District-based Speech Therapy Service

Introduction

In 2002, the Social Welfare Department launched District-based Speech Therapy Service and set up 8 district based teams in Hong Kong, with a view to serve children attending the "Integrated Programme in Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centres" (IP in CCC), their parents and teachers. They provide comprehensive and tailor-made speech therapy services to improve children's speech, language, communication and social skills so as to help them realise their potential, lower barriers for positive development and improve quality of life.

We host Team 4 and Team 6 to serve 53 kindergarten-cum-child care centres and provide on-site speech therapy services around 500 participating children.

Belief

We strive for providing a systematic and quality speech therapy service that promotes children to integrate into their learning and community life so that they can have a smooth transition into primary school.

Objectives

• Promote children's speech and language development, communication skills and social skills.
• Strengthen teachers' ability to identify speech impaired children and deepen their knowledge and skills in training children's speech development.
• Strengthen parents' skills of fostering children's speech development in daily life.

Target Service Users

Children who are attending Integrated Programme in Kindergarten-cum-Child Care Centre (IP in CCC) at the following districts, their parents and teachers:

• Team 4:
  Central and Western District, Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Shamshuipo, ELCSS Hing Wah Nursery School 
  
  
• Team 6:
  Tai Po, North District, Long Ping, Yuen Long Town Centre, Shui Pin Wai, HKCS Tin Heng Nursery School

Application Procedure

Parents can register through the IP in CCC nursery schools served by our teams.

Withdrawal Procedure

The service will be terminated when the child withdraws from the IP in CCC. Parents must submit the notice in writing 2 weeks before self-withdrawal.

Scope of Services

Regular School Visits

• Assessment of children's speech and language development
• Individual speech therapy for children
• Group speech therapy for children
• Consultation on speech and language training for parents and teachers

Value-added Service

• Speech and language related Educational Programmes for parents and teachers
• Professional consultation service (by clinical psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and special kindergarten teachers, etc.)
• Training materials available for borrowing
• Family supportive services (e.g. family counselling, family education and recreational activities)
• Chih Ai Parents' Association (mutual support organisation for parents)

Scope of Therapy

• Language disorder
• Speech sound disorder
• Social communication disorder
• Dysphagia
• Voice disorder
• Fluency disorder
• Hearing impairment
• Language difficulty