Speech Pathology

Speech pathologists assess and treat adults and children with swallowing and communication problems. Problems with swallowing and communication may result from:

• respiratory problems (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• brain injuries (e.g. stroke)
• cardiac surgery (e.g. following insertions of stents and valves)
• orthopaedic surgery (e.g. following a broken hip)
• needing a breathing tube (tracheostomy) during an intensive care stay
• degenerative diseases such as motor neurone disease or Parkinson’s disease
• children with developmental delay (e.g. Down syndrome, neuro-developmental disorder and autism spectrum disorder)
• babies with structural changes (e.g. laryngomalacia – weakening of the muscles around the throat).

Our services

We offer a variety of specialised services for adults and children including:

• inpatient management of communication and swallowing difficulties.
• management of swallowing and communication for patients with a tracheostomy (breathing tube).
• Rehabilitation Day Therapy Unit, Motor Neurone Disease Clinic and LSVT LOUD® (an intensive treatment for people with speech disorders related to Parkinson’s disease).
• instrumental assessments including:
  • Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies Clinic – a procedure to assess your swallowing under x-ray.
  • Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow – a procedure where a small camera is used to assess both swallowing and the voice box.
• education programs for patients and their families.
• assessment and treatment of children admitted to hospital with communication, feeding and swallowing difficulties
• endoscopic evaluation of voice – a procedure where a small camera is used to assess the voice box prior to receiving voice therapy.

How to access this service

No external referrals are accepted for this service. You can only access this service when you are staying in hospital or if you have been referred by a hospital clinician. We also accept referrals for patients who have been referred from other health facilities within Metro North Hospital and Health Service.

What to bring

Clinics