Rehabilitation Clinic

University Clinic of Rehabilitation and Speech – Language Therapy

The University Clinic of Rehabilitation and Speech – Language Therapy constitutes an integral part of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, School of Health Sciences, at the Cyprus University of Technology. The Department of Rehabilitation Sciences is the first public university department to offer an undergraduate degree programme in Speech - Language Therapy - Speech Pathology in Cyprus. The University Rehabilitation Clinic is located at the 2nd Developmental Pole of the Cyprus University of Technology (Limassol Old Hospital - Northeastern Wing of the Cyprus Red Cross area). The clinic hosts diagnostic and speech therapy intervention sessions for people of all ages who have speech, language, communication and eating / swallowing disorders. All rooms of the clinic are equipped with state-of-the-art diagnostic and speech therapy tools that both academics and students can use for the purposes of clinical training and health service provision.

Leading in the field of Communication Disorders Sciences, Cyprus University of Technology is able to offer clinical services to adults and children in Limassol and the wider province, regardless of sex, age, religion or nationality. The purpose of the services is the integrated speech and language assessment to determine the presence, type and severity of the difficulties as well as the potential benefit from the treatment. In particular, there is assessment and speech therapy and development or improvement of speech and communication skills in infants, toddlers and children with severe developmental or acquired aetiology (developmental apraxia, special language disorder, genetic syndromes, eating and ingestion disorders, vocal disorders, craniofacial abnormalities, deafness, etc.). The clinic receives referrals directly from clients as well as from doctors, educators, and other professionals from related health care providers.

Furthermore, through the clinic, peak research in the rehabilitation sector can be undertaken to attract external research funding (national and international). The clinic has fully equipped laboratories for various types of diagnosis and treatment, with state-of-the-art technology specifically designed to cater for people with communication difficulties and early intervention programmes. The University considers that the Rehabilitation Clinic is a centre of social supply and the only public institution for integrated training in communication rehabilitation, with a recognised degree in the field of Speech and Language Therapy/ Speech and Language Pathology.

Responsible of the Rehabilitation Clinic

Chairman of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences

General Information

THE UNIVERSITY REHABILITATION CLINIC – SPEECH-LANGUAGE THERAPY: GENERAL INFORMATION

(Ι) Beneficiaries

The services provided are for children and adults of any sex, age, religion and nationality who present with any of the following disorders or combinations thereof:

Developmental language disorders (e.g. developmental language disorder/delay)

Acquired language disorders (e.g. aphasia)

Developmental speech disorders (e.g. developmental speech and/or phonological disorder, developmental apraxia, cleft palate speech)

Motor speech disorders (e.g. apraxia of speech, dysarthria, cerebral palsy dysarthria)

Speech and language development delay due to hearing loss/ deafness

Complex communication difficulties that benefit from augmentative and alternative communication systems

Voice disorders (e.g. vocal nodules, polyp, vocal paralysis)

Fluency disorders (e.g. childhood onset fluency disorder, stuttering, cluttering)

Cognitive disorders (e.g. dementia, brain tumors, neoplasm, brain Injuries)

Mental, behavioral, and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. disorders of psychological development, global developmental delay)

Feeding, eating and Swallowing disorders (e.g. dysphagia)

Intellectual Disabilities (e.g. genetic syndromes, profound intellectual disabilities)

Social pragmatic communication disorder (e.g. Asperger’s syndrome, autistic spectrum disorder)

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders

Disorders of social functioning with onset specific to childhood and adolescence (e.g. selective mutism)

Priority will be given to:

1. Individuals that belong to vulnerable social groups with certified low income (e.g. people who receive the GMI benefit - Guaranteed minimum income, have an unemployment card)

2. Individuals who do not systematically receive speech-language therapy services from any other public entity (e.g., Ministry of Education- public school SLT services, Ministry of Health- health center SLT interventions).

3. Individuals who required specialized speech-language therapy services and provision (e.g. users of Augmentative Alternative Communication systems or assistive technology).

4. Individuals with severe conditions e.g. premature babies with eating/swallowing disorders.

5. Individuals who consent to take part in funded research activities (e.g. multilingualism/bilingualism, developmental speech disorders, aphasia).

6. Individuals with rare conditions that may affect communication and/ or swallowing skills.

(ΙΙ) Type and frequency of services

The following services are provided:

individual and/or group weekly therapy sessions

direct or indirect therapy interventions

Duration

Each client may receive SLT services for three consecutive academic semesters.

Clients that are involved in the research activities of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences can have access to services for a longer period.

Clients that take part in social inclusion programs have no restriction to services access.

(ΙΙΙ) Criteria for the termination of the provision of services

1. Upon completion of the intervention program (e.g. the client shows a satisfactory improvement).

2. The client does not attend regularly (two or more unjustifiable absences from programmed sessions).

3. The client receives speech-language therapy services from a public entity.

4. The parent and/or the legal guardian of the client decides to terminate the services at any time.

5. When the clinical staff document that the client has reached plateau.

(ΙV) Arrangement of evaluation

All referrals to the university rehabilitation clinic will receive an initial assessment based on clinical staff availability.

