District-based Speech Therapy Service (DSTT)

Introduction

Speech therapy service will be provided to disabled children with speech or communication impairment enrolled in Integrated Programme in Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centre (IP) with a view to facilitating their social rehabilitation and future educational needs.

Target groups

• Children with speech impairment and attending IP;
• Parents;
• Staff of child care centres serving IP.

Service mode

Kindergarten-cum-child care centres with IP units are grouped into eight clusters by location. One district-based speech therapy team (DSTT) is set up in each cluster.  Through the concerted efforts of the DSTT and kindergarten-cum-child care centres in the cluster, professional services are provided to meet the needs of children attending IP.

In addition to centre visits and individual speech therapy services, DSTT also offers consultation services to parents and staff, and organises training and educational programme for them.

Features of the service

Services provided by DSTTs include:

• Periodic clinical visits to kindergarten-cum-child care centres;
• Speech therapy training to children in need individually or in groups;
• Periodic review on the progress of training programmes; and
• Consultation service to parents and centre staff, loan service of relevant training materials and organisation of educational programmes.

In addition to direct demonstration and instructions in the training sessions, therapists also adopt an interactive training mode to give young children more opportunities of expression in order to achieve various training goals effectively.  Speech therapists will keep close contact with the parents and child care centre staff and invite the parents to take part in the children's individual training.  This would facilitate the parents and staff to grasp the skills in language training and to follow up the training programmes at home or in class.

Enquiry

Please contact the relevant DSTTs via respective kindergarten-cum-child care centres, or through the SWD hotline at 2343 2255.

Fees and Charges

Free.

Information of Service Unit