Our speech and language therapists can help you with communication or swallowing difficulties as a result of:

  • dementia
  • head injury
  • head and neck cancer
  • neurological disorders such as motor neurone disease (MND), multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease
  • stroke

Communication difficulties can include problems with:

  • hearing
  • making speech sounds
  • your voice such as persistent hoarseness
  • putting words together
  • social communication skills
  • stammering
  • understanding language

If you’ve been referred to our service, you’ll be invited for an assessment. If you’d like to bring a family member or friend along to the appointment with you, you can do so.

Before your appointment, we might send you a questionnaire or food diary to complete. Please bring this with you to your appointment, along with a list of any medication you’re currently taking.

Your 1st appointment with us should last about 1 hour. During the appointment, we’ll ask you some questions about your medical history, your life at home and the problems you’ve been having. We might also do a few tests.  

We’ll also ask you about what you’d like to achieve from therapy. Together, we’ll agree some goals so we can review your progress and agree when you’re ready to be discharged.

Once we’ve completed our assessment we’ll discuss your options and create a treatment plan tailored to your needs. What happens next depends on the type of problem you’re experiencing but often therapy includes:

  • help you to understand your diagnosis
  • individual or group therapy
  • coaching and exercises to improve your condition
  • advice and support for you and your carers

You might also get invited to appointments for:

  • a follow up to see how they’re getting on
  • an assessment for specialist equipment

You will only be discharged from this service when we all agree that:

  • your therapy goals have been met or
  • you’re able to develop your skills at home with the support of your family and friends

Speech and Language Therapy
Cumberland Infirmary
Carlisle
01228 814730 or 814346


Speech and Language Therapy
West Cumberland Hospital
Whitehaven
01946 523112