Speech and Language Therapy: The Quick Reference
Speech and Language Therapy: the whole thing in five minutes, for when you want the numbers and nothing else.
Assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing problems.
Key takeaways
- Covers: speech, language, voice and swallowing
- Dysphagia: swallowing difficulty; raises aspiration pneumonia risk
- Most useful single change: Report coughing or choking during meals promptly.
- Commonest mistake: Ignoring coughing during meals.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Covers | speech, language, voice and swallowing |
| Dysphagia | swallowing difficulty; raises aspiration pneumonia risk |
| Common after | stroke, head injury, and in progressive neurological conditions |
| Children | also for developmental speech and language delay |
In one paragraph
Swallowing problems cause chest infections and malnutrition, and are frequently missed because the person stops eating quietly.
Worth doing
- Report coughing or choking during meals promptly
- Ask for referral for any persistent voice change or speech difficulty
- Follow texture and thickening advice exactly if given
Worth avoiding
- Ignoring coughing during meals
- Changing food textures without advice
Where to go next
- Understanding Speech and Language Therapy: A Plain-English Explainer
- Speech and Language Therapy: The Practical To-Do List
- Speech and Language Therapy — the reference entry
- What the Guidance Really Says About Returning to Activity After Illness
- The Evidence on Assistive Equipment, Without the Hype
When to speak to a doctor
Seek urgent assessment for coughing or choking while eating or drinking, a wet or gurgly voice after swallowing, recurrent chest infections, or unexplained weight loss. See a GP urgently for hoarseness lasting more than three weeks, which needs assessment for cancer.
Where this comes from
- NICE — Stroke rehabilitation in adults
- Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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