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Speech pathology services in Seychelles |27 October 2017

Speech pathology (SP), also known as speech therapy, is a service currently being offered to both children and adults in the Seychelles. There are many people who require services from the SP unit for their speech, language, communication, fluency, voice and swallowing difficulties and current national trends indicate an increase in the number of children being referred.

However, a significant number of us seem to be unaware of the different types of conditions managed by this unit and what a speech pathologist can do to help in these areas. The Seychelles Speech Pathology Unit enlightens us on some of these conditions and their roles in helping people in need of such services.

 

What are the different types of disorders addressed by speech pathologists?

 

  • Speech: Difficulty producing speech sounds correctly (e.g. lisps and phonological issues).
  • Language: Difficulty understanding language and using language as a mode of expression (e.g. language delay and aphasia).
  • Communication: General difficulty with conveying and receiving communicative intents.
  • Fluency: Difficulty with flow of speech (e.g. stuttering and cluttering).
  • Voice: Difficulty producing a good sounding voice due to hoarseness (e.g. vocal nodules, polyps and vocal palsy).
  • Swallowing: Difficulty managing and swallowing food in a safely manner due to conditions such as stroke, brain tumour, cerebral palsy.

Speech and language delay are the most common presentations among children in Seychelles. However, due to the risk of choking associated with dysphagia (swallowing difficulty), the SP unit have started to place emphasis on this particular type of disorder.

The aim is to promote dysphagia awareness in Seychelles and it is anticipated that this will be an ongoing campaign to educate not only health workers but also the general public on this condition, its signs and symptoms, and how it can be managed within the hospital setting as well as beyond the hospital setting.

 

What are the roles of speech pathologists?

 

There are currently three qualified Seychellois speech pathologists working in Seychelles. Their roles are to assess, diagnose and manage children and adults with speech, language, communication, voice, fluency and swallowing difficulties. Speech pathology services are provided to both inpatients (people admitted on the ward) and outpatients (in clinics and community).

 

What else do speech pathologists do?

 

  • Educate clients/patients and their family members/significant others.
  • Refer clients/patients to other health professionals or agencies, if needed.
  • Conduct school visits to obtain feedback from teachers and provide strategies that could assist in the child’s schooling environment.
  • Conduct home visits to see how clients/patients are managing within their home environment.
  • Collaborate with other health professionals (e.g. physiotherapists, audiologist, occupational therapists, ENT, doctors, nurses and other health professionals involved in the person’s care).

 

Can a person gain or regain full ability with speech therapy?

 

Each case is different and the level of progress and achievement varies across individuals. Some people may gain or regain their full potential, while others may not. These may be determined by several factors:

 

  • Severity; degree of loss
  • Type of condition/presentation
  • Level of motivation, willingness, awareness/insights
  • Availability of opportunities for practice
  • Consistency and frequency of stimulation
  • Level of support being given (e.g. clinicians, parents, family members, teachers, friends)
  • Availability of services
  • Continuity at home

Any improvement, however small, is considered an achievement. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the earlier the detection is made, the earlier intervention can be provided.

Once diagnosed and therapy strategies have been identified, parents/family members are often the main source for practice opportunities or implementers of intervention strategies as they spend more time with children and loved ones.

 

Advice from the SP unit

 

  1. Reduce your child’s TV time and screen time (i.e.laptop, iPad and mobile phone access) to 20-30 minutes per day; sharing these are better than the child doing it alone.
  2. Avoid mixing languages when teaching children to speak. If using creole, all words in that sentence should be in creole; same for other languages.
  3. Children require stimulation through play and constant interactions. Encourage children to play, interact with you and other peers of similar age group, sing, share books and play together. These will help develop their cognitive, social and emotional skills.
  4. Have time for your child or loved one who require support to improve their speech and language skills. Talk to them and allow time for communication; avoid replying for them or brushing them off.
  5. If given strategies, carry them out at home and do not rely on the contact time with the therapist alone as this is not enough.
  6. Currently, there are not enough speech pathologists in the country for the present demand. Youth considering a career need to consider taking on SP as a career. If interested, call the unit for more information on this profession.
  7. If you have any concerns or need further information, please contact the unit as soon as possible.

 

SP unit contact details

 

SP units are based at the following places and can be contacted on the given numbers:

 

  • Early Childhood Intervention Centre (ECIC): manages children 0-5 years old (4388584/4388071)
  • School for the Exceptional Child (SEC): manages children with disability and special education needs attending the school (4344705)
  • Anse Royale Hospital, Seychelles (Victoria) Hospital (4388355)
  • Services are also extended to North East Point Hospital and Praslin/La Digue (4388355)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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