Specialist Speech and Language Therapy Network for Deaf People

We are all community-based in the geographical areas listed above (‘Meet the Team’ section) and children and adults can be seen in a number of locations, which are flexible to meet individual needs. These include:

• Mainstream schools/nurseries
• Deaf resource bases in certain districts
• Colleges
• Clinics
• Merseyside Society for Deaf People (Liverpool only)

Children or adults of any age with permanent severe to profound deafness can be referred to this specialist service.

All referrals are reviewed by our Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs). Referrals will be accepted or not accepted, based on the information provided on the referral form and whether the referral meets our criteria.

The referrer, parents/carers and/or the adult being referred will be informed of the outcome of this review by letter. If the referral is not accepted, we will signpost to appropriate services where possible.

Once a referral is accepted children and adults will receive an initial assessment which looks at communication in a range of contexts. This will involve formal and informal assessment and may include areas such as: listening, turn-taking, understanding, expressive language, speech sounds and use of signing and overall communication skills.

Our service provides support in a range of ways that are discussed and agreed with the individual/their family.
This may include:

• Making recommendations and monitoring their effect.
• Providing advice and agreeing on targets that can be carried out by everyone involved with the child/adult.
• Agreeing to a set number of sessions with a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist to work on specific targets.

Sometimes a person will not require input from us at this time and will be discharged from the service. We may suggest other services that could be accessed at this time.

We work closely alongside other teams that support deaf children/adults, including Teachers of the Deaf and Audiology departments.

Both formal courses and informal training can be provided to parents, education and support staff and other professionals.