Speech and Language Therapy Service (Children)

The Children’s Speech and Language Therapy Service is a specialist NHS service. You will hear it called SALT for short. It supports children and young people aged 0-18 with speech, language and communication needs. Support is also given to children and young people with swallowing and feeding difficulties.

The service supports children and young people up to 25 years old with special educational needs and disabilities with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

The team provides assessments, diagnosis and intervention for children and young people with:

• language and communication needs (including developmental language disorder)

• specific difficulties in producing speech sounds

• hearing impairment

• stammering

• difficulties with eating and drinking

How to Access the Service

Accessing the service is by referral only.

Referrals can come from a range of healthcare professionals including health visitors, allied health professionals, GPs, paediatric consultants, school special education needs coordinators and nursery managers. 

Healthcare professionals can access electronic referral forms via SystmOne. GPs can use their own single access referral form.

Referrals from other professionals can be completed  and emailed or posted.

Referral forms, referral guide and supporting resources can be accessed on the Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust website on the Children’s Speech Therapy Service page.

Appointments

Appointments are held in different places on Wirral. These include community NHS clinics, Family Hubs and schools.

The appointments you have may be,

• Face to face

• Remote video monitoring

• Video calls

• Telephone calls

• Parent and carer coaching sessions.

More Information

The link below will take you to the NHS page for this service. There you will find more information about speech and language development for your child or young person.