Alex Howden

Alex is a Speech and Language Therapist and Clinical Lead at SpeechWise. Alex’s desire to support children’s communication development began whilst studying for an undergraduate degree in Human Communication and Psychology. Here she quickly realised that she wanted to put theory into practice and eager to apply her knowledge, Alex then gained her BSc (Hons) in Speech Pathology and Therapy from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2007.

Alex began her career in the NHS, where she spent a decade working with children with Speech, Language, and Communication needs in busy community clinics and mainstream schools.

Alex is particularly passionate about supporting children and young people with complex communication needs and Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) and has a Postgraduate Certificate in AAC. She believes that everyone has the fundamental right to a voice and to communicate in whatever way is most accessible to them. She is committed to empowering parents, carers, and professionals by supporting them to develop their skills and confidence, enabling them to take the lead in supporting their child’s communication journey – there is definitely ‘no I in team’!.

Alex has a wealth of experience in supporting children with a wide range of speech, language, and communication needs and as her career progressed in the NHS, she knew she needed to make a change to be able to really make a difference and so she made the leap to join SpeechWise in 2017.

She currently works across a range of settings, including mainstream and specialist schools; as well as supporting families to develop their child’s communication at home. She loves that every day is different and the unique needs and challenges that brings.

In her role as Clinical Lead, Alex enjoys the freedom to develop the services we offer at SpeechWise so that they truly meet the needs of the families, young people and schools she works with. Above all, she knows that she can ‘really make a difference’ at SpeechWise!

Alex’s top tip for supporting children’s communication ‘don’t just name things. Instead try modelling words like ‘more’, ‘help’, ‘finished’, ‘something different. If we spend our time and energy focusing on those words, it really opens the door to more effective and independent communication.

When she’s not working, Alex enjoys being in the great outdoors. You’ll probably find her in the Peaks, climbing a mountain with her boys.

Alex is registered with the HCPC, RCSLT, and holds an Enhanced DBS check.