Julie Carter

Qualifications

BSc Medical Science (Speech)

Specialisms

• Congenital & Acquired Deafness
• Language Disorders
• Speech & Swallowing Impairments.

Introduction

I qualified as a Speech & Language Therapist in 2002.  I have held several posts working predominantly with adults with acute and progressive neurological conditions including stroke, acute brain injury, brain oncology, Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, dementia, congenital conditions, head & neck and lung oncology, metastatic disease, critical care, including tracheostomy in the hospital setting, and also at times in the community.

In my current role, I work with adults with congenital and acquired deafness undergoing assessment for cochlear implantation and provide listening rehabilitation following surgery.  The caseload is increasingly complex and patients often have neurological comorbidities that require consideration to ensure the individual’s rehabilitation plan is optimal, which allows ongoing use of the knowledge and skills I have acquired since qualification. I have appreciated the change in focus from the acute setting as this role gives me the opportunity to work with patients and often their families to achieve long term goals. 

I have many years of experience in the assessment and management of receptive and expressive language disorders, speech impairment and swallowing problems. I use the information gained through formal and informal assessments to develop a management plan to enable the patient to work towards their functional goals.  I have experience in objective swallow assessments including videofluoroscopy and Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES).  I value working as part of a multidisciplinary team and never underestimate the benefits of team working to gain a complete picture of patient performance and incorporating this into holistic management.

In all of my roles, I have been involved in providing teaching to other professionals and to Speech & Language Therapy students in communication and swallowing disorders and their management, requiring up to date knowledge of the evidence base in these areas. I currently deliver university teaching for the Hearing module on a Speech & Language Therapy undergraduate course.

I accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.