Pemma Ashdown
Speech & Language Therapist, Voice Therapist, Mindfulness Practitioner, Singer/Songwriter
contact: +44 7557331118
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Testimonials
You have made your mark on my life and have helped and encouraged me. For that I am eternally grateful.” Tonbridge Wells
“We want to thank you for attending yesterday’s meeting and really professionally insisting on the right thing with respect to your report and what needs to be in the EHCP. Thank you very much for supporting us and being professional about it!”
“I am writing to thank you for your care and patience. Everything you have shown me I have practised everyday and my family and friends have noticed a good change.”
“Pemma, we are very grateful for your professional work and support.” parent
“Pemma was insightful into ****‘s feelings and soon formed a relationship with her. As the sessions continued I noticed a remarkable improvement in ****’s speech and this is a testament to the excellent skills of Pemma. Thank you for your outstanding care.”
¨My son who has Down syndrome and is significantly speech impaired has worked with Pemma. The improvement in his speech was very obvious and his willingness to communicate also. The patience and methods she got him to engage with the teaching also obvious. Involving me and the carers was amazing. She is really dedicated to bringing out the best in her student.¨ parent Brighton
“Thank you so much for all you have taught me. You have helped restore my voice!”
“Thanks for all your support, wise words and exercises!”
Pemma has been working with my 4 year old daughter for five months, working on her attention & listening skills, and her disordered speech sounds, which meant that people could not easily understand her. Pemma worked with my daughter’s needs, starting face to face with the three of us, progressing to seeing her in her school environment causing less disruption to her routine and liaising with her teacher to maintain continuity in her level of learning skills. And presently due to these unique times having her sessions online, which my daughter has adapted to well. Her speech is improving and people are starting to comment that they can now understand her. Pemma is always professional, obviously has good listening skills, interactive and very patient. (parent, Javea, Spain)
“You rose to every challenge spectacularly and you handled every situation, however challenging, with great aplomb. You were always encouraging, but also honest and realistic, which is very important to me…I am totally confident that you have taught me how to maximise the effectiveness of my voice by appropriate breathing and posture, as well as enhancing accompanying facial expression and lip seal. I place immense emphasis and personal pride on my overall appearance as a blind person living and working in a mainly sighted and largely unforgiving world. I always strive to precede my disability rather than let it lead me and I’m delighted to say that most of the time I succeed in fulfilling my fundamental aim. Many of the exercises and tricks you’ve taught me in the past year will I’m sure help me continue to do this to the best of my ability…”
In her work as a Speech and Language Therapist Pemma has a wealth of experience working with a wide variety of client groups in a range of clinical and educational settings. I have always been struck by her dedication to the clients she works with, aiming to achieve the best for them, often within very limited resources. This has required her to look holistically at her clients’ needs and work to achieve change for both the individual and for their environment, with the aim of effecting long term benefit. When working with clients Pemma integrates an impressive clinical knowledge with an innate and natural ability as a therapist. She rapidly tunes into the personal needs of her clients and adapts her therapy techniques accordingly.
I have also collaborated with Pemma working with MSc Speech and Language Therapy students on placements. One notable case was when Pemma working with a student who was achieving well academically but had been struggling to develop their practical skills. During the course of the placement Pemma worked very closely with the student to support the development of their skills, particularly encouraging self-reflection. The student went on to complete a successful placement under Pemma’s guidance and is now doing well as a practicing clinician. Pemma also supervised a group of final year students during a placement and supported their transition from students to qualifying therapists. This was a challenging time for the students and Pemma provided excellent skills based and personal support for the students, who benefitted greatly from her input.
Mrs. Katie Moore
Speech and Language Therapist Lecturer, University of Essex