Deirbhlé Higgins

A Clinical Speech and Language Pathologist with experience across a wide range of clinical settings. Approachable professional individual with excellent communication and problem-solving. Passionate about helping others succeed with proven track record in meeting goals and executing projects successfully. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy. Having recently relocated to Chicago, I am keen to start a new career chapter.

• Registration Status: CORU (Irish health and social care professionals’ registration) Registration number: SL050747
• Professional Membership: Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists (IASLT) Member
• BLS certified and CPR certified
• LSVT certified and trained
• Completed multiples CPD trainings such as: SLT Role in Frailty, DLD day, Supporting Emotions with Aphasia: “Strengthening wellbeing through aphasia communities”, Voice Disorders, adult stammering, Head and Neck Cancer – a practical approach, Ageing and Dementia, An introduction to Transgender Awareness Training for OTs and healthcare professionals
• Member of ‘Dysphagia Special Interest Group’ and completed various supplemental dysphagia training such as rehabilitation training, sEMG training etc with the group
• All Ireland Gaelic football medal and All Ireland Badminton medal
• Class Prefect 2016-2017 in Loreto College Cavan.

• Enjoy regularly volunteering for Barretstowns Children’s Camp.
• Gaelic football Coach and Coach for GAA Social Skills Programme.
• Previous Chairperson for Committee of ‘Dublin Universities Clinical Therapies Society.’

January 2021- April 2021: Lucena Clinic, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Setting

Provided services to children and adolescents who present with communication difficulties in the context of co-morbid mental health or psychiatric diagnosis e.g., ADHD/ ADD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Selective Mutism, Anxiety, Depression and Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Completed assessments remotely and in person developing my telehealth skills further.

July 2020- August 2020: Acute Setting, Mater Hospital, Co. Dublin

Assessed, diagnosed, planned, implemented and evaluated therapy programs for clients in the acute setting, while adapted to new and changing health and safety policies in order to keep up-to-date with professional standards of COVID-19. Reported findings to MDT members at weekly meeting and also to clients and family members/ carers through phone calls and zoom as visitors were not permitted.

February 2019 – April 2019: Disability Setting, Central Medical Clinic

Carried out assessments of communication skills across a wide range of clients with physical disabilities, applying the principles of assessment to observation, recording, analysis and evaluation of communication and swallowing samples.