Speech Therapy

First Words

CHEO is a community partner in the First Words Preschool Speech and Language Program. First Words is Ottawa's Preschool Speech and Language Program for children from birth to eligibility for senior kindergarten. This program, led by the Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre (PQCHC), helps typically developing preschool children reach their full communication potential. First Words focuses on the prevention, early identification and treatment of speech and language problems.

If you're concerned about your child's communication, please complete the First Words Communication Checkup at www.firstwords.ca. Referrals to First Words may also be made directly to the CHEO Access Team (phone: 613-737-2757), (fax: 613-738-4841). If the completed Communication Checkup suggests neuro-developmental concerns your child will be referred to the Access Team for CHEO Children's Treatment Centre services.

Children's Treatment Centre (CTC)

Speech-Language Pathologists at CHEO's Children's Treatment Centre provide services to children who have developmental or neurological communication difficulties.

If you are concerned about your child's overall development, please contact the CHEO Access Team by phone at 613-737-2757) or by fax at 613-738-4841. Your doctor or pediatrician can also refer your child by contacting the CHEO Access Team.

Cleft Lip and Palate

Our speech-language pathologists support our cleft lip and palate team. They provide speech and language services to children with cleft of the lip and palate, submucous cleft and idiopathic resonance abnormalities who live in our region. They provide ongoing evaluation of speech development.

For preschoolers who live in the Ottawa region, our clinicians work as part of the First Words Program to provide assessment, intervention and consultation. When patients are school aged, our staff collaborate with community-based speech-language pathologists working in school boards. Assessment and monitoring for out-of-city patients is coordinated with local preschool speech and language services for preschoolers and through school boards/local hospitals for school aged clients.

Referrals to this program are made to the cleft lip and palate nurse. You can reach them by phone at 613-738-4893.

Voice

Our voice program helps manage functional vocal disorders for children in our region. This program is supported by our speech-language pathologists and ear, nose and throat physicians.

We provide assessment, intervention and consultation to preschoolers with voice difficulties. We provide counselling to patients, families and school personnel. Once eligible for senior kindergarten, children are transferred to the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN).

Please send referrals for preschool aged children to the CHEO Access Team. You can contact them by phone at 613-737-2757 or fax at 613-738-4841

Referrals for school aged children should be sent to CHEO's ear, nose and throat service. You can fax your referral to 613-738-4222.

Tracheostomy

Our speech-language pathologists support CHEO's complex airways clinic. This clinic provides services to inpatients and outpatients with a tracheostomy.

Services include:

• Pre-tracheostomy education and counseling to families
• speaking valve trial when appropriate
• Communication assessment and therapy
• Feeding assessment and intervention

We also provide support and consultation to clinicians working with outpatient preschoolers who have a tracheostomy Referrals are made by a physician or pediatrician to the inpatient speech team. Please fax your referral to 613-738-4893.

Saliva Management clinic

Our speech-language pathologists support the saliva management clinic. This clinic provides assessment and consultation to children and youth in our region who have excessive drooling.

Have your physician send a referral to CHEO's ear, nose and throat services by fax to 613-738-4222.

Outpatient Inter-professional Feeding program

Our speech-language pathologists support the outpatient Inter-professional feeding program. This team is made up of:

• occupational Therapist
• Dietitian
• Psychologist
• Physician
• Rehab Assistant

They provide to provide parent group intervention for children up to the age of 18.

Referrals to the Outpatient Inter-professional Feeding Program are made by the physician/pediatrician to the CHEO Access Team.

Rehabilitation and other inpatient services

This program is available to residents of Eastern and Northern Ontario and Western Québec from birth to 18 years of age. Our speech-language pathologists are members of an inter-professional rehabilitation team that includes:

• Physiatrist
• Physiotherapy
• Social Work
• Occupational therapy
• Psychology
• Education
• Nursing
• Neuropsychology
• Neurology
• Communication Disorders Assistant
• Child Life specialists

We provide assessments in these areas:

• cognitive communication
• motor speech
• language
• voice
• oral-motor problems related to feeding and swallowing.

We also work with referred inpatients who have or are at risk for communication difficulties. Referrals for speech/language services for inpatients are made by the attending physician to the inpatient speech team.

Quebec program

We offer speech and language services to preschool children from western Quebec. Services include assessment, intervention and consultation.

To access these services, please have your physician or pediatrician send a referral to our Access Team.

Headstart (OCHAP) program

Speech and language services are also available through the Headstart Program for preschoolers between the ages of 2 to 5. Services at Headstart nursery schools include:

• screening
• assessment
• individual/group treatment
• teacher consultation
• staff and parent training
• referral to the First Words program

If neurodevelopmental concerns are found, you will be referred to the CHEO Children's Treatment Centre.

Referrals for speech and language services through the Headstart program are made by Headstart nursery school administrators.