How to Find a Speech and Language Therapist Near You in the UK

In short: Speech and language therapists (SLTs) support children and adults with communication, and with eating, drinking and swallowing. On the NHS you go through your local service. Many accept requests for young children straight from parents, and others need a referral from a GP, health visitor, school or hospital team. You can also see an SLT privately. Whichever way, check they are on the HCPC register.

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Please read. This is general information from us, not medical, clinical or professional advice. We’re a directory: we don’t provide therapy, we don’t recommend or guarantee any practitioner, and we’re not a crisis service. If you need urgent help, please use the crisis box at the bottom of this page. Services and rules change, so check the official websites linked here.

Through the NHS

NHS speech and language therapy is free. Speech and Language UK explains that you get it through your local NHS service. Many services accept requests for younger children straight from their parents. For older children the school may need to refer, and a GP, health visitor or hospital team can also refer. Adults are usually referred by a GP or hospital team. Waits vary by area.

If a child has special educational needs, your council’s SEND Local Offer lists local services. See do you need a referral?

Finding a private speech and language therapist

ASLTIP (the Association of Speech and Language Therapists in Independent Practice) has a directory you can search by area and specialism.
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists explains how to find one.
You can search Therapist Circle for speech and language therapists. Therapist Circle is new and still growing, so there may be few or none listed near you yet. If so, please use the professional body’s own finder. It is often the quickest route.

Check they’re registered

Speech and language therapist and speech therapist are protected titles, so anyone using them must be on the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) register. Search by name or registration number, free. On Therapist Circle, every practitioner on Find shows their register and registration number so you can check them yourself. Before a profile appears on Find, we look up the person’s name and number on their public register by hand, and we re-check listed practitioners at least once a year. A check is only correct on the day it was made, so please also check the register yourself.

Questions to ask before you book

Are you HCPC-registered, and what is your number?
What experience do you have with this kind of difficulty?
Where will sessions happen: home, school, clinic or online?
How will you work with school or nursery?
What do sessions and reports cost, and how will we review progress?

Common Questions

Can I refer my child to a speech and language therapist myself?

Some NHS children’s services accept requests from parents, especially for younger children, and others need a referral from a health visitor, GP or school. Ask your health visitor, GP practice or school, or check your local NHS service.

Can adults see a speech and language therapist?

Yes. Speech and language therapists work with adults as well as children, for example with communication, voice, or swallowing. On the NHS, adults are usually referred by a GP or hospital team. You can also see one privately.

What is the difference between a speech therapist and a speech and language therapist?

Both titles are protected, so anyone using either must be on the HCPC register. The professional body uses the title speech and language therapist.

How much does a private speech and language therapist cost?

Fees vary by area, experience and what’s included, such as assessments or reports, so ask before you book.

Last reviewed 26 October 2026. Information is drawn from the NHS, HCPC and professional body websites, checked in October 2026. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the NHS, the HCPC or any professional body.

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