Speech Pathology
A Speech Pathologist can assist you with speaking, expressing your thoughts, understanding language, reading, spelling, speaking in social situations, stuttering or swallowing issues that you may encounter in your daily life.
Speech pathology for adults
Our speech pathology team works with clients aged 16 and over. The team is experienced in working with people with neurological conditions, physical or cognitive disability and those who are experiencing age-related changes.
You may benefit from speech therapy sessions with an Allied Therapy Services Speech Pathologist if you;
Live with a progressive neurological condition, multiple sclerosis (MS) Motor Neurone Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease or muscular dystrophy
Have experienced a stroke
Have dementia or are recently diagnosed with early-onset dementia
Live with cerebral palsy
Are deaf or experiencing hearing loss
Are a person with an intellectual disability
Are an Autistic person
Are a person with a mental health diagnosis.
Speech therapy support may also assist you if you have experience any of the following:
Difficulty understanding what others say, or losing the meaning of words (aphasia)
Word finding difficulties
Difficulty pronouncing sounds / words or slurred speech (dysarthria)
Difficulties pronouncing words and sequencing sounds in words / sentences (dyspraxia)
Voice problems, such as inadequate volume, hoarse voice quality
Difficulties chewing, swallowing or drinking (dysphagia)
Frustration due to communication difficulties
Difficulty communicating in social situations such as in groups, in the community or at work
Difficulty understanding instructions
Difficulties with reading and spelling
Stuttering.
In-home and community-based speech pathology support
As an in-home and community-based allied health service, your Allied Therapy Services Speech Pathologist will come to you. Our team of experienced Speech Pathologists can work with you across our services regions; Albury-Wodonga, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Warrnambool and the Western Melbourne suburbs. If you are outside our regions, please ask our team about alternative service options.
In-home or community-based speech therapy services with Allied Therapy Services may include:
Management of speech and language changes
Literacy and phonological awareness activities
Swallowing assessments and mealtime management
Voice programs such as SPEAKOUT® therapy for Parkinson’s
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) or communication methods used to supplement or replace speech or writing for those with difficulties communicating through speech
Support to (re)join the community and community participation.
How speech therapy can support someone with a neurological condition
Many of Allied Therapy Services’ Speech Pathologists have additional training and experience working with people who have a neurological (neuro) condition. There are a variety of speech pathology programs, therapies and swallowing and meal-time management techniques available, that may help to manage specific neurological conditions, read more on our Neurological Therapy page.
Our Speech Pathologists work collaboratively with the physiotherapists and occupational therapists at Allied Therapy Services to ensure a holistic, person-centred approach to your care. Our team work closely together across therapies on common goals for neurological clients; like the set up and use of communication aids or positioning to improve swallowing and respiratory support.
Many of our neurological clients are also linked with a tertiary medical or therapy provider or support service specific to their diagnosis. Our speech pathology team will link in with these tertiary providers, to ensure you have continuity of care. From participating in telehealth team meetings or arranging assessments, Allied Therapy Services Speech Pathologists work collaboratively as part of your greater team to ensure the best support plans are in place, so you get the most from your speech therapy.
How to refer an Allied Therapy Services Speech Pathologist
You can self-refer to our speech pathology services (no health professional referral required), we accept referrals for clients aged 16 years and older.
NDIS or private referrals accepted.
Your Allied Therapy Services Speech Pathologist will conduct an initial assessment and recommend a treatment plan to ensure your speech therapy sessions are tailored to your needs and goals.