Speech & Language Pathology
Our Speech & Language Pathologists (SLPs) focus on the assessment and management of Speech, Language, Communication, Literacy, as well as Feeding and Swallowing skills. Their goal is to support children and adults with cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities in achieving their fullest potential.
Intervention is also provided through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), using a range of tools tailored to individual needs:
- Light-tech solutions: Paper-based communication books, communication boards, and PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System).
- High-tech options: Speech-generating apps and devices with robust vocabulary such as P2G, PODD, TouchChat HD, LAMP, TD Snap, and dedicated devices like Tobii Dynavox I-Series and PRC Saltillo Accent devices.
- Advanced-tech systems: These are specialized setups for individuals with complex needs, often incorporating alternative access methods. Examples include Tobii Eye Gaze, PRC Eye Gaze, Neuronode, Switch-scanning systems, and AAC integrated with smart home technology like Alexa and Google Home.
Clinical Activities
The Speech and Language Pathology (SLP) Department conducts comprehensive assessments to determine a client’s current abilities in speech, language, cognitive communication, as well as feeding and swallowing skills, which informs the planning of individualized interventions.
SLPs provide therapy services for a range of disorders, including:
- Articulation
- Language and literacy
- Social communication
- Feeding and swallowing difficulties
These services are offered across various CPAS programmes, namely:
- EIPIC (Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children)
- CPAS School
- Outpatient and Home Management Programme
- Day Activity Centre (on a referral basis)
SLPs work closely with teachers and caregivers to ensure that clients receive consistent and effective support across different environments — including the classroom, home, and community — to maximize their development and participation.
Specialised Services
The Feeding & Swallowing Clinic:
The Speech and Language Pathology department runs the “Feeding & Swallowing Clinic” once a week on referral basis. The clients with picky eating, feeding, oromotor and/or swallowing issues from the CPAS Special Education School, Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children, Day Activity Centre, GROW and Outpatient Programme are referred to the clinic by the teachers, interventionists, training officers or other allied health professionals. The clinic also accepts external referrals. The focus of this clinic is to evaluate and provide appropriate recommendations on safe feeding practices, assistive feeding devices and oromotor tools for clients. It also facilitates active participation among parents, caregivers & teachers for generalisation of strategies for safe feeding in the classroom and home to improve the quality of life of the clients.
We provide therapeutic intervention for the treatment of dysphagia through Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) via VitalStim therapy. It is an intervention that is non-invasive and uses external neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy that re-educates the throat muscles needed for swallowing. SLP Department conducts specialised VitalStim therapy for selected clients in CPAS who meet the specific intake criteria.
The Audiology Clinic:
The Audiology Clinic conducts hearing screening and diagnostic testing for individuals with hearing-related issues. The Audiologist in CPAS provides various services such as screening for hearing status and determining the hearing status through one or more equipment such as Pure Tone Audiometry, Tympanometry, Free Field Audiometry, Visual Reinforcement Audiometry, Behavioral Observation Audiometry, and other diagnostic testing such as Oto Acoustic Emission (OAE), Auditory Steady State Response (ASSR). Services also include providing rehabilitative services viz., hearing aid evaluation, impression taking for ear moulds, hearing aid programming and fitting, aided audiometry, hearing aid re-programming, and hearing aid troubleshooting
The Audiologist works closely with the teachers for strategies that can be implemented in the classroom for managing children with hearing impairment for better participation and engagement. Teachers also receive training on basic troubleshooting of hearing aids, and use of Digimaster – free field amplification system in the classroom for better learning.
Equipment Loan Library
View the list of equipment available for loan here.
Advocacy and Outreach
Speech and Language Pathology department commemorates Speech Therapy Week every year in the first week of November to create and promote awareness among the public about the role of SLPs in the management of communication, speech, language, literacy and swallowing disorders. The department also organizes open houses, public talks and other activities in conjunction with this event. It also encourages visits from local, regional and international communities by both professionals and non-professionals alike.
Clinical Education
SLPs at the department are recognised Clinical Educators (CEs) by the National University of Singapore and the Singapore Institute of Technology. The SLPs in the department undertake the role of external CE regularly for the students pursuing a degree in a SLP course and are attached at the department from these universities for their clinical placements. The department also welcomes SLP students from other local, regional and international educational institutions for volunteering/internships.
The Team
Our passionate and vibrant team of SLPs are registered practitioners under the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC) Singapore. Most of them hold certifications like Hanen, VitalStim therapy, and are trained in in Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), Pragmatic Organization Dynamic Display (PODD), and Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets (PROMPT), DIR- Floortime, SOS Approach to Feeding, to name a few. to name a few.