SPEECH PATHOLOGY

Communication is the connection to yourself and others

Speech Pathologists at Advance Therapy work together with their clients and their support networks to achieve their speech pathology goals. Our Speech Pathologists deliver therapy services either in clinic, at school, or in your home. This supports our clients to practice their skills across different environments.  

Speech Pathologists work across different areas, including: speech, language, stuttering, voice, literacy, and alternative and augmentative communication.   

What is Speech Pathology?

Our Speech Pathologists support clients across all ages who have difficulties with their speech, language, fluency, and voice. Speech Pathologists also assist clients who have swallowing difficulties to make mealtimes safer.  

To make a referral, please complete our online referral form and one of our team members will contact you shortly to discuss the next steps. 

Alternatively, if you would like to talk to us about your child’s therapy needs, please call 03 9123 0001 to speak to a member of our Intake team.

Speech Pathology Supports

  • In your first session with our Speech Pathologists, they will begin by learning more about you and your goals for Speech Pathology sessions. They use this information to select an appropriate assessment to obtain an understanding of your communication difficulties.

    Different types of assessments that the Speech Pathologist may choose are:

    • Formal standardised testing, where skills are assessed and compared to aged-matched peers.

    • Informal assessment such as communicating with the client or observing the client communicating with communication partners.

    Both forms of assessments are equally important and a Speech Pathologist may choose to do both to obtain an overview of the client.

    Speech Pathologist can provide the following types of assessments: speech sounds, language, voice disorders, fluency, and mealtime assessments.

    Speech Pathologists can also provide an assessment of pragmatic language, including supporting a multidisciplinary team assessment for an Autism Spectrum Disorder.

  • Speech is how we say sounds and words.

    Speech includes:

    • Articulation: how we produce speech sounds. Individuals may have difficulty saying specific sounds within the words e.g. saying ‘wabbit’ for ‘rabbit’

    • Voice: how we use our voice folds and breath to make sound. Individuals may have difficulty with pitch, quality or loudness.

    • Fluency: this is the rhythm of our speech. Individuals may repeat sounds in words or pause whilst they are talking. This can be referred to as a stutter.

    Speech Pathologist work with clients on all areas of their speech. Following an assessment, a Speech Pathology will work with their client to develop goals to target their specific area of need.

  • Language refers to the words we use and how we use them to share ideas or get want we want. Difficulties with language can lead to frustration in communication, as well as later literacy difficulties.

    Speech Pathologist will work with clients, who:

    • Are not yet using language to communicate

    • May not be using the same amount of language as others their age

    • Are not using the right words in their sentences e.g. saying ‘blowed’ instead of ‘blew’

    Language is broken up into two categories:

    • Receptive language: the ability to understanding what others are communicating

    • Expressive language: the ability to communicate your needs and wants.

    A speech pathologist can assess a client to determine if their difficulties are in expressive language, receptive language or both.

  • Speech Pathologists support clients to access communication in many different ways. This is referred to as augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This includes through key word sign; visuals; communication books (such as PODD books); and high-tech devices such as application on iPads (such as Proloquo2go).

    Our Speech Pathologists work with clients to determine what method of communication is most suitable for their communication skills and their goals.

    AAC provides clients with the opportunity to communication with their communication partners and reduce overall frustration from not being able to communicate.

  • Speech Pathologist can provide assessment and support for individuals with literacy difficulties. A literacy assessment can help clients to better understand their strengths and areas of difficulties with literacy and learning.

    Our Speech Pathologist can then work with you to implement therapy services using evidence based synthetic phonetics programs, including Little Learners Love Literacy and Sounds Write.

  • Speech Pathologist can also work with clients to support issues involving swallowing and eating.

    Individuals who may benefit from this support may include people who: have had a stroke; are coughing during mealtime; are wanting to increase a variety of food; and are wanting to be more independent in their eating.

    The Speech Pathologist will visit during mealtime to assess your swallowing and provide support to assist mealtimes.