Multidisciplinary therapy

Multidisciplinary therapy is carried out by two or more different members of a multidisciplinary team. This means that each person providing input to therapy will have different areas of expertise, for example multidisciplinary therapy at SLT for Kids may be administered by a speech and language therapist alongside a psychologist, a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist or a dietician dependent on the child's needs.

Potentially, all of the professionals will not carry out therapy at the same time. However, they will work closely together and liaise with each other in order to provide the best outcome for the child. Multidisciplinary therapy is usually most appropriate for children with complex needs or lots of difficulties that need to be considered together.

Multidisciplinary therapy is most suitable for children with multiple or complex needs. This will require many members of the team inputting through training or treatment. Conditions the multidisciplinary team may commonly work with include:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Acquired head / brain injury
• Cerebral palsy
• Down's syndrome
• Developmental delay
• Dysphagia
• Learning disability
• Stroke

Any child who is unable to use their speech, language, communication, voice or swallowing skills may require therapy provided by a speech and language therapist. If your child has other needs alongside this or you feel they would benefit from input from another professional alongside a speech and language therapist, then multidisciplinary therapy may be appropriate for them.

Therapy provided by a multidisciplinary team will be tailored to each client and may involve many different aspects dependent on the child's needs and abilities. The following professionals may work alongside our speech and language therapist to provide the best outcome for your child:

• Speech and language therapists

We can provide treatment on a range of speech, language, communication, eating, drinking, swallowing and voice difficulties.

• Physiotherapists

Will work to improve any physical difficulties your child may have.

• Dieticians/ Kids feeding team

Work closely with our speech and language therapists to ensure your child has the most safe and effective swallow possible. A dietician can provide advice on what food and drink is safe for your child to consume.

• Occupational therapists

Can help develop a child’s sensory and motor awareness by providing advice or equipment.

• Educational or clinical psychologists

Can help diagnose and provide advice for clinical or educational conditions. Will also help input towards an Education, Health and Care plan.

This is not an exhaustive list of professionals we may work with, but all of our professionals will work together to achieve the same goal despite having different therapeutic aims. For everyone within a multidisciplinary team, the child's goals and needs come before anything else.

Multidisciplinary therapy can provide many benefits for the child with communication difficulties, including improved speech, language and communication development. Benefits include:

• Improved communication.
• Improved development.
• Increased confidence and self-esteem when communicating.
• Benefits for the family as they are provided with multiple access to support.
• Physical and emotional benefits.

Multidisciplinary therapy can provide a range of benefits for your child and will be tailored to suit their needs and reach their goals.

If you are interested in finding out more information about multidisciplinary therapy, please email office@sltforkids.co.uk or call us on 0330 088 2298.