ChatterBug’s online sessions have been a big hit with Leeds families

Leeds based ChatterBug Speech and Language Therapy Service is delivering the whole range of its essential services via online ‘Telehealth sessions’.

The company, which helps an age range spanning from babies to 25-year-olds with communication issues, has done more than 2,424 virtual sessions since lockdown began.

Managing director Asma Khanum said: “80 per cent of our families have said that they would like Telehealth to continue. We’ve had lots of positive quotes from parents saying how much it has benefitted them and how grateful they are that our service has continued.”

Normally the speech, language and communication sessions would have been delivered in a classroom setting but now they are being beamed live into people’s homes or being done over the phone.

The sessions have also helped give parents a greater insight. One family member told ChatterBug: “I have a better understanding of the speech problems my son is facing, so I feel confident to help him correct them in everyday speech and to practice specific letters and words. Previously in school, I wouldn’t have been part of the session, so this current situation is giving me a better insight into the issues.”

Asma, a trained speech and language therapist, has also been reaching hundreds of children via by doing Facebook Live storytelling sessions.

She said: “The idea was to give parents a 15 to 20 minute break while their child is doing something really good quality on-screen. Storytelling is a great way to develop children’s speech, language and communication skills.”

The managing director said children had taken the changes and disruption to routine in their stride. Asma added: “Even children who really struggle with attention and listening have adapted really well. It is because they have got that focussed attention from one person that is just talking to them, so it is undivided attention. We’ve also used lots of interesting tools to allow us to make our screens more engaging. Our therapists are constantly challenging themselves as to how to use their screens and also everyday objects to engage the children on-screen.”

Props have included blowing bubbles, which the children have ‘popped’ virtually. Asma said: “So our therapists have really adapted traditional games that they would play in their sessions to adapt and play with them on-screen. They are doing things like changing the screen background, dressing up as characters virtually to keep the children motivated and engaged. I think the children have adapted really well and the therapists amazingly well to this new way of working.”

ChatterBug has also been delivering group sessions via Telehealth and these have been equally successful. Children who might have been distracted while in a traditional group setting have responded well while in their own spaces.

Asma added: “One of the things that is really positive about ChatterBug that I’ve been really impressed with is how the staff has adapted to all the change. We, as an organisation, went into COVOD-19 with a team of about 45. By the time we come back to face-to-face working I think we will have grown as a organisation. We now have a staff of 50, and by September I think we will have grown again.

“We’ve been very fortunate and it is down to the creativity of the team.”

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ChatterBug was set up in Leeds in 2008.

It was established after recognising the lack of speech and language therapy available for children, especially those from less privileged backgrounds.

The business, which works mainly in schools, also runs a series of free or discounted services to try and reach those most in need. In normal times ChatterBug, whose headquarters are on Oakwood Lane, Leeds, runs a free drop-in session once a month. It also hosts ‘transition groups’ in the summer holidays for pupils with speech and language difficulties who are about to move on to secondary school.

In Leeds, its work includes helping at the autism resource base at Carr Manor, which has praised its services before and during the health crisis.

ChatterBug also works with schools and families across the UK. Its workforce is expanding and it has hubs in North Yorkshire, Cheshire, Liverpool and the Leicester and Nottingham region.

It is a recognised NHS business partner and delivers speech therapy services in Halton, Cheshire. Work can include helping people with disfluency (stammering), dysphasia (problems caused by eating, feeding or swallowing difficulties), hearing impairment and aiding children with complex needs. For more see: chatter-bug.com email [email protected] or call 0113 240 8510.