What we do
The Primary Care Speech and Language Therapy team help children who have speech, language, voice, fluency and social communication differences and difficulties. We also support their families.
Who we see
We see children aged 0 to 18 years.
We see children who live in our catchment area. This generally covers Dublin 7, Dublin 11 and Dublin 15.
Children who attend speech & language therapy may need help with:
- Speech: difficulty making speech sounds
- Language: difficulty understanding and/or using words and sentences
- Stammering or Stuttering: getting stuck on words or sounds
- Voice: hoarseness or loss of voice (you can talk to your G.P. to see if a referral to the E.N.T. Department is also required)
- Social communication difference
We do not have a feeding, eating, drinking and swallowing service for children.
We do not treat reading or writing difficulties. For more information contact the Dyslexia Association of Ireland.
The Children’s Disability Network Team may be more suitable for children with communication difficulties which are part of a more complex profile. This is because they need a team of health professionals working closely together.
Where we are based
We work in local health centres.
Finglas, Glasnevin (North)
Wellmount Health Centre, Wellmount Park, Finglas, Dublin 11, D11 RH76
Phone: 01 856 7700
Cabra, Ashtown, Grangegorman, Navan Road
Navan Road Primary Care Centre, Navan Road, Dublin 7, D07 K229
Phone: 01 868 6800
Ongar, Mulhuddart, Blakestown, Blanchardstown
Blanchardstown Primary Care Centre, Grove Court, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, D15 HNT2
Phone:01 829 7233
Corduff, The Ward, Tyrrelstown, Hollystown
Corduff Primary Care Centre, Blackcourt Road, Dublin 15, D15 T9NH
Phone: 01 646 4504
Hartstown, Huntstown, Clonsilla, Littlepace
Hartstown Health Centre, Cherryfield Lawns, Hartstown, Dublin 15, D15 CR62
Phone: 01 866 2800
Carpenterstown, Laurel Lodge, Castleknock, Roselawn
Roselawn Health Centre, Roselawn Road, Castleknock, Dublin 15, D15 PC90
Phone: 01 646 4500
Cost of Service
There is no cost to see the Speech & Language Therapist. Our service is free.
Making a Referral
Parents/guardians or anyone with permission from parents/guardians, can refer to our service. You must fill out a form, called a referral form.
Referral forms and further information
The Children’s Services Referral Form is for the below services:
- Primary Care: includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology, speech and language therapy, dietician services, social work, public health nursing.
- Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT)
- Note: All CDNT referrals must include one age-specific form, linked at end of referral form.
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
- Note: All CAMHS referrals must come from a GP or Hospital Doctor. Parents or carers should contact their GP or Hospital Doctor with questions about CAMHS referrals.
What happens to a referral form?
We read the referral form when it arrives. We make sure that the referral has come to the right service.
Sometimes we will ask for more information or if there are reports available.
We can pass on the referral form to a different service (the Children’s Disability Network Team or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) if that team is better able to meet someone’s needs.
We send a letter to say that we have accepted the referral, this means a child/young person will be offered an assessment appointment. The letter goes to the person who filled in the form. We send a copy of the letter to the parents/guardians if the person is under 18.
Sometimes we refuse a referral. If we refuse it, we will explain why. For example they are already attending speech and language therapy or do not live within our catchment area. We will send a letter to the person who filled in the form to explain.
How long do I have to wait?
New people go on a waiting list for assessment. After assessment, if they need therapy there is another waiting time.
Our waiting times are not always the same. It depends on different things, like:
- how many staff we have
- how many people want to use the service
We are working to reduce our waiting times for services.
Appointments
- The speech and language therapy team send appointments by post. Parents and guardians should tell us if they change address.
- A parent/guardian must come to all appointments with their child. They must stay for the whole appointment.
- First a child will be offered an assessment appointment. An assessment appointment will take approximately 1 hour. We try to learn about how a child communicates. We will ask questions about how a child communicates and their early development e.g. first words. We do assessments. The type of assessment will depend on a child’s abilities and age.
- If a child needs therapy, they will go on a waiting list for a number of therapy appointments. The type of therapy will depend on a child’s needs. Therapy may be:
- Parent training sessions
- Individual sessions with a child or
- Group sessions with other children who have similar needs
- Therapy appointments will take approximately 40 minutes. The goals for therapy will be agreed at the start of therapy. Therapy activities will be through play or table top work based on a child’s needs.
Attendance
- If for any reason someone cannot attend an appointment, we request that parents/guardians give at least 24 hours' notice of a cancellation. This means that the appointment may be offered to another child on the waiting list.
- If someone does not attend appointments without giving prior notice, they may not be offered further appointments.
- If someone is running late for an appointment, we ask that they phone the health centre. If someone arrives more than 15 minutes after a scheduled appointment time, it may not be possible to proceed with the appointment.
Protection of Children and Vulnerable People
We have a duty to make sure that our clients are well and safe. We have a duty towards children and vulnerable people. Vulnerable people are people who need help to make sure they are not abused. For example, a person with a learning disability is a vulnerable person.
Staff who work with children receive training called Children First. Staff who work with adults have special guidelines to follow.
If we are concerned about someone, we have to follow these guidelines.
If you want to learn more about these guidelines, you can look at these websites:
Data Protection and Freedom of Information
We hold some information about people attending our service in our files and on HSE computers (e.g. your contact details, your reports). There are protections in place to keep information private and safe. There are two laws that support this. . These laws are:
- Data Protection Law
- Freedom of Information Law
Find out more about your rights
Useful links and websites
General advice
Speech development
If you are attending for therapy to work on speech development:
Discrimination and silent sorting
Helping your child to listen to the differences in sounds:
Minimal Pairs
Helping your child use their new sound in the right words:
To work on specific sounds - Youtube Videos:
‘S’ sound
‘SH’ sound
‘CH’ sound
‘J’ sound
‘R’ sound
How to help your child use their new sound in daily conversation
Language
Early language:
Children using sentences:
Story telling:
Developmental Language Disorder DLD:
Multilingualism
Stammering
Autism
Regulatory bodies
Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (iaslt.ie)
For information on SLTs who work in private practice see the Independent Speech and Language Therapists of Ireland (isti.ie)
Coru (coru.ie) is the regulatory body for Speech and Language Therapists in Ireland
Feedback
We welcome your feedback to the speech and language therapy service directly. You can contact us at your local clinic.
Make a comment, complaint, or send a thank you - Your Service, Your Say.
