Our services

Assessment

Assessment

Speechling provides assessments to adults and children with communication and swallowing difficulties. Assessment may be completed in the initial session or be completed over several sessions. Speechling provides assessments (and therapy) for:

  • Speech issues such as Apraxia, Dysarthria and Articulation disorders.

    Language issues such as Aphasia, Language Disorders, and Reading and Writing difficulties.

    Voice issues such as hoarse, strained, breathy or pitchy voice, loss of voice, or low volume.

  • Dysphagia may include difficulties with:

    • Dry mouth

    • Saliva management

    • Chewing

    • Starting a swallow

    • Food getting stuck in mouth or throat

    • Extended mealtimes

    • Coughing

    • Excessive throat clearing

    • Choking

    • Nasal regurgitation

    • Recurrent chest infections

    • Pain or fatigue with eating or drinking

    There may also be environmental and behavioural factors that impact swallowing function and safety.

  • Social communication goals for assessment and intervention may include:

    • Conversation skills

    • Making and keeping friends

    • Job interview skills

    • Using social media

    • Dating and relationships

    • Understanding social rules

    • Work readiness

  • Language assessment and therapy may support people with difficulties:

    • Following instructions

    • Grammar

    • Sentence construction

    • Understanding spoken information

    • Vocabulary

    • Recounting events

    Literacy assessment and intervention may support people having difficulties with:

    • Sound awareness

    • Letter recognition

    • Spelling rules

    • Reading accuracy

    • Reading fluency

    • Reading comprehension

    • Written expression

    • Editing written work

Therapy

Therapy

Every client has different goals, interests and needs. So therapy looks different for everyone. Clients work with us to choose goals that are important to them and achievable. Therapy may look like:

  • In therapy this may look like:

    • Correcting speech sound errors

    • Rehearsing target words

    • Learning new voice strategies

    • Doing swallowing exercises

    • Role playing social skills

    • Learning spelling rules

  • In therapy you may trial supports such as:

    • Communication devices

    • Mealtime management plans

    • Information scaffolds for written work

    • ‘I have a disability’ cards for self-advocacy

    • Memory aids such as calendars, reminders

    Finding the right support may also involve connecting you to other supports that can help you achieve your goals like a therapy assistant, support coordinator, social group or other allied health practitioner.

  • Sometimes therapy includes training your key supports, such as family members or support workers. This may include education and/or training on:

    • Your communication abilities and/or methods

    • How to best support your communication

    • How to complete therapy activities at home

  • Effective therapy may require input from other formal supports, such as:

    • Occupational therapists

    • Physiotherapists

    • Psychologists

    • Classroom teachers

    • General practitioners (GP)

  • Sometimes we need to change the environment to improve communication or swallowing outcomes. This may involve:

    • Choosing a job that suits your skills and interests

    • Joining a community group to make friendships

    • Finding a cafe that has accessible food options

Telehealth

Telehealth

Sometimes clients cannot attend the clinic because they are unwell, live remotely or have difficulty accessing the clinic for other reasons. Speechling offers sessions via Telehealth in these cases. 

Speechling uses Microsoft Teams and can help with set-up if needed.

Community Vists

Community Visits

Speechling is mostly a clinic-based service but we sometimes visit clients in the community. Some reasons for community visits include:

  • This may look like:

    • Observing social interactions at home or in the community

    • Observing a student in their school environment

    • Assessing a workplace for communication accessibility

  • This may look like:

    • Reading a bus timetable

    • Ordering a coffee from a cafe

    • Talking to a new friend

    • Using memory aids at home

  • Training may be provided in the community to your:

    • Family members

    • Support workers

    • Employer

    • Teacher

Questions before getting started?

Get in touch.

  • Speech Pathologists assess, diagnose and treat communication disorders. They also help people with swallowing difficulties.

    Find out more. Here is an easy-to-read fact sheet from Speech Pathology Australia.

  • Speech Pathologists help people with communication and swallowing difficulties.

    This includes difficulties with:

    • Articulation

    • Voice

    • Language - Speaking and Understanding

    • Reading

    • Writing

    • Social Interactions

    • Eating and Drinking

    If you need a Speech Pathologist, request appointment.

    If you are unsure, submit a general enquiry.