About Sonja
Sonja McGeachie
Consultant Speech and Language Therapist
Dysphagia, Eating and Swallowing Specialist
IBCLC Lactation Consultant
I have more than 24 years of experience helping babies and children with Speech, Language and Developmental Delay. Since graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Clinical Communication Sciences in 1996 I have provided diagnostic and therapeutic services in the NHS across a multitude of settings, both hospital and rehabilitative community settings, in child development centres and schools.
In 2017 I created the London Speech and Feeding Practice, a boutique-style, bespoke and highly specialised service dedicated to supporting children and their families. I place high value on close cooperation with colleagues in the NHS in order to achieve the very best outcome for each child and family.
My mission is to provide high-quality consultancy and therapy for all my clients and to ensure that families receive expert advice, dedicated support and best practice of intervention. In order to ensure high quality care I only take on a handful of clients at any one time which ensures that each client receives individualised, bespoke and thorough support.
When I am not seeing patients I enjoy gardening, baking, and travelling with my two sons and husband. We are a bilingual household (German-English); raising my sons bilingually has given me added experience and another perspective into speech and language development in a multi-lingual context and I am able to draw positively on my experience in my therapeutic interventions with families of bi or multi-lingual backgrounds.
Areas of Expertise
Speech and Oral Motor Difficulties
If your child has trouble controlling lips, tongue or jaw muscles, - from talking to eating or sipping from a straw — these are tough skills to master and I can help your child develop those skills. Your little one has a lisp or a 'funny r-sound’? With a little time and practice we can make it better.
Developmental Delay
Is your child late in talking and struggling to communicate or make friends with others? Maybe he or she is not able to tell you their needs without a big tantrum and tears? Perhaps they always repeat any words or sentences you say (echolalia)? Or is your little one very complex and unable to say anything at all?
Education
Bachelor of Science Degree
Clinical Communication Sciences at The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Swiss Cottage, London, UK. Graduation: 1996.
Professional Experience
Practice, London 2017- to date
London Speech and Feeding - London
September 2019 – May 2020
The Royal Free Hospital NHS TRUST – Barnet Hospital, Neonatal Starlight Unit: Neonatal Speech and Language Therapist and Lactation Consultant
Secondment with Dr. Celia Harding
2001-2018
LONDON NORTH WEST UNIVERSITY HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST, Community Child Development Service for the London Borough of Brent: Senior Lead Therapist for Special Needs and Dysphagia
1998-2001
LONDON NORTH WEST NHS HEALTHCARE TRUST, Northwick Park Hospital, Early Intervention and Special Needs Service: Senior Speech and Language Therapist
1996-1998
EAST LONDON NHS TRUST, Hackney Early Years Service and Special Needs School Provision: Speech and Language Therapist in mainstream school, community clinics and special needs schools
Certifications
Dysphagia postgraduate Diploma 2000
Makaton Regional Trainer Diploma 2015
Hanen Program Certification 2016 and 2018
International Board Certification of Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) 2019
ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) certified (2019)
Certifications
Dysphagia Postgraduate Diploma 2000
Makaton Regional Trainer Diploma 2015
Hanen Program Certification 2016 , 2018 and 2021
International Board Certification of Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) 2019
ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) certified 2019
Professional Memberships & Registrations
Health Care Professions Council
SL05673
Disclosure and Barring
Service Checked
DBS 001583267250
ICO CSN7205501