Children with cerebral palsy may have difficulties arising from the speech centres of the brain, cognitive difficulties and/or dysarthia (difficulties with control of the muscles needed for speech). Speech therapy works on communication through speech or other modes to help the child express needs, wants and feelings and to aid integration in home, school and social situations. It trains oral movements for both speech and eating and drinking, also helps in the use of special communication devices such as computer voice synthesizers.
Like many approaches, speech therapy needs a stronger research base. A systematic review of research evidence available in 2004 (published in 2005) showed that direct speech therapy was effective for children with cerebral palsy in areas where it had been tested; but that further research was needed to strengthen and widen this to all the speech, language, and communication disorders associated with cerebral palsy.
Speech therapists work in NHS and private settings, sometimes both. Where speech therapy is given at school as a part of special needs provision, this is arranged by the local education authority but still provided by either the NHS or (sometimes, due to shortages) the private sector. They are regulated by the Health Professions Council, which holds the register.
The professional association is the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT), tel: 0207 378 3012, www.rcslt.org. They also host the website www.communicationsforum.org.uk, which gives information about therapy and communication impairments.
The Association of Speech and Language Therapists In Independent Practice, tel: 01494 488306, www.helpwithtalking.com. ‘Find a therapist’ facility on the website.
The Speech, Language and Hearing Centre (‘Christopher Place’), London, tel: 020 7383 3834, www.speech-lang.org.uk. For babies and children under 5. Combines teaching and therapy from an interdisciplinary team.
Afasic – Unlocking Speech and Language. Charity providing a newsletter, support for parents and local groups, tel: 0845 355 5577, www.afasic.org.uk.
ICAN – Helps Children Communicate. Charity campaigning for children with speech and language difficulties, tel: 0845 225 4071, www.ican.org.uk.
Talking Point, www.talkingpoint.co.uk is an information resource for parents, jointly run by RCSLT, Afasic and ICAN.
Olswang LB et al. Communication in young children with motor impairments: teaching caregivers to teach. Seminars in Speech and Language 2006 Aug;27(3):199-214.
Pennington L et al. Direct speech and language therapy for children with cerebral palsy: findings from a systematic review. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology 2005, 47: 57–63
Puyuelo M and Rondal JA. Speech rehabilitation in 10 Spanish-speaking children with severe cerebral palsy: a 4-year longitudinal study. Pediatric Rehabilitation 2005 Apr-Jun;8(2):113-6.
