Facial Palsy is the weakness or paralysis of the muscles of the face, which may affect how you can close your eye or smile and can be caused by conditions such as Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, Bells Palsy, Lyme Disease, stroke, hemifacial spasm or nerve injury. Hobbs Rehabilitation’s Facial Palsy Service is headed up by Chrissy Bibby, our Speech and Language Therapy team lead. As an active member of Facial Therapy Specialists International, a charity dedicated to ensuring that patients with Facial Palsy have access to the most up-to-date and quality care, and initially trained by Lorraine Clapham, Chrissy is extremely passionate about treating disorders of the facial nerve.
Over the weekend, Chrissy took the time to further her skills in treating Facial Palsy by attending a live webinar from FTS International. Chrissy comments: “As a specialist Facial Palsy therapist, I know the importance of continuous professional development. Regular ongoing training ensures the most up-to-date with the latest evidence-based recommendations so that patients are never given the correct information and are given the best treatment for their condition. For those living with Facial Palsy, it is essential to get the correct information and treatment from a training specialist from the moment of diagnosis. Unlike the nerves and muscles in your leg, the facial nerves and muscles behave differently and are all unique to each patient. Unfortunately, from speaking with patients, I have recently discovered that there are a lot of websites promoting incorrect information, the wrong advice can have a detrimental effect on the recovery of individuals living with Facial Palsy. If the specialist you’re seeing isn’t trained specifically in the treatment of the facial nerve, they may make your condition worse and sometimes irreversible.”
Facial Palsy Service at Hobbs Rehabilitation
Hobbs Rehabilitation’s Facial Palsy Service is available at Winchester, Liss and Dorset, as well as being available to patients online. Our specialist Speech and Language therapists are experts in treating Facial Palsy, the team works together with each patient, to assess, diagnose and effectively treat Facial Palsy whilst working towards the patient’s desired goals and ensuring optimal results for patients by combining traditional hands-on therapy, with the latest rehabilitation technology.
Don’t just take our word for it, see the results for yourself! Click here to read about Roly, a patient living with Ramsey Hunt Syndrome who became a Hobbs Rehabilitation patient in October 2021. See Verity’s national campaign piece here as part of Facial Palsy Awareness Week 2024 – it’s why we do what we do!
To start your Facial Palsy journey with Hobbs Rehabilitation, please complete the contact form on our website and a member of the specialist team will be in contact to access your requirements.