Communication & senses · England
Speech and language therapy
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This guide is for people in England.
A speech and language therapist helps people communicate.
You might want help to understand information.
You might want help to tell people what you think.
You do not have to use spoken words to ask for support.
Your way of communicating matters.
A therapist can also help with eating, drinking and swallowing.
Tell a health professional if swallowing is difficult.
Ask your GP or local NHS team how to get an appointment.
Children's services and adults' services may be different.
Tell the therapist what you want help with.
Bring any communication aid you already use.
You can ask for someone you trust to help.
Ask for information you can understand.
Ask your supporters to learn your communication plan.
Ask the therapist to work with your other health workers.
Ask what happens next.
Ask who to contact if your needs change.
New swallowing problems need urgent help.
Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call 111.
Call 999 if someone is choking and cannot breathe or speak.
What you can do next
Please help me find the right speech and language therapy service.
These are the things I need help with.
Find speech and language therapy Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- What speech and language therapists do Web page
Information for children, adults and supporters.
- Finding a therapist Web page
Ask about NHS referrals and other options.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Speech and language therapy
Help with communication, understanding, eating, drinking and swallowing.
Children and adults · England
What therapy can help with
Speech and language therapy can support understanding, expressing needs, conversations and participation in everyday life. It is also concerned with eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties, called dysphagia. A person does not need spoken language to benefit from communication support. The therapist should consider the person's strengths, interests and ways of communicating, alongside any difficulties.
Finding the right service
For adults, ask your GP, community learning disability team or local NHS speech and language therapy service. For children, a health visitor, nursery, school special educational needs coordinator or GP can help identify the route. Some services accept self-referrals, while others require a professional referral. Age, location and the kind of difficulty can affect which team is responsible. Check locally rather than assuming one service covers every need.
Prepare for an assessment
Bring examples of situations where communication works well and where it is difficult. Explain how the person shows pain, agreement, refusal and enjoyment. Take existing communication aids, a communication passport or a one-page profile. Ask what the appointment will involve and what adjustments are possible. You can request accessible information, extra processing time and support to use your usual communication methods.
Communication support in everyday life
An assessment may lead to changes in how other people communicate, suitable communication aids, or activities chosen with the person. Agree meaningful goals, such as choosing an activity or telling someone about discomfort. Ask who will help put the plan into practice at home, school, college or work. Supporters may need training; a written programme alone does not explain how to use it well.
Eating, drinking and swallowing
Explain coughing during meals, changes in eating or drinking, and any existing swallowing plan to the clinician. The appropriate team can assess swallowing and discuss a plan with the person and supporters. This may involve other professionals, including a dietitian. Follow the individual's advice about food, drinks and assistance. Do not copy someone else's thickener prescription or change food textures just because both people have a learning disability. For new swallowing difficulty, ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111. Call 999 if choking prevents breathing or speaking, or for severe breathing difficulty.
Keep the plan useful
Ask for an accessible explanation of the assessment, agreed goals, who is responsible and how to request a review. Clarify what support is available while waiting. Tell the team about changes in communication, health or swallowing rather than waiting silently for a routine appointment. When moving from children's to adult services, ask who will receive the referral and how communication aids and care plans will transfer.
Working with your wider team
Ask for communication recommendations to be used in health appointments, care planning and daily activities, as well as therapy sessions. Supporters may need coaching to recognise your communication and give you enough time. For eating and drinking support, ask how the therapist will coordinate with the dietitian and any seating or equipment assessment. Agree who will update and share the plan when your needs change.
Words you could use
“I would like advice about speech and language therapy. Please explain the local referral route and help me access an assessment that meets my communication needs.”
More useful links
- What speech and language therapists do Web page
Information for children, adults and supporters.
- Finding a therapist Web page
Ask about NHS referrals and other options.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 1 November 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- RCSLT: what is speech and language therapy? Web page
Communication and swallowing support across the lifespan.
- RCSLT: finding a speech and language therapist Web page
Referral routes, local differences and waiting-list enquiries.
- Guy's and St Thomas': learning disability speech and language therapy Web page
An England NHS example of assessment, communication strategies and training.
- Evelina London: children's speech and language therapy referrals Web page
An England example of school and community referral arrangements.
- RCSLT: eating, drinking and swallowing Web page
Individual swallowing assessment, care planning and support.
- NHS England: Accessible Information Standard Web page
Accessible information and communication support in NHS care.
- NHS: swallowing problems Web page
Urgent symptoms and assessment by speech and language therapists and dietitians.
- Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS: calling 999, Easy Read PDFEasy Read
Choking that prevents breathing or speaking is a medical emergency.
- Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists: learning disabilities Web page
Communication, participation, swallowing, support for communication partners and person-centred care.
- Sutton Health and Care NHS: learning disability dysphagia team Web page
Joint speech and language therapy and dietetics, with occupational therapy, physiotherapy and other professionals.