Speech and language therapy

Who can use the service

We support people with a learning disability to help you communicate and eat and drink more safely.

Communication

A high number of people with a learning disability have difficulty communicating. This places them at risk of:

• exclusion
• inequality
• poor health and wellbeing

Eating, drinking and swallowing 

Having difficulty eating, drinking and swallowing (dysphagia) affects you and the people supporting you.

It can:

• reduce your mealtime enjoyment
• increase the risk of malnutrition, dehydration, and chest infections
• increase the risk of choking
• increase the risk of early death

How to get an appointment

We see people living in Lewisham, Lambeth and Southwark and registered with a GP in these boroughs.

You can:

• self-refer to the speech and language service, or
• ask someone to refer you

Changing or cancelling your appointment

• Lewisham team phone: 020 3989 0550
• Lambeth and Southwark team phone: 020 3049 7518

During your appointment

Your appointment will be in your home or another place in the community. 

Communications appointments

We will:

• assess your communication needs
• advise on strategies to support you communicating in different environments
• offer support and training on a range of communication strategies

Eating, drinking and difficulty in swallowing appointments

We will:

• assess how you eat and drink
• develop a safe eating and drinking plan, this may include changing the consistency of your food and drink
• provide eating and drinking training for carers who support you during mealtimes

After your appointment

We will arrange any follow up appointments if you need any.