Speech Pathology

If you’d like your child to be seen by a speech pathologist at our Clinic or Online, the first step is to phone us or drop in to the Clinic.

Your first contact will probably be with our office managers, who will take down details about the age of your child and what you are concerned about. A speech pathologist will then contact you to discuss this in more detail and to arrange an appointment time for an assessment.

An assessment allows your speech pathologist to devise an individualised therapy plan to meet your child’s needs.

Therapy is tailored to the needs of each child. The Speech Pathologist, in conjunction with the parent, will determine the goals and priority for therapy.

For your convenience we also offer assessments and therapy online.

Medical rebates for Speech Pathology are available from a variety of sources.

A discussion with a speech pathologist can help determine whether your child’s skills are within the normal developmental range, or if an assessment is indicated.

An assessment allows your speech pathologist to devise an individualised therapy plan to meet your child’s needs. You will be asked to fill in a questionnaire before your appointment. You may also be asked to provide copies of relevant reports (for example, reports by your child’s school counsellor, occupational therapist or paediatrician).

The length of an initial assessment depends on the child and the presenting problem. A young child may be seen for only thirty minutes. Most assessments of school-aged children take between two and three hours. Your speech pathologist can let you know how long the assessment is likely to take.

During the assessment, your speech pathologist will use a variety of tests to evaluate your child’s speech, language and literacy skills. She will also talk with you about the questionnaire you filled out.

After the testing is complete, the speech pathologist will write a detailed report explaining how your child did on each test, what effect this could have on your child’s communication skills and school learning, and what action is recommended. You should receive this initial assessment report within two weeks of testing. Your speech pathologist will then arrange a time to discuss the report with you. Our speech pathologists are also happy to talk to teachers and other specialists working with your child. Your speech pathologist may recommend that your child have a hearing test, or have further testing with a psychologist, paediatrician or occupational therapist.

If therapy is recommended, your speech pathologist will arrange a suitable time. Most children attending therapy at the Clinic or Online attend once a week during school terms. Therapy sessions are usually for one hour, but young children may attend for thirty or forty-five minute sessions. Others attend several times a week, or attend therapy blocks during school holidays.

Therapy is tailored to the needs of each child. The Speech Pathologist, in conjunction with the parent and sometimes the child, will determine the goals and priority for therapy. Our Speech Pathologists can assist children with a range of difficulties, including: articulation, language, literacy, fluency, social skills, Autism Spectrum Disorder, auditory processing and dyslexia. The Centre’s Speech Pathologists are trained in a range of programs that can effectively assist your child.

Your speech pathologist will monitor your child’s progress and re-assess your child at regular intervals. She will give you feedback at the time of therapy sessions, and can provide written progress reports if necessary.

Our Speech Pathologists work weekdays from 8:30 am – 5:30 pm and we have limited availability on Saturdays from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. The Centre is also open during school holidays. We do our best to give everyone their preferred appointment times. However, please remember that after-school times are very popular, and there may be a waiting list for your preferred time.

• Will have therapy delivered direct to your child at home, via the internet.
• Have no need to travel, so you will save time.
• Can access therapy wherever you are located – no need to be close to a clinic.

All you need is a computer with an internet connection, and that has a camera and speakers. Laptops have cameras and speakers built in. For some desktop computers, you may need to get a simple webcam and speakers.

Your therapist will connect to you via Zoom, Skype or Facetime. She and your child will be able to see and talk to each other and work on the therapy as if they were together in the same room.

Some children and adults may be eligible for a Chronic Disease Management plan developed by their GP. The benefit is limited to five allied health services per year and cannot be used in conjunction with private health care benefits. Further information is available through the Department of Health and Ageing website.

Private health funds cover speech pathology assessments and treatment. The amount of your refund, if any, will depend on your fund’s rules and the level of your cover.

You can use your child’s NDIS funding to pay for therapy sessions if they are self-managed, plan managed, or agency managed.

You do not need a doctor’s referral to see a speech pathologist at the Centre. However, some private health funds may require a doctor’s referral letter before they will pay benefits for speech pathology. Contact your private health fund for more information.