Hello, My name is Talia McDowell I am 16 years old. I go to speech therapy because my speech is sometimes hard to understand for some people and also I use a Ipad to talk if people can't understand me but I get a bit nervous to use it sometimes so I went to Abbey centre with Elizabeth. I had to go up to Elizabeth and ask her a question "where is the toilets" I said, Elizabeth said "I don't know sorry, but we can ask somebody in the shop" so we went into a shop and I asked a girl and she listened to me. I am more happy to go out and talking with my Ipad. Talia McDowell. 

My daughter, Talia, has Cerebral Palsy with associated speech impairment.  School speech therapy focuses on using communication technology and I wanted to supplement those sessions with further work in school holidays, as I felt that we hadn’t yet exhausted developing new speech sounds. Talia has always been motivated to learn and keen to follow instructions. I thought that if she understood more about how speech was made, she could still progress. I’m delighted to say this was quite correct!

I chose Lismenary Speech & Language Clinic for several reasons. Firstly, the reviews of Elizabeth McBarnet’s work were very positive and encouraging. Secondly, the clinic is a very spacious building with extra wide doors, a wheelchair accessible bathroom and stress free parking right outside the door. It’s also really easy to reach.  Thirdly, it was very clear even from an initial conversation with Elizabeth that she was someone who would be passionate about helping my daughter reach her full potential and have no pre-conceived ideas about limitations. 

Talia has now attended Lismenary Speech & Language clinic for two separate blocks of therapy in recent years and her progress has been remarkable. Initially only partially and intermittently understood by one or two people, a lot of close family and friends can now converse with her freely without my intervention. Furthermore, as her confidence builds, strangers are noticeably able to pick up some of her speech.

Talia really enjoys the sessions and the many new sounds and skills she has gained has helped develop her confidence and self-esteem immeasurably, certainly enhancing her quality of life. As a family we have all benefited as a breakdown in communication can lead to all sorts or frustrating situations.

I recognise now that communication is very much a package of verbal vocalising added to other ‘cues’ such as eye contact and facial expressions. Talia finds some of these skills difficult and is keen to benefit from Elizabeth’s help to progress even further. It’s great as a mum, that I don’t have to pressurise her to attend – she loves working with Elizabeth and they are quite a team together.

I can’t recommend Lismenary Speech & Language Clinic highly enough. If you want a therapist who will value your child or family member as an individual and interact with him/her in an age-appropriate respectful manner then this is the place for you!

Alix Crawford