THE speech therapy team at Salisbury Hospital have written a handbook on cleft lip and palate speech disorders.

The handbook is the brainchild of Salisbury speech therapist Ginette Phippen and draws on expert knowledge, research and current clinical procedures.

The book is primarily aimed at community-based therapists and can be used as an educational guide for speech and language therapy students.

It can also be of value to families who want to know more about how to help their child if they have speech or feeding difficulties related to cleft palate or palate disorders.

Ginette Phippen said: “The regional Spires Cleft Centre based in Salisbury and Oxford is one of ten specialist centres in the country. It provides specialist treatment to around 100 new babies a year, and over time we’ve built up a wide range of knowledge, which has informed clinical practice across the country.

“The aim of the book was to pool all our experience and expertise with best practice from other centres across the country and put it into one easy-to-use handbook.”

To accompany the handbook, a CD has been produced, which provides useful resources for therapists. It is published by J & R Press.

All proceeds go back to the Spires Cleft Centre. More information at jr-press.co.uk.