From January 2007 to June 2008
Project Leader(s): Dr Nick Miller
Staff: E Noble, A Jones, K Deane, C Gibb, D Carse, M Noble
Partners: Parkinsons Disease Society
At least 70% of people with PD experience changes to their speech, yet only around 20% see a speech language therapist (SLT), maybe only once. Nevertheless, the value of SLT for the person with PD and their family is well recognised. To help develop SLT services, responsive to the needs of people with PD, and to inform the setting up of a future major investigation into the social, speech and cost effectiveness of SLT in PD we aim to: a) conduct a national survey of all SLT’s involved in services for people with PD; b) canvass people with PD and their families on their experience of SLT and their views on what they want from SLT, even if they have not been referred.
The project will establish e.g. how many SLT’s work with people with PD and where; what time they devote to PD; the organisation (e.g. referral systems; in relation to stage of PD); style (e.g. intensity; frequency); and content (types of assessment, therapy) of their service. We want to know their levels of experience; training needs; what they identify as best practice; and what that service would look like.
We will ascertain what people with PD have found positive or not about SLT – e.g. regarding ideal time for referral; most convenient place to attend; helpful advice and therapy. For all, we want to learn what support they would look to SLT for and how this would be best organised to meet changing needs over time.
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Professor Nick Miller
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