Speech pathology is the diagnosis, management and treatment of individuals who are unable to communicate effectively or who have difficulty with feeding and swallowing.*

A broad range of clients can receive speech pathology services including children who fail to develop normal communication or people who acquire communication disabilities as a result of disease, injury or a stroke.

Speech pathologists also assist a variety of clients with feeding or swallowing problems. One in seven Australians has some form of communication disability. This means that one in seven people has a problem understanding other people or being understood by people. A Speech Pathologist can help with:

• giving advice on feeding to a mother who has a baby with a cleft palate
• working in a child care centre with a group of children who are hard to understand
• working with a school child who can’t understand what his teacher says
• working with a high school student who stutters
• training a teacher who constantly loses her voice to use it more effectively
• rehabilitating a young man who has severe brain injury due to a motorcycle accident
• liaising with the carers of an elderly man, who has dementia
• helping a woman who has had a stroke to regain her communication skills, advising her husband and family
• providing education for teachers, doctors or parents
• providing communication strategies for a person with intellectual disability
• treating a person who has swallowing problems following a stroke
• assisting children and adults who are learning to read

If you would like more information, or would like to make a booking for with a speech pathologist, please contact your preferred Eastbrooke Medical Centre (not available at all centres).

*Source: Speech Pathology Australia