Fiona Ashford - Biography

Biography

Fiona qualified from the National Hospitals College of Speech Sciences in 1981, and has gained wide experience of a broad range of paediatric communication difficulties in a variety of settings within the NHS. These include community clinics; opportunity playgroups; a unit for the physically disabled; a language unit; and special schools for children with both moderate and severe learning difficulties.

She continues to work for Solent Healthcare in a part-time capacity and set up her independent practice in 2007.

NHS Responsibilities - As part of Fiona’s NHS role, she works within the Special Educational Needs Team, and treats children with a wide range of speech, language and communication difficulties. Fiona also supports education staff through the delivery of training courses, and runs parent groups as part of the Trust’s Little Talkers Programme, supporting the parents of pre-school children with language delay.

Private Practice - In her private practice Fiona enjoys working with a variety of children who may have, for example ...

~ specific speech sound difficulties, including dyspraxia

~ language delay

~ social communication difficulties

~ communication difficulties associated with Down Syndrome or Autism

~ language disorder/specific language impairment

~ communication difficulties which are part of a broader learning difficulty

~ Communication difficulties associated with general developmental delay

Fiona is trained and experienced in Makaton Sign Language; the Derbyshire Language Scheme; the Nuffield Dyspraxia Programme; Cued Articulation; Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS); and Social Use of Language Programme; and is able to offer a broad range of approaches.

Memberships - Fiona is a registered member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, the Health Professions Council, and the Association for Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP).

Fiona also has an Enhanced Disclosure for working with children.