Asanda Ntombela
PRE-REG SALT
Hello, my name is Asanda, and Iâm a Speech and Language Therapist.
I studied B (Speech) at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, qualifying in December 2022. I then continued my journey in completing my community service at South Rand Hospital (Johannesburg) in 2023. During my career I had the pleasure of being exposed to various settings ranging from special needs schools, mainstream schools, old age homes, hospitals and clinics. In my last placement, I specifically experienced multidisciplinary therapy, special needs group, paediatric and adult Dysphagia, neuro-developmental clinics, adult rehabilitation clinic and treatment, developmental delay therapy, and lastly diagnosis and treatment of speech and language specific conditions.
Iâve always had a special interest for special needs Speech therapy, giving children with Downâs syndrome, cerebral palsy, genetic conditions and autism the opportunity to be able to express themselves. I also have a special interest in Dysphagia, specifically in premature infants and the older population of adults. Iâm passionate about bridging the gap of communication between children, families and teaching staff. I strive to help those with communication difficulties find ways to express their needs and wants to others while helping them to find their own voice in a world that can be fixated on speech more than communication intent and understanding. The family and child centred approach has always been a main factor in my therapeutic interventions, and I hope to be able to incorporate these skills in my Words First journey.
I enjoy baking new and difficult recipes, while reading a good, thought-provoking book. I also enjoy long walks to the park while listening to podcasts about the things I find most interesting. If I had to call my friends and ask them to describe me, theyâd describe me as outgoing, social, kind, funny and overly organised.
I look forward to contributing new ideas and skills while expanding my knowledge within Words First.
