Therapists Learning Library: speech and language therapy
This content has been grouped into general resources and courses. Materials include discipline-specific guidelines and information about courses you can access to further your understanding and guide your intervention so you can offer the best support for people with Parkinson's.
Resources
Speech and language therapy
- Provided by the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network.
This information looks at what difficulties people with Parkinson's may experience and how speech and language therapy can help.
View Speech and language therapy.
Impulsive and compulsive behaviour
- Provided by the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network.
Explore the impulsive and compulsive behaviour side effects of Parkinson's drugs, how to monitor it and provide support.
Read about impulsive and compulsive behaviour.
View the impulsive and compulsive behaviour in Parkinson's: monitoring and information tool.
Mental Health Hub
- Provided by the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network.
Jennifer Foley, Clinical Neuropsychologist with University College Hospitals London NHS Foundation Trust, leads the Excellence Network Mental Health Hub, which aims to develop ways of improving mental health services for people with Parkinson's.
Get involved with the Mental Health Hub.
Read why mental health matters too.
Guidance on psychological interventions for people with Parkinson's
- Provided by The British Psychological Society in partnership with Lancaster University.
This evidence-based guidance outlines evidence-based recommendations for professionals providing psychological support to individuals living with Parkinson's.
View Guidance on psychological interventions.
Progressive Neurological Disorders: Clinical guidance
- Provided by Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT).
Log in required for full guidance.
Access Progressive Neurological Disorders: Clinical guidance.
Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS)
- Developed by Sharon Abrahams, Thomas Bak and Judy Newton.
The ECAS is a brief multidomain assessment originally designed for people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS/Motor Neurone Disease) but is also useful in other neurodegenerative disorders.
View Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS).
Allied Health Professionals’ competency framework for progressive neurological conditions
- Produced in partnership and sponsored by MS Trust, Parkinson’s UK Excellence Network and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
This competency framework aims to recognise the activities and responsibilities of allied health professionals working with patients with progressive neurological conditions.
View Allied Health Professionals’ competency framework for progressive neurological conditions.
Non-motor symptoms questionnaire
- Provided by the International Parkinson and Movement Disorders Society (MDS).
This questionnaire can be given to people with Parkinson's to aid health and social care professionals in assessing their non-motor symptoms.
View the Non-motor symptoms questionnaire.
Patient Health Questionnaire - PHQ-9
- Adapted from the PRIME-MD Patient Health Questionnaire.
A patient health questionnaire.
View the Patient Health Questionnaire - PHQ-9.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7)
- Provided by NovoPsych.
The Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment (GAD-7) is a brief measure for symptoms of anxiety, based on the generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) diagnostic criteria described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
View the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Assessment.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (McCA)
- Provided by MoCA Cognition.
This brief 10 minute, 30 point tool assesses different cognitive domains: attention and concentration, executive functions, memory, language, visuoconstructional skills, conceptual thinking, calculations, and orientation.
Access Montreal Cognitive Assessment.
NICE guidelines
- Provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
This guideline covers diagnosing and managing Parkinson's in people aged 18 and over. It aims to improve care from diagnosis, including monitoring and managing symptoms, providing information and support, and palliative care.
Read the guidelines on the NICE website.
Providing better support to people with Parkinson's in the community and preventing unnecessary hospital admissions
- Provided by the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network.
This interactive guide offers advice on how to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions for people with Parkinson's.
View the Providing better support guide.
NHS RightCare Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit
- Provided by NHS England.
This toolkit provides expert practical advice around commissioning services and treating people with progressive neurological conditions.
SSPED: Swallow screening tool for patients with Parkinson's in the Emergency Department
- Provided by Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
A group of tools, instructional video and implementation guide, to improve the quality and experience of care for patients with Parkinson's in the emergency department (ED) environment.
View the SSPED screening tool.
Supporting people who have eating and drinking difficulties
- Provided by Royal College of Physicians (RCP).
View Royal College of Physicians (RCP) website.
Best practice guidelines for dietitians on the management of Parkinson's
- Provided by the British Dietetics Association.
These dietitian guidelines explain the nutritional consequences of Parkinson's and strategies for managing nutrition-related symptoms and diet.
View Best practice guidelines for dietitians on the management of Parkinson's.
Clinically-assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) and adults who lack the capacity to consent
- Provided by British Medical Association.
This guidance provides practical advice to support decision-making in a complex, sensitive area of practice.
View Clinically-assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) and adults who lack the capacity to consent.
Ambitions for palliative and end of life care
- Provided by NHS England.
The Ambitions framework was developed by a partnership of national organisations across the statutory and voluntary sectors. It sets out our vision to improve end of life care through partnership and collaborative action between organisations at local level throughout England.
Gold Standards Framework for Palliative Care
- Provided by The Gold Standards Framework (GSF).
A training provider for generalist frontline staff in caring for people in the last years of life for over 25 years. GSF is a practical and evidence-based end of life care service improvement programme.
Go to Gold Standards Framework website.
Courses
Understanding Parkinson’s for health and social care staff
- Provided by Open University and the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network.
This course offers around 24 hours of learning covering a wide range of topics. It's suitable for anyone working in health or social care who requires an in-depth understanding of Parkinson’s.
Sign up to Understanding Parkinson’s for health and social care staff.
Neurology Academy MasterClasses
- Provided by the Neurology Academy.
The Parkinson's Academy and Palliative Care Academy offer different levels of MasterClass for professionals specialising in Parkinson's.
Visit the events page on the Neurology Academy website for more information.
Training Made Easy events
- A Multidisciplinary Approach to Parkinson's 2 day event.
- Multidisciplinary Management of Parkinson's Level One.
- Multidisciplinary Team Management of Atypical Parkinson's Disease.
Register for these events on the Training Made Easy website.
Parkinson’s: managing palliative and end of life care
- Provided by the Open University and the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network.
Designed for professionals, such as Parkinson’s nurse specialists and other clinicians, who work as part of the specialist team with patients experiencing the palliative and end-of-life phases.
Access Parkinson’s: Managing palliative and end of life care.
Parkinson’s: mental health
- Provided by the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network.
This 3 hour course provides you with information and education about Parkinson’s which applies to your professional area within mental health and will enhance your clinical practice in supporting a person with Parkinson’s and their support network.
Sign up to Parkinson’s: mental health.
Parkinson’s: train the trainer
- Provided by the Parkinson's UK Excellence Network.
Learn how to deliver a 3 hour training session on Parkinson’s to your colleagues. Train the trainer consists of 2 courses (focusing on learning content and presentation) and a webinar. Once completed, you'll receive access to the necessary learning materials to deliver your training sessions.
Sign up to Parkinson's train the trainer.