My name's Janet. I'm a speech and language therapist and I work with children with speech and language difficulties from birth all the way up to nineteen.
The children that I work with generally have difficulties with speaking and communication. But some speech therapists also work with children who have difficulties eating, drinking and swallowing.
Speech and language therapy with children is generally very play-based, so we normally start a session by listening to the parent's concerns, observing the child at play, and then setting goals for them. Sessions could take place in a variety of settings including your home, a children's centre, or a clinic.
It's not about us doing all the work. We identify what the issues are and we pass that on to you for you to practise in your daily lives with your children.
You know your child best, so if you have concerns about your child's speech and language development, then discuss it with your health visitor, your GP, or your child's nursery and they can make a referral on if necessary.
What is a speech and language therapist's role?
Speech and language therapist Janet Cooper explains what an SLT does, how a normal appointment for her goes and what you should do if you think you need to see an SLT.
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