It is estimated that one in five people across the UK will experience communication difficulties at some point in their lives (Royal College of Language and Speech Therapists, 2024).

This part of the population is diverse, spanning infants to the elderly, people with learning disabilities or a condition such as cerebral palsy, neurological disease, and those affected by stroke or dementia. 

Optometrists have a duty to make the care of the patient their first and continuing concern, to respect patients’ dignity and to treat every patient politely and considerately. “The presence or quality of speech is no indication of cognitive ability,” says Dr J Margaret (Maggie) Woodhouse MCOptom, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Down’s Syndrome Vision Research Unit at Cardiff University, who has worked with children and adults with special needs for over 40 years (see College guidelines, opposite). 

So how can optometrists ensure they provide fair, accessible and high-quality services for this patient cohort?