Children’s Speech and Language Therapy

Children’s Speech and Language Therapy at UHL provides specialist assessment and support for eating, drinking, swallowing, and communication difficulties in children admitted to the hospital.

Speech and Language Therapists are specialists in eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties (Dysphagia) and communication disorders. 

The service will assess, diagnose and provide advice and support to meet the needs of children and young people admitted to a children’s ward. They also provide training medical teams and other professionals. 

Our services

  • In-patient service to children admitted to the Children’s Hospital based at Leicester Royal Infirmary.
  • Neonatal unit service at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General Hospital.  
  • In-patient and out-patient service to children known to the long-term ventilation (LTV) and tracheostomy teams. 
  • In-patient service to children admitted to the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre based at Leicester Royal Infirmary. 
  • Cleft lip and palate service for children with speech and language disorders associated with this condition. We also see children with velopharyngeal dysfunction in the absence of cleft palate. This service is provided as part of the Trent Regional Cleft Lip and Palate Service. 
Information:

All our therapists are registered with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). 

Making a referral

Referrals can be made by healthcare professionals for children and young people admitted to the children’s ward or receiving care at our hospital sites.

  • Assessment and management of feeding and swallowing difficulties.
  • Assessment, advice and support for acquired speech, language and communication (SLCN) needs, i.e., new onset communication needs related to a medical or traumatic event post birth. 
  • Assessment and advice for new oral feeding aversion.
  • Patients known to Community Dysphagia Speech and Language Therapy teams, with established recommendations for their feeding and no deterioration or change in their feeding or swallowing related to their current acute admission (These patients should continue with current recommendations from local Speech and Language Therapy team and seek a review from their local Speech and Language Therapy team following discharge). 
  • Intensive neurorehabilitation intervention for speech, language and communication needs. 
  • Assessment and management of reflux or secretions. 
  • Patients with a long-term oral feeding aversion. We are unlikely to be able to make significant changes to interest / acceptance of oral feeding during an acute admission. These patients should be referred to Community teams on discharge. 
  • Normal weaning advice. Advice should be sought from the child’s Health Visitor on discharge. 
  • Support with breast feeding in absence of risks / concerns regarding potential swallowing difficulties. Please ask the nursing team or refer to the Infant Feeding Team. 
  • Developmental communication issues, i.e., delayed or disordered communication development that is not related to a medical or traumatic event post birth. These patients should be referred to Community Speech and Language Therapy teams on discharge.
  • Patients due to be discharged imminently where no acute Speech and Language Therapy needs are identified and would be better referred into community Speech and Language Therapy service. 

In-patient referrals

Referrals can be made by the child’s consultant or other ward staff in consultation with the medical team. Please refer by one of the following:

  • Phone: 0116 295 5256
  • Email: [email protected]
    • Use the subject line “UHL Referral” on your email to ensure priority attention.

Babies on neonatal units can also be referred via Badgernet to the email above.

If a child already known to the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy team as an inpatient needs further support at home, the team will refer them to the appropriate community service.

If your baby or child is known to the Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Team as an in-patient and requires further input at home, we will make a referral to the appropriate community team, as needed. 

Out-patient referrals

Referrals are accepted for children known to the Long-Term Ventilation and Tracheostomy teams. Please discuss directly with the Specialist Speech and Language Therapist via the Long-Term Ventilation team. 

Community referrals 

If the child is not an inpatient and is not being seen by Specialist Speech and Language Therapist for Long-Term Ventilation and Tracheostomy, please refer to the Leicestershire Partnership Trust community Speech and Language Therapy service by following the link to the referral form. 

Information:

Please note: Children from other areas should be referred to services in their respective areas. Please visit the appropriate trust website for details of how to refer. 

Cleft Lip and Palate referrals

All babies born with cleft lip and / or palate should be referred to the Trent regional Cleft Lip and Palate Service and will be seen within 24 hours of diagnosis, by a Cleft Nurse Specialist. If you need to contact the team, phone QMC Switchboard on 0115 924 9924 and ask for on call cleft nurse specialist. 

If the cleft is part of a complex medical condition where other factors are affecting the child’s feeding, an additional referral to the Speech and Language Therapy service is also appropriate.  

Visit the Leicestershire Partnership Trust website for information to support eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties, as well as a range of communication needs: www.leicspart.nhs.uk/services/help-support-resources

Neonatal: 

Long-Term Ventilation and Tracheostomy: 

Cardiology: 

General information: