Sadia Hussain

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Speech & Language Therapy, Full Member of Expert Witness Institute (MEWI)

Specialisms

• Adult Neurological and ENT conditions
• Bilingual Urdu (Punjabi) Speaking / Interpreting experience

Introduction

I qualified as a Speech & Language Therapist in 2003 from University College London.  My career has spanned twenty years, serving the clinical field of neurological rehabilitation, treating individuals suffering from communication, cognitive and swallowing difficulties.

My areas of clinical expertise include brain injury, spinal cord injury and dysphagia (swallow disorders). I have worked extensively in both acute and rehabilitation environments allowing me an insight into patients' journeys from their immediate to-long term communication, cognitive and swallow needs.  

I have worked in both the NHS and independent sector,  holding specialist posts as the clinical lead in dysphagia, neuro-rehabilitation, brain injury and stroke.  At present, I work as a Clinical lead at a private rehabilitation hospital (Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital), treating individuals with complex neurological and spinal cord injuries. In my role I provide detailed cognitive, communication and swallow assessments and use a tailored therapy approach to support their current and future needs. I work within a specialist multi-disciplinary team and take the lead in managing cognitive-communication difficulties, language impairments, tracheostomy care and assistive technology to support communication. I have gained considerable experience assessing communication impairments in individual’s who are bilingual or non-English speaking, predominantly from Eastern Europe or South Asia. 

I am a member of the International Brain Injury Association, the UK Acquired Brain Injury Forum and the Dysphagia Research Society. I am an active member of the AAC (Alternative Augmentative Communication) clinical group and present at conferences promoting technology to support communication. 

I have worked as an expert witness with Somek & Associates since 2010 and take regular instructions from both Claimant and Defendant Solicitors. I am fully aware of my responsibilities under the Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses. I was appointed Associate Trainer in 2016 and have led the development of the expert speech and language therapy team. I have published articles in the Expert Witness Journal promoting prominent issues related to cognitive-communication difficulties and using technology to deliver assessments.