Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs) work with people with communication difficulties and disorders of feeding, eating, drinking and swallowing. Our SLTs work with both children and adults presenting with a wide range of difficulties and medical conditions.
The Speech and Language Therapy department in Louth is divided into many different services that meet the needs of different people. Paediatric services cater to children aged 0-18, while Adult services target those above the age of 18.
Paediatric Speech and Language Therapy
We see children and their families who live in the Louth and Bettystown catchment areas.
Our network areas are:
- North Louth
- South Louth and Bettystown
Who do we see?
We see children:
- Residing in the Louth and Bettystown catchment areas
- From 0 to 18 years.
- Who have communication difficulties as their primary area of need.
Children who may benefit from Primary Care speech and language therapy may have some of the following needs/diagnoses:
- language delay or disorder
- Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
- difficulty understanding language
- difficulty using language to express themselves
- speech sound difficulties
- mild general learning disability
- autistic children who have low support needs
- stammering / stuttering
- speech and language difficulties arising from hearing impairment
- speech and language difficulties associated with cleft palate
- voice difficulties (referral to ENT via GP may be advised)
Referrals to specialised team services are recommended for:
- children with significant needs in more than one area (for example, communication, behaviour, emotions, motor skills, or sensory processing)
- children with complex needs requiring a team input.
Your local Children’s Disability Network Team may be more suitable for children with communication difficulties which are part of a more significant difficulty (e.g. intellectual disability, autism with high support needs). This is because their needs may be better met by a team of health professionals working together.
Your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) team may be more suitable for children with communication difficulties associated with ADHD and/or mental health difficulties. Referrals to CAMHS can be made via GP or hospital doctor.
Making a referral
We operate an open referral policy. Parents/guardians or anyone with signed consent from parents/guardians, can refer to our service e.g:
- Parents
- Primary Care team members (e.g. GP, PHN, physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, social work)
- Teachers
- Private SLTs, psychologists, occupational therapists etc
- Paediatricans, other medical consultants
Referrals
Completed referral forms (download here Children’s Services Referral Form) can be posted or emailed according to address area. See details below:
North Louth
Post: Dundalk Primary Care Centre, Barrack Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 YP80
Email: primarycare.dundalk@hse.ie
South Louth and Bettystown
Post: Boyne Primary Care Centre, Patrick Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth, A92F4EV
Email: primarycare.drogheda@hse.ie
Please note: Referrals received for clients whose address is not in the Louth area will be returned to the referrer.
Adult Speech and Language Therapy
We see adults across a range of specialist services. Our SLTs are important members of multidisciplinary teams and frequently work jointly with other professionals to provide intervention to people. These services include:
- Adult Primary Care - North Louth Network - South Louth and Bettystown Network
- Louth Adult Physical and Sensory Disability Team (APSD)
- Louth Home Support Therapy Team (HST)
- Louth Integrated Care Programme for Older People (ICPOP)
Who do we see?
We see adults:
- Residing in County Louth and Bettystown catchment areas (catchment areas may vary depending on criteria of specific services)
- Presenting with communication and/or feeding, eating drinking swallowing difficulties and meeting the criteria for Primary Care
- Under the care of the APSD, HST or ICPOP teams and requiring Speech and Language Therapy
Adults who may benefit from Speech and Language Therapy may have some of the following needs/diagnoses:
- Dementia
- Stroke
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Progressive neurological conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis
- Cerebral Palsy
- Intellectual Disability
- Voice disorders
- Cancers
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Oesophageal issues
- Stammering/stuttering
Making a referral
Our referral process varies depending on the service an adult is accessing. Referrals to the APSD, HST, and ICPOP teams are internal and occur when a patient has been accepted by one of these services.
For Primary Care referrals, we accept referrals from anyone who receives the consent of the person to refer, including:
- The person themselves or a family member
- Primary Care team members (e.g. GP, PHN, physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, social work)
- Consultants or other doctors involved in the person’s care, e.g. ENT
- Hospital-based staff, e.g. an acute SLT
- Private SLTs, psychologists, occupational therapists, etc
It may be difficult to determine what service an adult is entitled to access if you are referring them for Speech and Language Therapy. Please note that if you are unsure, you can refer the person to Primary Care. Our clinicians will examine and triage the referral and forward it to the appropriate service where necessary.
Please contact the below health centres for access to the Primary Care referral forms. The completed forms can be posted or emailed to the below addresses also. Please note that we also accept referrals by Healthlink from colleagues that have access to this process.
North Louth
Post: Dundalk Primary Care Centre, Barrack Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 YP80
Email: primarycare.dundalk@hse.ie
South Louth and Bettystown
Post: Boyne Primary Care Centre, Patrick Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth, A92F4EV
Email: primarycare.drogheda@hse.ie
Cost of service
There is no cost to see the Speech & Language Therapist. Our service is free.
Contact us
HSE Health Centres in Louth
Speech and Language therapy services are primarily based in the following locations:
North Louth
- ‘An Staisiun Slainte’, Barrack Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 YP80
- Louth Community Care, Louth County Hospital Campus, Dublin road, Dundalk, Co. Louth
- Email: primarycare.dundalk@hse.ie
- Phone: 042 682 0015
South Louth and Bettystown
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