Demographic and epidemiological analysis of patients referred to speech and language therapy at eleven centres 1987-95

This retrospective study analyses data collected on an information system developed specifically for the use of speech and language therapists and the management of their services. The age, gender, medical diagnoses, and speech and language therapy diagnoses associated with the referral of >73 000 clients to 11 speech and language therapy providers between 1987 and 1995 are reviewed. In 1987, 34.8% of the patients referred to speech and language therapy did not have a formal medical diagnosis and this was commonly associated with children with speech and language delay or disorders. However, by 1995, the group not having a formal medical diagnosis had fallen to 17.2% of referrals. Whereas in 1987, 22.7% of the referrals with a medical diagnosis to speech and language therapy were associated with stroke, this has increased in 1995 to 32.0%. Dysphagia represented 0.94% of the referrals in 1987 but 20.6% of referrals in 1995. The gender balance of referrals has remained remarkably constant over the period of study: 60% of referrals were male and 40% female. Whilst nearly half of all referrals were aged under 5 years, the proportion of all referrals represented by this age group has fallen slightly over these years. This has been matched by an increase in the proportion of the caseload aged over 70.