What is the Child Development Unit?

Speech and Language Therapists at the Child Development Unit (CDU) aim to provide a co-ordinated approach to assessment and management of children with a range of communication, feeding and general development difficulties.

Speech and Language Therapists at the CDU work closely with other CDU staff including Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Specialist Health Visitor, Nursery nurses and Paediatricians. Where necessary there are also links with Education services (Educational Psychology and Portage) and with Social Services.

Why has my child been referred to the Speech and Language Therapist at the CDU?

Your child may have been referred to the Speech and language therapists at the CDU for a number of reasons:

• Complex Special Needs (i.e. requires more than one therapy service – Speech and Language, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Educational Service for Sensory Impaired)
  
• Autistic Spectrum Disorder (diagnosed or suspected)
  
• Severe Developmental delay
  
• Identified Syndrome such as Down’s Syndrome
  
• Feeding and Swallowing Disorders

What will happen once my child has been referred?

Your child’s name will be placed on the waiting list for assessment of communication and/or feeding difficulties. You will be contacted by phone or by letter once an appointment has been made for your child.

The length of wait for initial assessment will vary depending on your child’s needs.

What will happen at the Initial Assessment?

Your child’s individual needs will determine the type of assessment received. Your child may be assessed by a Physiotherapist or Occupational therapist at the same time as by the Speech and Language Therapist.

Assessment of your child’s communication skills will usually be done through play, in a relaxed and informal way. The Speech and Language Therapist may play directly with your child and may also observe your child playing with you. Some children can be assessed using formal language assessment tools which are usually picture and object based tests.

The assessment will usually last approximately 1 hour and there will be time to discuss the Speech and Language Therapists findings. You will be given advice on how to manage any difficulties your child may have.

Full assessment of your child’s skills may take more than one assessment appointment.

What happens during an assessment of my child’s feeding skills?

You will be asked by the Speech and Language Therapist to bring your child’s typical food and drink with you.

The Speech and Language therapist will look at how your child eats and/or drinks, focussing on:

• Position (a physiotherapist may be involved with this)
  
• Oro-motor (mouth, tongue, lips, jaw) movements
  
• Swallowing ability
  
• Behaviour around food/drink
  
• Utensils (cups, spoons etc)
  

Advice will be given on the best and safest way for you to feed your child.

Following the assessment the Speech and Language therapist may liase with other healthcare professionals including:

• Physiotherapist
  
• Occupational therapist
  
• Dietician
  
• Health visitor
  
• Medical staff – paediatrician, gastroenterologist, G.P.
  

Where will the assessment take place?

Depending on your child’s needs, the Speech and Language Therapists at the CDU can offer appointments in a variety of settings including:

• Child Development Unit
  
• Home
  
• Nursery
  
• School
  

You will receive a report describing your child’s strengths and areas of difficulty. With your consent, this report may be shared with other professionals who know your child.

You will receive advice on how to best manage your child’s communication/ feeding difficulty.

Frequency of follow up and review of your child’s needs will be agreed with you.

Follow up appointments

The type and frequency of intervention that your child receives will depend on your child’s needs. Possibilities include:

• Review every few months to check on progress and offer updated advice
  
• Regular intervention with advice to be carried out at home
  
• Transfer to another area of the Speech and Language therapy service that is more appropriate (see main page)
  
• Discharge as skills are within normal limits or all strategies are in place to maximise your child’s potential

CDU Leaftlet

• Leaflet