(V) Referrals

Anyone person can contact the University Rehabilitation Clinic via telephone, letter, email or by completing a referral document found on the website

(VI) Donations

The University Rehabilitation Clinic accepts donations from clients who receive services, and their families, and by citizens who wish to financially support the clinic activities.

Policy Rules and Regulations

University Rehabilitation Clinic Speech & Language Therapy : Policy Rules & Regulations

The Children’s Rehabilitation Clinic

Aim

The aim is to provide comprehensive and high-quality evidence-based clinical services, in order to maximize the abilities of each child, while reducing the impact of the communication and/or swallowing difficulties, on the activities of daily life. The services provided cover both the assessment of children’s speech and language skills, as well as the type and severity of communication and swallowing difficulties.

The potential benefits of individualized treatment programs for each child aim to achieve:

to reach the maximum skills and abilities capacity,

independence through self-management,

improvement of communication skills,

the development of cognitive skills and

smooth transition to the social environment

Clinical Framework

The Children’s Clinic provides services to infants, toddlers and children with difficulties such as:

1) Developmental Language Delay or Disorder

2) Oral Apraxia

3) Voice Disorder

4) Fluency Disorders

5) Hearing loss/ Deafness

6) Auditory Processing Disorder

7) Complex Communication Disorders (such as Cerebral Palsy, Genetic Syndromes)

8) Eating and Swallowing Disorders (dysphagia)

9) Cleft lip and palate disorders

Referrals

The Children’s Clinic receives referrals directly from doctors, teachers or other experts, and parents.

Collaborations

Archbishop Makarios III Hospital in Nicosia, Genetics Clinic

“ALMA” Child Developmental Center

Cyprus Red Cross Children’s Treatment Center “Stella Soulioti”

Ministry of Education and Culture (special schools and public primary and kindergartens)

Adult Clinic

Purpose

The purpose of the Adult Clinic is to enhance and improve the communication and social skills of adults with communication impairments, feeding and/or swallowing disorders and support and educate their carers.

The Adult Clinic, as a Clinical Setting, provides services to individuals with:

Aphasia after Stroke or other Brain Injury

Acquired Cognitive Impairments after Traumatic Brain Injury, Dementia etc

Dysphagia after a Neurological Impairment

Dysarthria after Multiple Sclerosis or other Degenerative Diseases

Voice Disorders e.g. vocal nodules, polyps, laryngectomy

Sessions are offered at an individual level or in groups.

Referrals from:

Melahtro Agoniston EOKA rehabilitation Center

Cyprus Neurological Society

Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics

Cyprus Patients Federation

“Ithaki” Association for people with Dementia

School of the Blind

Nicosia General Hospital

Limassol General Hospital

The Aphasia Communication Team (TACT)

The goal of the program is to develop social interaction, improve the conversation skills of people with aphasia, and give support to their families.

The aim of the program is to develop social awareness for aphasia in society through social networks of information, brochures and activities.

This program is designed, organized and carried out by the members of the SES (Special Educational Staff) and the Faculty (Teaching Research Staff) of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.

Admission Criteria for the Aphasia communication groups:

Individuals with acquired neurological disorders who are experiencing communication problems in the chronic stage.

Individuals who have completed the phase of individual speech therapy sessions and would like to continue receiving communication therapy.

People with aphasia and cognitive disorders regardless of severity and type of aphasia.

Individuals who complete an application form which includes social, medical and educational history and consent for the use of personal data.

Individuals, who are independent for toilet needs and hygiene, have the appropriate transport and are always accompanied by a caregiver.

Adult Clinic Groups:

Conversation and Communication Groups for people with Aphasia after Stroke- TACT group.

Communication Groups for young people with traumatic brain injury – “Aphasia Cooking Club”.

Communication Groups for young people with traumatic brain injury- “Computer Club”

Aphasia Choir.

Collaborations of the Adult Clinic with:

Cyprus Stroke Association for the development of Conversation and Communication Groups for people with Aphasia after Stroke – TACT group and the recruitment of patients for ongoing research projects.

Theotokos Foundation- KHFA for the establishment of an external placement for augmentative and alternative communication on an individual or at the group level.

Theotokos Foundation- Elderly People Section for the establishment of an external placement for eating and swallowing disorders (dysphagia) in adults with multiple disabilities.

The Day Center of “Ithaki” Association for people with Dementia as an external placement

“Prosvasi” NGO for adults with genetic syndromes, cognitive and learning disabilities.

“PASYKAF” Cyprus Association for Cancer Patients and friends for Social and Communication Groups for people with partial or total laryngectomy.

“FOLIA AGAPIS” Foster family foundation for the development of Social and Communication Groups for people with low communication and social skills, to minimize social isolation and promote social integration.

Research and Scientific Collaboration with International Bodies:

Stroke Alliance For Europe (SAFE)

World Stroke Organisation (WSO)

Association Internationale Aphasie (AIA)

Talkback Aphasia Inc Australia

Contact

Eleni Petrou

Assistant Secretary Officer

University Clinic of Rehabilitation and Speech – Language Therapy

Archiepiskopou Leontiou I, 196/3

Telephone: 25 002132

Email: rehab.clinic@cut.ac.cy