We now have the Comprehensive Aphasia Test by Kate Swinburn, Gillian Porter and David Howard, 2004, to assess adults who have communication difficulties following a stroke.  This newly devised assessment tool points the therapist in the best direction when working with adults with aphasia.

 

We also have the Test for Auditory Comprehension of Language available to us now.  This is a detailed and validated test that assesses a child's ability to understand what is said to them.

 

 

Vicky has attended a one day course on this very interesting therapy technique.  De Shazer (2004) describes this therapy as 'the establishment (with the client) of what a "preferred future" might be (and) the identification of ways in which this is already happening'.

 

Please speak to Vicky directly if you are interested in finding out more...

 

 

Vicky and Rhoda are now Lidcombe Trained Therapists.  'The Lidcombe Program is a behavioural treatment for stuttering in pre-school age children.  In this program, a parent or some other significant person in the child's life delivers the treatment in the child's everyday environment.  The parent learns how to do this during weekly visits with the speech and language therapist (SLT).  During these visits, the SLT trains the parent to do the treatment and to measure stuttering severity in the child's everyday speaking environment.  These measures, along with those made by the SLT, guide the conduct of the program.  At the weekly visits the SLT also monitors and adjusts the treatment, and ensures that it is a positive and enjoyable experience for the child.

 

The program is conducted in two stages.  During Stage 1, the parent and child see the SLT once a week and the parent does the treatment each day in the child's everyday environment.  When the child's stuttering reaches a very low level, the second stage commences.  During Stage 2, the parent does the treatment less frequently and the child and parent see the SLT less frequently, over a period of months or years, providing that the low level of stuttering attained at the end of Stage 1 is maintained'.

 

Ref:  Manual for the Lidcombe Program of Early Stuttering Intervention

 

 

Vicky attended this course for children with speech and language difficulties in March this year.

 

 

Vicky attended this road show recently where workshops and exhibitions were presented by organisations concerned with AAC:  augmentative and alternative communication.

 

 

As part of her Continuing Professional Development, Vicky has recently attended two Special Interest Groups that are run by Speech and Language Therapists.  They are:  The Dementia SIG and The Dysfluency SIG.  Ask Vicky for more details if you are interested......

 

 

Vicky travelled to London in April to update her skills in the management of swallowing difficulties for people who have a tracheostomy.