Mrs A is 87 years old

and had a brain injury a year ago resulting in weakness and lack of co-ordination which was diagnosed as cerebellar ataxia. This has affected her walking mobility, writing, balance and her speech. Mrs A has moved into a residential home and no longer attends the day hospital where she received speech and language therapy. She was referred to an independent practitioner who assessed her speech and language ability. Her language skills had not been affected by her illness but her speech was not clear. As Mrs A appeared well motivated the therapist embarked on 6 sessions of therapy at monthly intervals working on posture, breathing, relaxation, articulation, voice, intonation and intelligibility. Progress was then reviewed after a further 3 months. The impairment had improved with therapy but Mrs A still felt she had a disability as she had few friends to talk to and was therefore unable to practice her speech as much as she would have liked. Mrs A's therapist is now working with the GP and the residential home to see if volunteer visitors can be found to give Mrs A the conversation and stimulation that she needs.