You need it if you are going to argue, sing, discuss or give a complement. Language. But it is not necessarily easy for everyone to learn this art. Then the speech therapists come in. For 6-year-old Eivind Pedersen from Fauske, the lessons with a speech therapist have been crucial in learning to speak. Eivind is an active boy, as six-year-olds often are. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news – That is the reason that Eivind can speak and be understood by both family and friends, says mother Eirin Åsheim. – It is very important. But now the municipality is cutting the logopedist position to save money. – Does not understand the importance The mother says that Eivind is very fond of people. – Whether it’s friends and acquaintances or people he doesn’t know, he would like to talk to them, says Åsheim. But Eivind has a chromosomal abnormality which causes a number of challenges. Among other things, he was born with a non-functioning tongue. The speech therapist has therefore been alpha and omega according to the parents. Eivind is a Bodø/Glimt fan. Then it is important to be able to sing. – Communication is what gives him joy. Then he can be with people and talk to them. Say what he feels, says Åsheim. – It is very important to Eivind. That’s who he is. – Do you think Fauske municipality understands how important the speech therapy service is to Eivind? – I do not think so. I don’t think they see how important it is because they don’t have the expertise that a speech therapist has. Eivind loves to chat with others, both acquaintances and strangers. Eirin Åsheim fears that her son will get a worse offer when the municipal speech therapist is no longer employed by Fauske municipality. Fears less proximity Eivind has had several challenges. Among other things, he has had challenges keeping his saliva in his mouth. Until now, the family has easily been able to make a phone call to speech therapist Anita Ness Byberg. Then they quickly got an answer as to what to do with it. Going forward, they believe the situation will be completely different. – It will be a completely different world and will be taxing. There will be a lot of unrest, including the fact that we cannot get answers to simple questions quickly, says Åsheim. Eirin Åsheim says the good relationship between Eivind and the speech therapist is and has been very important. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news She believes there are big differences between a private and a municipal speech therapy service. – You have a closeness and familiarity with each other. You won’t get that with a privately practicing speech therapist because you won’t get that relationship. What does a speech therapist do? A speech therapist helps children, young people and adults in connection with, among other things: Language difficulties Speech difficulties Swallowing difficulties Voice difficulties But who is entitled to help from a speech therapist? Swipe to learn more. May have the right to a speech therapist According to Norwegian Health, children in primary school and adults with special educational needs may have the right to a speech therapist. The Act on municipal health and care services also states that municipalities must ensure that people are offered the necessary health and care services. But does that mean that residents have a right to a speech therapist when needed? Problematic with can services In the legislation, it is mentioned that the municipalities must associate a doctor, nurse, physiotherapist, midwife, health nurse, occupational therapist and psychologist. Leader of the Norwegian Speech and Language Pathology Association, Katrine Kvisgaard, believes this is problematic. – Speech therapist is not a mandatory service. We have worked so that it will last a long time. We know that kan services are often de-prioritized by the municipalities. Uncertain everyday life for 50 children Fauske’s speech therapist, Anita Ness Byberg, works 30 per cent for the municipality. The rest she works privately. On January 1, she only works privately. Why? The municipality must save money. – There are around 50 children who are affected by this in Fauske municipality. In addition, I am part of 15 responsibility groups, says Byberg. Anita Ness Byberg is Fauske municipality’s only speech therapist. From the new year, she only works privately. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news – How do you think their everyday life will be? – It will probably be uncertain. She further says that the municipality is obliged through the Education Act to provide speech therapy treatment for children and young people who need it. – We are seeing the downsizing of speech therapy services across the country. The municipalities are pushing the offer over to the private sector. They want Helfo to pay for the speech therapy treatment. Eivind is very happy to chat and play with little brother Haakon. It would not have been as easy without the lessons with the speech therapist. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news – Why is it a problem? – Because then the capacity of the private speech therapist will be what determines whether the child gets help, not the child’s needs. With a speech therapist employed, they would be able to make an offer anyway. Who is the Aphasia Association? Aphasia is a language disorder resulting from disease or damage to the brain. Aphasia involves difficulties with both using and perceiving language, and difficulties with reading and writing. Stroke is the most frequent cause of aphasia. The Aphasia Association shall work to ensure that people with aphasia and other acquired communication difficulties and their relatives must achieve full participation and equality in society. What does the Aphasia Association thinkMarianne Brodin, secretary general of the Aphasia Association, says that they have carried out speech therapy examinations for several years. About. 60% of the municipalities answer that they do not have speech therapists for adults. – The speech therapist offer as it is today is random and unpredictable, as it is dependent on private speech therapists actually living and working in the municipality. Fauske municipality: – Must cut costs Municipal director in Fauske, Ellen Beate Lundberg, says that as part of cutting costs, the municipality must cut all non-statutory services. – Fauske municipality is undergoing restructuring. Sometimes this means that established structures are broken, says Lundberg. Ellen Beate Lundberg, municipal director in Fauske municipality says that the municipality must cut all non-statutory services. Photo: Fabian Ubeda / news – Why do you choose to cut a 30 percent position? – All contributions to manage to cover obligations for the municipalities contribute. Also small sums. The municipal director says Fauske municipality is going to focus system-oriented with early preventive efforts in the entire nursery area. She also points out that the GP can refer to a speech therapist. It is then an examination and treatment that is covered by Helfo according to its own criteria in the National Insurance Act, explains Lundberg. – We will still make an offer, but it is not said that you must make an offer with your own speech therapist. – How will you ensure that the patient and speech therapist have a good relationship when the offer becomes private? – Changes to the design of services in many areas affect users. Also in this case. It can precisely mean that it goes beyond the relationship, says Lundberg. READ ALSO: State Secretary Ellen Rønning-Arnesen confirms that it is up to the municipalities whether they employ speech therapists or whether they use private speech therapists. – The municipalities have several statutory tasks, but have room for maneuver to adapt the service offerings in their municipality according to local conditions and needs. State Secretary Ellen Rønning-Arnesen says that the municipalities are required to offer their residents a proper health service. – For many, it will also involve an offer of speech therapy services. Photo: Esten Borgos / Borgos Foto AS Nevertheless, the state secretary points out that the government is committed to strengthening the public health service. – For this government, it is important to strengthen the public health service, and invest in professionals, so that we avoid slipping away to private players. – Serious development throughout the country It is not just parents and speech therapists in Fauske who are concerned about the municipality’s priorities. Abid Raja, parliamentary representative for the Liberal Party, has seen this development in several municipal budgets. – This is a very serious development in the provision for children and young people across the country. Abid Raja, parliamentary representative for the Liberal Party, says that there are large distances in Nordland: – Children and young people must get the services they depend on in their municipality. Photo: Sofie Retterstøl Olaisen / news Raja has therefore sent a written question to the Prime Minister about what the government intends to do to ensure that there are speech therapy services in the municipalities, and that children and young people get the necessary help. – If the municipalities close down the most basic services for children and young people, they will not get what they need to cope with everyday life. We are very concerned about that. Speech therapists are not authorized. That is, they do not have a protected title. If the profession was protected, the municipalities had to employ speech therapists on an equal footing with doctors, midwives and public health nurses. The Liberal Party has just presented a proposal to the Storting on the certification of teachers. Photo: Tore Ellingseter / news – It is natural for us to look at certification of speech therapists also in connection with processing that proposal. – I hope that the municipality turns around. If not, I hope the minister will step in and ensure speech therapy services for all children who need it in Norway.
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Fauske cuts his only speech therapist position – the speech therapist association sees the same thing happening in many municipalities – news Nordland
