ABSTRACT
Speech and Language Therapists are integral to the critical care multi-disciplinary team (MDT) by offering specialist knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of communication and swallowing difficulties. Such difficulties can arise due to the nature of underlying medical conditions or secondary to the use of technologies for prolonging and supporting life. These difficulties can be both short term and long term and require timely and appropriate intervention in order to aid the patient's recovery and rehabilitation. The prevalence of swallowing difficulties in the critical care population is not uncommon and can arise as a result of muscle weakness, prolonged intubation and procedures such as tracheostomy. Communication and swallowing difficulties can cause significant levels of distress in the critical care population and therefore require appropriate access to a suitably qualified Speech and Language Therapist as part of the multi-disciplinary team to minimise this impact.
