Overview
Speech and Language Therapists work with parents/carers and others to assess if a child has speech and/or language difficulties, communication difficulties or eating and drinking difficulties. Speech and Language Therapists are Allied Health Professionals. They work with parents, carers and other professionals, such as doctors, nurses, Health Visitors, teachers, Dieticians, Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.
Our Service – Combined Child Health
Combined Child Health (CCH) Speech and Language Therapists provide specialist assessment, diagnosis and therapy service within multi-disciplinary teams to children with a range of complex communication and eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. We work with children and their families in the most appropriate setting including, hospital, clinics, school and home.
CCH Speech and Language Therapists are located at Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital (RACH) and Child Development Teams throughout Aberdeen City and Aberdeen Shire.
RACH
At Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital, the Speech and Language Therapy team supports children and young people with speech, language, communication, eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. These difficulties may be due to a condition a child is born with, after an injury (known as trauma), operation or changes to their health.
We accept requests for assistance for children who have a significant involvement with other departments in the hospital e.g. ENT, Neurology, Oncology, Gastro, or who have specific difficulties within one of our specialisms e.g. Paediatric dysphagia, tracheostomy, voice disorders and tongue tie.
Cleft Lip & Palate
Within Royal Aberdeen Children’s hospital we see children born with a cleft lip and/or palate as part of the Cleft Care Scotland pathway. The Speech and Language Therapists work as part of a Multi-disciplinary team dedicated to providing the best possible care for people born with a cleft, from infancy through to adulthood. Details about other team members and the care pathways can be found at Cleft Care Scotland.
The Specialist Cleft Speech and Language Therapist will assess your child’s speech and velar function from birth until they are fully grown. Information about early speech development for babies born with a cleft palate can be found here.
Parent/carer support and further information can be found here.
Tongue- Tie
We work closely with the General Paediatric Surgical Team to support children with Tongue-tie (ankyloglossia).
Selective Mutism
Selective Mutism, sometimes called Situational Mutism, is an anxiety-based mental health disorder which usually commences in early childhood. Those with SM speak fluently in some situations but remain consistently silent in others. They may have a blank expression, or appear ‘frozen’ when expected to speak.
With early intervention the prognosis for recovery is good, but in some cases it may persist and last right through a child’s school life and sometimes even into adulthood. It is important to understand that those with SM want to speak, but find themselves physically unable to do so due to their anxiety. For more information about Selective Mutism click here.
Meet The Team
Contact Details
Speech and Language Therapists work out of RACH and also in the Community within the Child Development Teams.
Therapists are based at RACH Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm (telephone messages can be left for the team outwith these hours on the number below).
Speech and Language Therapy,
1st Floor Therapy Suite,
Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital,
Westburn Road,
Aberdeen, AB25 2ZG
Telephone: 01224 552710
Information and Resources
There is a wealth of information on the internet to support children with speech and/or language difficulties, communication difficulties or eating and drinking difficulties. These websites are particularly useful:
Requests for Assistance
Combined Child Health Speech and Language Therapy accept Requests for Assistance from anyone, including parents and young people themselves, but assessment and /or intervention are not always required. The experienced Speech and Language therapy team will consider each request individually and will respond in every case.
Please contact the team at RACH on (01224) 552710 to discuss any requests for assistance in the first instance.
Community Speech and Language Therapy Services
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire Paediatric Service
SLT Department
Inverurie Health & Care Hub
Upperboat Road
Inverurie, AB51 3UL
Tel: 01467 672 731
Aberdeen City
For advice about a child’s speech, language or communication skills, please call our helpline on 01224 554888. This service operates:
Tuesdays (13:30- 16:00)
Thursdays (13:30-16:00)
Or click here to access further information about Speech and Language Therapy Services for Children.
