Mrs Sally Dennis

I am a HCPC and RCSLT registered Voice Specialist Speech and Language Therapist. I have over 19 years of experience and expertise in the management of voice disorders supporting patients to achieve improvement or resolution to voice difficulties and associated symptoms of throat discomfort via vocal rehabilitation and voice therapy approaches including laryngeal manual therapy, where appropriate.

I have extensive experience in working with people experiencing voice change or vocal deterioration with use, with patients with; muscle tension dysphonia, benign vocal fold lesions such as vocal nodules, vocal cold palsy or paresis, psychogenic voice disorder, inducible laryngeal obstruction. I also see patients for pre and post operative SLT advice and input. I have over five years' experience working with children with various SLT needs including voice difficulties.

I am highly experienced in working with Professional Voice Users (including Singers, Actors and Teachers). I am a BAPAM (British Association of Performing Arts Medicine) approved practitioner and lead SLT in the performer voice specialist voice clinic in my NHS role in Liverpool.

I have 14 years of experience of working jointly with ENT Consultants with special interest in voice and three years of working jointly with a Vocal Rehabilitation Coach in BVA (British Voice Association) recognised multidisciplinary specialist voice clinics for assessment of vocal function across various vocal tasks and during therapeutic trials under laryngoscopy with stroboscopy for optimal diagnosis and treatment planning. As an RCSLT level 3 endoscopist, I lead clinics in my NHS roles in Liverpool and Manchester to assess patients with intermittent dysphonia referred directly from the GP in an SLT led laryngoscopy clinic which operates in parallel to the ENT clinic. I have assisted ENT in vocal augmentation/injection clinics.

I am voice lead in my NHS role in Liverpool, in voice therapy clinics and specialist multidisciplinary voice clinics, and have been instrumental in planning and implementing new SLT led voice clinic and a Specialist Performer and Professional Voice user clinic. I have more recently also joined the Voice Team at Manchester Foundation Trust as a Consultant SLT. I support other therapists in their professional development via clinical supervision.

I have been committed to continued professional development and developing and improving service delivery over my working career. I am nominated as secretary of the RCSLT North West Clinical Excellence Network and have been invited to present on working with performers and clinical decision making with ENT at professional events. I update knowledge and skills to offer effective intervention for patients via regularly attending conferences and formal courses.