What is a Speech and Language Therapist (SALT)?

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Three doctors having a conversation in a hospital corridor, wearing their medical scrubs. They discuss patient care, reflecting their dedication and expertise. The scene exudes professionalism and trust in their collaborative approach to medicine in a hospital in Newcastle, England.

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What is a speech and language therapist (SALT)?

Speech and language therapists are qualified and regulated health professionals – who provide life-changing treatment, support and care for children and adults who have difficulties with communication, eating, drinking and swallowing.

They are one of the key Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in the NHS.

Speech and language therapists help people who, for physical or psychological reasons, have problems speaking and communicating.

Patients range from children whose speech is slow to develop, to older people whose ability to speak has been impaired by illness or injury. It also includes treatment for those who have difficulty with eating or swallowing.

Variety is one of the most exciting things about being a speech and language therapist. As well as helping patients with a variety of conditions, they work in a multi-disciplinary team in different settings from hospitals to community clinics to patients’ homes.

Therapists help children with a variety of conditions including:

Mild, moderate or severe learning difficulties
Specific difficulties in producing sounds
Hearing impairment
Cleft lip and palate
Stammering
Voice disorders
Delective mutism
Developmental language disorder.

Therapists help adults with a variety of conditions including:

Communication or eating and swallowing problems following neurological impairments and degenerative conditions, including stroke, head injury, Parkinson’s disease and dementia
Voice problems
Mental health issues
Learning difficulties
Physical disabilities
Stammering
Hearing impairment.

They also work closely with teachers and other health professionals, such as doctors, nurses and psychologists. Therapists also supervise the work of speech and language therapy assistants.