Empowering people with communication difficulties

Supporting non-verbal children with light technology communication aids

Communication is crucial for children to express their wishes and needs. Difficulty in communicating can restrict interaction with anyone outside of their immediate carers.

The Speech and Language Therapy Service was able to secure Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) light technology devices to assist children with communication. The iTalk2 and iTalk4 communication aids can encourage a child to learn how to use symbols to communicate, make choices and engage in group activities as well as in discussions with parents and carers, in schools and with speech and language therapists.

“The access to trial an iTalk 2 and iTalk4 has given the team additional options of equipment to trial with children. We have really appreciated having this equipment to take out on visits. If a child responds by using the devices to convey core messages or to make a choice from activities, we can then recommend this for the child’s communication and request funding for the child’s long term use.”

Louise McGuire, Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

Empowering people with communication difficulties to make decisions about their own health and care

Speech and language therapists support people to make complex decisions such as eating and drinking after a stroke or end of life.

An innovative, award winning communication tool, Talking Mats, now supports patient and staff communication, ensuring patients are empowered to be involved in decision making. Staff members within the Speech and Language Therapy service have completed the Talking Mats ‘training the trainers’ course, so that future therapists will be able to learn this approach.

“This communication approach will be of ongoing use to patients and service users accessing this service.”
Jane Langton, Speech and Language Therapist

An adult patient with a diagnosis of development language delay attended clinic. They had difficulty accessing services due to communication disability. Talking Mats was used to support obtaining a case history. The patient said, ‘Why aren’t all my appointments like this?’ The use of Talking Mats was extremely helpful for the patient.

Bringing a ‘voice’ to patients with long term communication
impairment

Liverpool community adult speech and language therapists have a unique voice output communication aid (VOCA) lending library to support patients with communication impairment to have greater autonomy, advocate for themselves and participate in everyday activities. This helps to reduce the risk of harm or the impact of a communication impairment on a patient’s ability to participate in the things that matter to them.

The Lightwriter devices held in the library needed maintenance and modernisation so the service could continue. Charity funding enabled the team to have the devices serviced and batteries replaced and has supported their maintenance.

“Without a voice, people can become isolated and their mental health can deteriorate.”

Maintaining a bank of loanable devices provides patients with immediate access to a device, eliminating the need to wait for a regional assessment from ACE in Oldham. All therapists in the adult community Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) service benefit from the availability of this resource for any appropriate patients on their caseload.

“These devices are really vital pieces of equipment for our patients using them.”