WHAT IS SPEECH PATHOLOGY?
Speech Pathology is a branch of health care for individuals who are unable to communicate effectively or who have difficulty with feeding and swallowing.
WHAT IS A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST?
A speech pathologist is a health care professional who can diagnose, manage and treat individuals with communication disorders in the areas of speech, language, fluency and voice. A speech pathologist can also work with individuals who experience difficulty in swallowing and consuming food, drink and medications safely. ​Difficulties in communication and/or swallowing can arise from development delays, neuro-developmental disorders such as autism and cerebral palsy, stroke, brain injury, learning disability, intellectual disability, medical conditions such as cleft palate and hearing loss,​ and degenerative diseases.
DOES MY CHILD NEED TO SEE A SPEECH PATHOLOGIST?
There are many reasons why a child may need to see a speech pathologist including examples such as:
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other people find my child hard to understand
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has difficulty understanding what is being said to them
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gets frustrated by not being able to say what he/she wants to say
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needs helps with feeding or has problems swallowing when eating and/or drinking
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has a husky voice or low volume, or different pitch to same age and gender peers
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stutters
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has a medical history or condition that impacts on their communication skills
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requires an alternate way of communicating
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needs help learning to read and/or spell
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needs help with language at school (including high school level)
If you have any concerns regarding your child's communication skills or would like more information, please contact us at
Speech Buzz on: 0474 480 963 ​​
For more information, please visit the Speech Pathology Australia Website.
You do not need a referral to see a speech pathologist. Some Private Health Funds ​may pay a rebate for services, so please check ​​eligibility with your Private Health Fund. Medicare rebates may be available for eligible individuals under the Chronic Disease Management Plan. Individuals must obtain a referral from their local GP. For more information, please visit Human Services.