Speech and language therapy intervention in the case of the recovery of Jordi Roca's voice

Jordi Roca, the pastry chef at the restaurant El Celler de Can Roca, of which he is co-owner, lost his voice due to dystonia. Eight years on since he lost the ability to speak, he announced his partial recovery on Instagram on March 15. In a post he thanks those around him for their support and refers to the people he mentions in the text accompanying the videos. His family and friends also include Mango Tree (a health networking project), Marta Rabasseda (neurofunctional speech therapist) and Mercedes Bassi (speech therapist).

Speech therapists, among other skills, possess the necessary tools to treat problems related to the voice and its projection. These acquired skills are precisely the same ones that enabled Jordi Roca to get his voice back.

In an interview in October 2019, Marta Jordana, professor of the bachelor's degree in Speech and Language Therapy, reflected on the consequences that losing one's voice has for patients. "Those who suffer from total aphonia [...] tell you feelings of great helplessness. [...]. They are not aware of it, but they become isolated and stop communicating. One of the consequences of all this is that their own thinking also declines. [...] We know that language and thought go together. The inner language remains, but conversations, discussions and reflections aloud are lost".

Speech and language therapy has become increasingly relevant and socially recognised as a result of media attention to some of its many utilities. The applications of this speciality can be implemented throughout life and are highly varied, ranging from one's voice to breathing, hearing, chewing and swallowing, sucking, speech, written and oral language… Furthermore, the areas in which speech therapists can intervene are very extensive, as they cover education, socio-educational, health and social-health care. As a result of this versatility, collaboration with other professionals is commonplace, be it with neurologists, nutritionists, pedagogues, occupational therapists, etc.

Like all professions, as time goes by, new challenges and needs emerge. According to the Ministry of Labour and Social Economy there are several outstanding training needs in terms of technical and vocational skills. Some of them include:

• Non-verbal communication techniques.
• Communication strategies.
• Orofacial and myofunctional therapy.
• Prevention of dysphonia in singing schools.
• Multisensory methodology.
• Feeding and swallowing problems in people with cerebral palsy throughout their life cycle.
• Swallowing in the elderly.

Students who opt to study the bachelor's degree in Speech and Language Therapy will have to attain certain basic professional competences that are laid down in the Universities Channel of the Generalitat de Catalunya: being able to work in uniprofessional and multiprofessional teams, knowing the disorders of communication, language, speech, hearing, voice and non-verbal oral functions and developing the ability to achieve clear and efficient communication with the patient.