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Speech + Language Therapy - for adults, done properly.

Aphasia, dysarthria, voice, stammering, dysphagia, LSVT LOUD, transgender voice, head and neck cancer rehab. An HCPC-registered specialist SLT - not a generalist - and instrumental assessment before therapy where it matters.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite

Indicative pricing

What private speech and language therapy costs in the UK.

Indicative ranges across our SLT network.

In short

£650–£1,050, delivered over 6–8 weeks.

Session or block Indicative range
Initial SLT assessment (adult) £180–£280
Follow-up therapy session £110–£180
Block of 6 sessions £650–£1,050
Block of 12 sessions £1,250–£2,000
Videofluoroscopy (VFSS) swallow study £450–£750
Fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) £380–£620
Home visit surcharge (London) £60–£150

Prices vary by SLT sub-specialty, by the seniority of the therapist, and by whether instrumental assessment is needed.

The problem

The right sub-specialist, the right assessment, the right dose.

Adult SLT is where generalist referrals quietly under-deliver - the wrong therapist, no instrumental assessment, a too-short block. We fix all three before therapy begins.

  • Match the SLT to the problem

    A stroke SLT and a voice SLT are not interchangeable. Same for stammering, dysphagia and transgender voice. We route by sub-specialty.

  • Scope before you treat

    Voice change over three weeks needs laryngeal endoscopy first. Swallow problems need videofluoroscopy or FEES.

  • Enough sessions to actually move the needle

    Two sessions will not change a chronic problem. Blocks of six or twelve, with home practice, are what move outcome measures.

When it helps

When SLT is the right step.

The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means urgent ENT or medical review rather than a therapy booking.

  • Stroke - aphasia and dysarthria

    Word-finding, comprehension, reading, writing and slurred speech after stroke. Intensive therapy has the strongest evidence in the first year.

  • Voice problems (dysphonia)

    Hoarseness, vocal fatigue, loss of range. Professional voice users, teachers, singers - after laryngeal endoscopy.

  • Stammering (stuttering)

    Block, repetition and avoidance in adults. Fluency-shaping and cognitive approaches, often in structured blocks.

  • Swallow problems (dysphagia)

    Coughing on food or drink, weight loss, aspiration risk. Instrumental assessment first, then targeted therapy.

  • Parkinson’s and progressive conditions

    LSVT LOUD for Parkinson’s voice and volume. Communication and swallow support in MND, MS, dementia.

  • Head and neck cancer

    Voice, speech and swallow after laryngectomy, glossectomy, radiotherapy. Long-term rehab and prosthesis support.

  • Transgender voice therapy

    Pitch, resonance and delivery training to match gender identity - a long, patient piece of work with a specialist SLT.

  • Red flag: sudden voice or swallow change

    A voice change lasting over three weeks, blood in sputum, or sudden swallow difficulty needs an urgent ENT review - not a routine therapy booking.

Therapy options

Every SLT problem has a matching sub-specialty.

What each pathway involves - the assessment tools, the dosing, and what a realistic outcome looks like.

  • Aphasia therapy

    For language loss after stroke or brain injury. Intensive, functional, and paired with communication-partner training so real conversations improve.

  • Dysarthria and apraxia therapy

    For slurred or effortful speech after stroke, MS, MND or Parkinson’s. Articulation drills, rate control, AAC where indicated.

  • Voice therapy

    For dysphonia, vocal nodules, muscle tension dysphonia. Always after laryngeal endoscopy - we do not treat what has not been seen.

  • Fluency (stammering) therapy

    Structured blocks combining fluency-shaping techniques with cognitive work on avoidance and communication confidence.

  • Dysphagia therapy

    Postural strategies, texture modification and targeted swallow exercises after videofluoroscopy or FEES.

  • LSVT LOUD for Parkinson’s

    A four-week, four-times-weekly evidence-based programme improving voice volume and clarity in Parkinson’s.

  • Transgender voice therapy

    Pitch elevation or lowering, resonance work, prosody and non-verbal communication - typically 12–20 sessions.

  • Head and neck cancer rehabilitation

    Pre-treatment counselling, post-surgical voice and swallow rehab, laryngectomy voice restoration and prosthesis care.

