HC Deb 30 January 1997 vol 289 cc327-8W
Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for centres of excellence in Scotland similar to those in England, for the assessment and diagnosis of children with specific speech and language disorders; and how the planned provision in Scotland differs from that in England and Wales. [13472]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

Health boards are responsible for assessing the needs of their residents with speech and language disorders and determining, with general practitioners, the services required to meet those needs and where to purchase them. Local authorities have the responsibility to meet the therapy needs of children with special speech and language needs.

Mr. Salmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what current research into specific speech and language disorders is being sponsored by his Department and its agencies. [13449]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Scottish Office is currently funding four research projects into speech and language disorders. The information is set out in the table:

Title Amount
Evaluation of the Phoniatric, Psychological and General Health Status Benefits of Speech £120,300
Therapy in Patients with Dysphonia (over three years)
Comprehension and Production of Explanations £98,400
in Children with Language Impairment (over two years)
Towards Effective Assessment of Right Hemisphere Language and Communication in £109,800
Stroke and Brain Tumour (over three years)
CLEFTNET SCOTLAND: Application of New Technology to the Treatment of Intractable Speech Disorders Associated with Cleft Palate £90,000
Within a Scottish Context (over two years)

In addition to these projects, the Scottish Office is part-funding an ear, nose and throat consultant within the Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research in Glasgow which is co-ordinating a multi-centre trial into the potential deficits following otitis media with effusion, also known as glue ear, in children which may include disorders of speech and language. The current phase of the trial will end in about 18 months time.

The health services research unit in Aberdeen university, which is core funded by the Scottish Office, is undertaking a project looking at the problem of aphasia following stroke, by determining current practice and provision of speech and language therapy for sufferers, and assessing existing evidence about alternative forms of treatment. This project is due to end in March 1997.