West Cork Speech and Language

13/01/2023

Gender identity is “an individual’s personal sense, and subjective experience, of their own gender” (NHS England, 2016). An individual’s voice is a central part of their identity; it is how they communicate with their family, friends, work colleagues and wider society.
Speech & Language Therapists with appropriate skills, may support voice modification and facilitate gender expression through vocal and communication change and exploration.
Voice and Communication Therapy can help to reduce distress related to gender dysphoria, which can cause a significant lack of confidence and social participation. It can also help reduce the occurrence of transphobia and being misgendered. Examples include: people being vocally misgendered on the telephone; being ridiculed and discounted in or excluded from social or workplace contexts due to listener expectation, bias or prejudice.
If you would like to discuss a referral for transgender communication & voice therapy, please contact me at West Cork Speech & Language on 086 4018718.

21/11/2022

***Back taking on a limited number of new clients.***
At West Cork Speech & Language, I provide specialist speech and language therapy services in the management of adult speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders.
For further details on my clinical skills and private practice, please check out https://isti.ie/user/aoife-sheehy/
Happy to chat through your speech & language therapy needs if you have any questions.

29/04/2021

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s and it is estimated that there are approximately 12,000 people living with Parkinson’s in Ireland.

Many people with Parkinson’s disease have problems speaking when they first develop the condition and almost all patients (89%) with Parkinson’s will experience problems with their speech and voice at some stage.

April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Show your support for the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland by wearing a Parkinson’s Mask.
https://www.parkinsons.ie/product/parkinsons-masks/

11/02/2021

"Eating, drinking and communicating are core and innate parts of being human… These functions enable us to connect, to be with people and share experiences, central to our cultures and the way we interact with society…We are with people through the toughest, most isolating time. It's the most overwhelming feeling to know how hard an individual has worked and how much opportunity they will have as a result of their treatment.”

Delighted to see speech and language therapists being acknowledged in the media highlighting our importance during the current pandemic.

Spending weeks on a ventilator means many are left unable to talk, eat or drink after coronavirus.

02/02/2021

Thinking of my former colleagues at the Royal Free hospital. Such a powerful clip and important to watch
🌈

https://fb.watch/3p7meeVYNg/

20/01/2021

Hospital can be a scary place at the moment, but if you are unwell or unable to manage at home, your GP or community team will be able to advice you regarding the next step. As a speech and language therapist working in private practice, I will continue to see members of the public as I am classified as an essential worker. Sessions are available via teletherapy and home visits will be considered on a case by case basis. Personal protective equipment will be worn for all home visits. If you are concerned about your communication or swallowing or have concerns about a loved one, you can contact me on 086 4018718.

11/01/2021

Dysphonia or hoarseness occurs for many reasons and an Ear, Nose and Throat doctor will need to view your voice box or larynx to determine the cause. The production of voice is reliant on three factors:
1) Respiration generates the vocal sound
2) Phonation produces the sound
3) Resonance shapes the sound.
Every person’s voice is different and this is down to our individual anatomy, but how we use our voice day to day can also impact on the sound.

Vocal nodules, historically called singer’s or screamer’s nodules, are benign lesions of the delicate tissue of the larynx. Nodules are often compared to callouses on the vocal cords caused by chronic irritation due to misuse of the voice. Certain professions or occupations are at a higher risk of developing vocal nodules, including: teachers, coachers, personal trainers, lawyers, actors and singers. Famously, Julie Andrews had surgery to remove vocal nodules but consequently had to give up her singing career.

Luckily, the human voice can be modified in many ways. Consider all of the spectrum of sounds that we can produce including whispering, speaking, shouting, opera singing, gospel singing and rapping. Voice therapy is an effective method of treating vocal nodules aiming to avoid surgical intervention. Your Speech and Language Therapist can provide you with a programme aiming to minimise behaviours that contribute to hoarseness and restore the quality of your speaking voice. If you would like to discuss a voice therapy referral, feel free to contact West Cork Speech and Language on 086 4018718.

22/12/2020

Dysphagia is the medical term used to describe eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties. It can affect both adults and children. In adults, dysphagia can be caused by a large number of medical conditions including neurological conditions, mechanical changes, trauma, metabolic disorders or as a consequence of surgery. As a speech and language therapist working with adults in the community, I most commonly encounter individuals with dysphagia in neurological conditions such as: stroke, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia or motor neuron disease. But as our population ages, there can be an increase in comorbidities and with this people can present with dysphagia of an unknown cause. It is the role of the speech and language therapist to determine if dysphagia is present and how it impacts on quality of life.

Symptoms of dysphagia can include:
• Extra time needed to chew or swallow.
• Food, liquid or saliva leaking from the mouth.
• Coughing or choking during, or immediately after, eating or drinking.
• Wet or ‘gurgly’ sounding voice during or after eating or drinking.
• Food sticking in your throat
• Weight loss or dehydration from not being able to eat or drink enough.
• Repeated chest infections caused by aspiration i.e. fluids ‘going down the wrong way’.

Speech and language therapists provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment of dysphagia. Dysphagia management plans focus on maximising swallow safety and the person’s quality of life. With Christmas fast approaching, many people will be shopping for food and planning the Christmas dinner. Christmas is a time when eating and drinking are important and enjoyable activities but mind the turkey! If you notice any difficulties with swallowing over the festive period, you can contact West Cork Speech and Language on 086 4018718.

13/12/2020

Aphasia is a language disorder that can affect your understanding, speaking, reading and writing. This occurs due to damage to the language centres of the brain. Sudden onset can be as a result of a stroke, traumatic brain injury or brain cancer but progressive onset can occur with dementia. For an individual with aphasia, everyday tasks such as answering the telephone, having dinner with family or listening to the radio can be challenging.

Every individual living with aphasia is different. Speech and language therapists play a vital role in the assessment, diagnosis and therapy of individuals with aphasia in order to devise a treatment programme that is unique to their needs. I can recall working with an incredible woman with aphasia. Penny had had a stroke at a young age and by the time that I met her she had been living with aphasia for a few years. By attending speech and language therapy sessions, Penny became an effective communicator. Although Penny had just one phrase that she could consistently say, she would change the tone of her voice, use gestures and draw to convey her message. Within speech and language therapy sessions, Penny was able to lead our discussions.

The following techniques can be used to support a conversation with someone with aphasia:
• Reduce background noise, e.g. switch off tv/radio.
• Ensure you have the person’s full attention.
• Don’t raise the volume of your voice.
• Use short, clear sentences.
• Use gestures to support your words.
• If possible, ask questions that have a yes/no answer.
• Have pen & paper at hand so you can write key words or draw to support your message.
• Give the person time to get their message across.

If you would like further information regarding speech and language therapy for aphasia, feel free to contact West Cork Speech and Language on 086 4018718.

03/12/2020

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition that is caused by a reduced amount of dopamine in the brain. As the disease progresses, communication can be affected, with up to 90% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease reporting changes to their speech and voice. With these changes in communication, individuals report a negative impact on family roles and community engagement. This can often result in the person avoiding conversations and ultimately lead to social isolation.

Speech and Language Therapists have a unique role to play in the assessment and treatment of people affected by Parkinson’s disease, helping them to anticipate and adjust to changes in communication. They can also provide support for families and friends of those with Parkinson’s disease aiming to maximise the quality of social interactions. Voice therapy in particular has been proven to increase vocal loudness and functional communication in those with Parkinson’s disease. If you would like further information regarding Parkinson’s disease & speech and language therapy, be sure to contact West Cork Speech & Language on 086 4018718.