I have written about in a new free article on the study day and a follow-up interview with Sharynne. This e-article supplements the content of the Autumn 10 issue of Speech & Language Therapy in Practice magazine. Other free original articles are also available here.

Caroline Bowen brings her 2 day speech sound disorders workshop to the UK

I can't believe it was as long ago as 2002 that Australian speech-language pathologist Caroline Bowen compiled her top ten child speech resources for Speech & Language Therapy in Practice.

I have "known" Caroline virtually for many years, and enjoy her humourous contributions to the excellent ACQ magazine. I also admire the firm hand with which she guides the phonologicaltherapy listserv, a fantastic resource for anyone who works in the field of child speech.

Now finally I am going to meet her in person when she presents a two day workshop in York next year on behalf of ASLTIP (the Association of Speech & Language Therapists in Independent Practice). 'Speech sound disorders: The basics and beyond II' will cover referral and screening, assessment, diagnosis, contextual factors, intervention approaches, target selection, treatment principles, goals and strategies and roles. It should be an exciting - if exhausting! - couple of days.

 

Conference for health professionals on paediatric gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

The charity 'Living with reflux' is running a conference to ensure health professionals working with young children - including speech and language therapists - have sufficient information to identify the condition and refer on for treatment.

Speech and language therapist Analou Louw is presenting a session on the management of feeding in infants and children with reflux. She is also doing a joint workshop with dietitian Jackie Falconer on practical issues around feeding, textures and behaviour of affected children.

'Living with reflux' is keen to point out the differences between gastro-oesophageal reflux - which is normal - and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, which is not. Explaining her enthusiasm for the subject Analou says, "Speech and language therapists play an important role in the assessment and treatment of children with feeding difficulties. Understanding of GORD and how this impacts on children's feeding, as well as of current trends in treatment, is imperative. This knowledge enables the speech and language therapist to make a differential diagnosis and plan the management of these children's eating and drinking difficulties within a multidisciplinary framework."

'Paediatric Gastro-oesophageal Reflux' is on Monday 17th May 2010 at the Mercure Sheffield St Paul's Hotel and Spa. The cost is £70.

North Wales speech and language therapy event and article

I am heading off to Wales tomorrow for an Afasic Cymru event 'Communication Counts' on Friday. I will have a stand in the exhibition hall, but the main reason for going is that I am doing one to one sessions with speech and language therapists on writing for publication.

All the therapists in North Wales will be attending, and this reminded me of my promise to put an article by Dawn Leoni from our Spring 09 issue on the speechmag website. When Dawn accepted a job in North West Wales, she also took on the challenge of learning Welsh by immersion. The article, View from a Welsh mountain, is a reflection on what this has taught her about the experiences and learning support needs of people with communication difficulties.

Elwyn Hughes, who organises Welsh Courses for Adults at Bangor University, asked if I could make the article more widely available, as he feels that "many of her findings and comments would be extremely useful for Welsh language tutors throughout Wales." What could I say, other than "Wrth gwrs!" (I hope that really does mean "Of course!")

Sandwell speech and language therapy on show

A new article, freely available on the speechmag website, aims to inspire speech and language therapy departments to consider taking part in trade exhibitions as exhibitors rather than visitors. 

In 'Sandwell on show', Jane Oates and Diana McQueen of Sandwell PCT explain how their department was looking for creative ways to engage with other professionals. Having visited the Education Show at the NEC in Birmingham in the past, and with the Bercow Review drawing more attention than ever before to speech, language and communication needs, they decided to take the plunge at the 2009 show. As well as the article, Speech & Language Therapy in Practice members can access samples of the handouts the department prepared for the show.

Sandwell Community Healthcare Services are also in the news following the release of a screening and intervention package for early years practitioners to use with children aged from six months to six years. 'WellComm: A Speech and Language Toolkit for the Early Years' has been four years in the planning and involved more than 7000 children.  

Diana McQueen, who is children’s therapy service manager and professional advisor for speech and language therapy, explained how a mix of direct screening, parental report and observation lead to a red, amber or green banding and support for what to do next. She said, “In Sandwell, the detailed information the toolkit provides has streamlined the referral process and improved access times for Speech and Language Therapy Services.  
 
The toolkit is being supplied by GL Assessment from March 2010 for £250. It includes a training DVD, plus an online report wizard that helps measure and record progress across a large number of settings, enabling local authorities to make strategic decisions according to the needs in their area.
 
 

Speech and language therapists and teachers of the deaf - 'Communicating clearly together'

Reader Sue Hamrouge gave me a call to ask if I would alert readers to a forthcoming conference to promote collaborative working between speech and language therapists who work with deaf people, and teachers of the deaf.

The conference is on 13th March in Wandsworth from 9.30-16.15. As the title 'Communicating clearly together' suggests, the programme is weighted towards presentations on joint working, including visits, assessment and target setting.

Although relationships between the two professions have not always been easy, Sue says "there is some excellent work going on now." She explains that initiatives such as the Newborn Hearing Screening Programme and the Early Support programme have brought the whole team of people who work with deaf children and their families closer together. Teams are quality audited every 12 to 18 months for the service they deliver following a diagnosis. This has led to sharing rather than duplication, and the good clinical practice is emerging as people work and develop resources together. Good news indeed for our tiniest clients and their families.