I provide expert speech and language therapy (SALT) assessments and reports for personal injury cases throughout Ireland. Typical personal injury cases that I am involved in relate to medical negligence, such as cerebral palsy following a birth injury, or a traumatic brain injury arising from a road traffic accident. A person who suffers a brain injury can experience severe and complex speech, language and communication difficulties, and so if a case is being taken, then the expertise of a speech and language therapist to provide an assessment and medico-legal report is crucial.

I am generally instructed by solicitors to provide SALT reports relating to condition and prognosis. As such, the majority of my reports are quantum reports. At times, I am asked to provide an opinion on causation. Reasons for this would include, cases related to delayed assessment and management of a hearing loss; the impact of trauma on a child’s speech, language and communication development; and the impact of trauma on a person’s voice and/or fluency.

I take instructions from the Plaintiff, the Defendant, or on a joint instructions basis. Irrespective of who retains my services, my duty is to function as an independent expert witness to the court.