Speech Pathology

Our services

We offer a variety of specialised services for adults with a wide range of communication and swallowing difficulties (i.e. dysphagia).  These include:

• Inpatient services including a 7 day Speech Pathology service for dysphagia and tracheostomy management.
• Outpatient services including specialist management of head and neck Cancer Care patients.
• Specialist instrumental assessment clinics including Videofluoroscopy Swallow studies (VFSS) and Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
• Voice and Middle Airway Clinic (includes endoscopic evaluation of voice EEV)
• Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO) Clinic
• Voice Therapy
• Information and advice for health professionals managing patient medicines. 

How to access this service

The Speech Pathology Department accepts referrals from internal RBWH medical specialists and from external medical practitioners.

Internal Medical Specialist: via QH Refer

External Medical Specialist: Referral letter emailed to RBWH-speech-pathology@health.qld.gov.au or Central Referral Unit

EILO Clinic Referrals

The EILO Clinic is run with speech pathology, respiratory science and either Respiratory or ENT Services in the respiratory outpatient department. The clinic uses continuous laryngoscopy simultaneously with CPET to assess and diagnose EILO in patients with exercise induced shortness of breath.

EILO Referral Criteria

• Referrals accepted from ENT or Respiratory
• Prior FNE to exclude upper airway pathology
• Prior respiratory investigation including lung function testing
• Prior Cardiology input preferred but not essential
• Patients with symptoms:
  • Triggered by high intensity exercise
  • Unable to be elicited during FNE
  • Triggered while cycling

How to refer:

• Medical: Referral letter to ‘RBWH EILO Clinic’ emailed to RBWH-speech-pathology@health.qld.gov.au detailing symptoms in response to physical activity, which sport/exercise type is impacted, impact on ability to participate and description of prior FNE and lung function testing.

We also accept referrals from other speech pathology services when specialist care is needed.

Speech Pathologists referring for instrumental assessments

• Videofluoroscopy examination of swallowing (VFSS)
• Flexible endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES)
• Voice and Middle Airway Clinic
• Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction Clinic

What to bring

Clinics