Here's how we work in our Speech, Language and Hearing Clinics.
We're flexible: In fact we'll bend over backwards to make sure you get the best possible treatment.
We’ll be glad to offer treatment in ISLA’s Edinburgh Speech and Hearing Clinics or in the comfort of your own home.
A programme of treatment will be designed differently for each individual. In some cases, we will want to see you for a session each week. In other cases, we will provide a package of activities for you to perform at home, and we’ll check up on progress at regular intervals.
We will offer individual sessions, where this is best for you. In some cases, a group approach can be beneficial.
However we agree to deal with your case, we will always request regular feedback from you to ensure that we are providing the service that you need.
Note that before we agree a treatment plan with you, if we feel that the National Health Service can provide just the service that you require, then we will let you know immediately and help you to contact the right people. If you are already working with an NHS clinician and wish to have extra support, then we will ask your permission to contact your NHS clinician, so that we can work together to help you more effectively.
If we feel that further additional support may be necessary, then we will do our utmost to find the service that you require, using our existing extensive networks.
How we work as a team
One thing that makes us unique in the independent sector is that we have a team of highly qualified individuals, and we work as a team. We hold regular 'case conferences': That is, we compare notes on cases, and, wherever possible, examine video of our clients so that we can discuss any tricky issues together before deciding how best to proceed. Our clinical team will also consult with from university researchers, whenever possible
How we bring research into the clinic ... and the clinic into research ... and how you can be involved.
Our team is carefully chosen. We blend top academics (several of whom are also clinically trained), who are actice in research in a variety of areas, with highly qualified and experienced clinicians (many of whom also have great research records). Our team keeps up a regular stream of conversation, making use of the internet, so that our clinical staff keep up to date with the latest research, while our researchers keep in touch with what is happening in clinic.
More often than not, we will ask our clients for permission to use their clinical assessments, and, sometimes, audio and video recordings in research. You don't have to do this, but in many cases this kind of information is invaluable, and can help us to improve treatments and assessments for the future.
We like to "network", so we have lots of friends and colleagues around the UK, and, indeed, the rest of the world, who share our passion for communication. All this means that we have a great setting for clinical work, with up to date information making sure that what we do in clinic is as well informed as it possibly can be.