Safety and outcomes

What to expect - honestly.

SLT is safe and low risk. What matters is dose, home practice and getting the right sub-specialty from the start.

  • It is safe, but it is work

    Speech and language therapy is non-invasive and low risk. The gains come from the home practice between sessions - an hour a week alone will not move the dial.

  • Fatigue is normal after stroke or brain injury

    Sessions can leave you tired for hours. We pace intensity, and we push a little - not a lot - to protect gains without triggering setbacks.

  • Swallow therapy carries real aspiration risk

    Dysphagia is treated seriously. Instrumental assessment first, texture and posture strategies clearly written down, red-flag advice for pneumonia symptoms.

  • Voice therapy needs an ENT scope first

    Any voice change lasting over three weeks needs laryngeal endoscopy before we start - to rule out laryngeal pathology that therapy will not fix.

  • Progress is measurable, not magical

    We use validated outcome measures at start, mid-block and end - WAB, VHI, SS-QOL. If numbers do not move, the plan changes.

  • AAC when speech will not return

    For severe apraxia or progressive conditions, augmentative and alternative communication - from low-tech books to eye-gaze devices - is offered early, not as a last resort.

  • Insurance blocks are usually finite

    Most policies fund six to twelve sessions per condition per year. We plan the block within cover, and are honest when self-pay top-ups make sense.

  • Discharge is not abandonment

    A written home programme, review-on-request access for a set period, and re-referral routes if things regress - all standard, all in the discharge letter.

  • Red flags after any session

    New choking episodes, chest infections, blood in sputum, sudden voice loss or swallow change need urgent medical review, not the next SLT slot.

Reading your discharge summary

Your SLT summary in four parts. Read the last one first.

The written summary the SLT sends you keeps to the same shape whatever the sub-specialty.

A UK speech and language therapist reviewing a patient’s notes

A quiet reminder

Clinical language is precise - we translate it if you would like.

If you would like us to talk you through the discharge summary and the outcome measures, just ask.

  1. 01 Header

    Presenting problem and goals

    What you came in with, in your own words, and the measurable goals agreed at the goal-setting session.

  2. 02 Assessment

    Findings on standardised testing

    Scores on WAB, VHI, SS-QOL or the relevant battery. Instrumental findings from videofluoroscopy, FEES or laryngeal endoscopy where done.

  3. 03 Therapy

    Sessions delivered and outcomes

    Number of sessions, techniques used, home-practice adherence, and how the outcome measures moved between start, mid-block and end.

  4. 04 Plan

    Discharge plan and home programme

    Read this first: the home programme, when to re-refer, and any onward referrals to ENT, neurology or dietetics.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Speech and language therapy is usually covered when medically indicated. Cover is often capped at six to twelve sessions a year.

Frequently asked

Everything we get asked about adult SLT.

Quick answers on blocks, NHS overlap, online therapy, cost and cover.

  • How long does a course of speech and language therapy last?

    Most private blocks run six to twelve weekly sessions. Voice and fluency work is often twelve, dysphagia and aphasia can run longer. We set measurable goals up front and review at the halfway point so you know whether to extend.

  • Can I see a private SLT if I am already under the NHS?

    Yes - private and NHS therapy can run in parallel or one after the other. We keep your NHS team informed with your consent, and never duplicate what NHS colleagues are already doing well.

  • Do you offer online speech and language therapy?

    Yes. Video therapy is well-evidenced for aphasia, voice, fluency and transgender voice work. Dysphagia and initial voice assessments still need to be in person because instrumental exams matter.

  • How much does private speech and language therapy cost in the UK?

    Initial assessments run £180–£280, follow-up sessions £110–£180, and blocks of six or twelve sessions £650–£1,050 or £1,250–£2,000. Instrumental swallow studies run £380–£750.

  • Will private health insurance cover speech therapy?

    Usually yes when medically indicated - after stroke, head and neck cancer surgery, Parkinson’s or laryngeal pathology. Cover is often capped at six to twelve sessions a year.

  • How soon will I see improvement?

    For aphasia and dysarthria, small functional gains often appear within four to six sessions. Voice therapy tends to move faster, six to eight sessions. Stammering and transgender voice work are longer arcs - expect twelve to twenty sessions.

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