Speech Language Therapy Awareness Day

Most of us take speaking and swallowing for granted but for others who have had strokes, brain injuries, head and neck cancer, degenerative diseases, voice disorders, cleft lip or palate, these activities can be very painful, stressful or even impossible. These people need special support and Speech Language therapists are trained to help.

The theme of this year’s Speech Language Therapy Awareness day Friday 28 August is ‘Time to Talk’. The day aims to highlight the important work of speech language therapists across New Zealand. There are more than 50 therapists working in Canterbury in both the public and private health sectors.

One person who very much appreciates the work of speech language therapists is Sue Ross, a former teacher. Sue is a self proclaimed “big talker” even though she uses an electro-larynx to speak. Sue holds the device against her throat and it produces vibrations which are similar to those generated by the vocal chords.

It was during routine sinus surgery around 10 years ago that Sue discovered she had problems with her windpipe. She was diagnosed with narrowing of the windpipe (tracheal stenosis) which resulted from the inflammation of blood vessels. This was later confirmed as being caused by Wegener’s Granulomatosis. At the time of diagnosis Sue was coping well but later on her airway was considered to be at risk. Laser surgery was not an option at this time due to the fact that the operation had a high failure rate and the stenosis redevelop over time. So in April 2004 she opted to have a permanent tracheostomy (or plastic airway placed through her neck directly into her windpipe).

Sue was referred to the Speech Language Therapy Team at Christchurch Hospital by her surgeon. “The team gave me the means to communicate after a year without being able to speak. Having an electro-larynx allowed me to communicate effectively on the phone and in public after many months of only being able to write notes,” says Sue, who took to the device “like a fish to water”.

These days Sue visits the hospital as an outpatient on an “as required” basis. The Ear, Nose and Throat Outpatients charge nurse is her first port of call. Sue has also been supported by the Tracheostomy Nurse Specialist at the Hospital. “The whole team have supported and encouraged me to have the life I want and a life I love despite having a tracheostomy. I now walk three half-marathons a year and I am happy to spend time in remote places a long way from help,” says Sue.

She calls on the Speech Language Therapy team for on-going assistance and advice on her electro-larynx and often borrows a spare as a backup. This is especially important for her given that she recently spent two weeks on Codfish Island on nest minding duties for the Kakapo and in a month’s time will be travelling to the Mediterranean. Sue is also a member of several wellness communities in Christchurch and speaks in groups on a weekly basis. She has made presentations at National Symposiums, at the Centre for Communication Disorders, Foundation of the Blind and for specialist nurses. Sue’s speaking device has been known to go through a battery a day!

“The Speech Language Therapists are always there if I need them. The service, advice and care I have received has been exceptional and invaluable,” says Sue.

For more information about Speech Language Therapy visit http://www.speechtherapy.org.nz/ or check with your GP.

ENDS