While there is no certain information about the origins of language, the progression of science has allowed us to determine some information to help us piece together this complicated puzzle. It is unlikely that language exist 6 millions years ago. We shared common ancestors with chimpanzees at this point and we know that they do […]
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Having recently completed the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment Program online recertification course, I thought I would share some of the new research as well as some helpful information for people considering LSVT as a treatment program to help improve Parkinson’s Voice. Here are a few key topics: LSVTX LSVTX is an alternate way of delivering […]
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When visiting a speech pathologist for the first time, as you might guess, one of the first questions your clinician will ask you is what the reason for the visit is. If you are seeing a dysphagia specialist, then your concern will most likely be due to difficulties swallowing. Swallowing difficulties can occur with food or solids, drinks or liquids and even with saliva. These difficulties can arise due to a number of reasons such as physiological changes to the throat, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological aetiologies. Once you have established what your concerns are, there are a few key components that the assessment is composed of, including:
This includes any background history such as the initial occurrence of the swallowing concern, any previous illnesses, injuries or episodes in hospital that may serve to explain the reason for your swallowing concerns and help to determine what strategies are used to tackle the issues. Any previous investigations such as modified barium swallow or functional X-ray while you swallow will also be discussed and help guide treatment. Your current diet should also be discussed to determine a baseline from where the investigation will begin.
This is often the first part of the physical examination where you will be asked to copy an array of facial movements such as poking out your tongue and spreading your lips to determine the strength, speed and coordination of the muscles of the head and neck. Any deviations noted in these movements can help pre-empt any possible swallowing difficulties and determine the direction of swallow management.
During this component, you will be asked to eat and drink a range of food and drinks. While you are swallowing, your speech pathologist will be feeling and listening out for signs that food or fluid may be going down the wrong way into your lungs. It is essential to ensure this does not happen, as food or fluid in the lungs can cause Aspiration Pneumonia which can be life threatening.
After the assessment has been completed, your speech pathologist will provide you with the results, which will include a diagnosis and education about swallowing and the treatment programs available. Each diagnosis is different and based on the individuals presenting symptoms, which guide the type of therapy provided. For this reason, it is essential that your swallowing be assessed properly by a qualified speech pathologist prior to commencing therapy.
This article was written by our Speech Pathologist Ashleigh Fattah who is a Speech Pathology Australia member. If you have speech pathology related questions, make an appointment. We‘ll provide you with simple and effective therapy targeted to your concerns. Contact us today.
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The NDIS is a national scheme, which is being implemented across Australia to provide targeted support and better coordination and access to services for people with a disability. The scheme is a single national system catering people with any kind of disability anywhere in Australia with the aim of providing equal access to existing health care services across the country.
For children on the current Better Start and HCWA (Helping children with Autism) schemes this means that funding for therapy will transition and eventually by provided through the NDIS. For adults with disability, this will allow for access to private health care services at no cost to the individuals or their families.
Individuals with disabilities will be assessed on their needs including their physical needs and if deemed eligible they will be provided with funding to attend sessions with health professionals such as Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists to help meet their physical needs at home as well as during recreational and vocational activities. The same applies for the individuals mental needs.
Once assessed, the individual may then be eligible for therapy services to meet their mental health and communication needs. This means they will be eligible to receive funding for psychology and speech pathology services.
The amount of sessions they can receive for each service is then determined collaboratively by the individual, their Carer, the NDIS, and the specialist they are seeing. The NDIS is different from the current schemes in that funding for adults with disability is now provided through a single scheme. This means adults who have disabilities such as Down syndrome or Autism receive therapy to assist with their communication and swallowing. This means they can improve their ability to speak to members of their family at home, make new friends in the community or help them to gain employment and engage with colleagues at work.
For more information about the National Disability Insurance Scheme visit the NDIS website
This article was written by our Speech Pathologist Ashleigh Fattah who is a Speech Pathology Australia member. If you have questions about language activities, make an appointment. We‘ll provide you with simple and effective therapy targeted to your concerns. Contact us today.
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This is a common question for many people looking to book a speech pathology appointment. The real answer to this question is actually anyone. If you have a concern regarding your child or yourself, you can call a speech pathology clinic to book an appointment without a referral from another profession. While there are referrals you can get for speech pathology which entitle you to Medicare rebates, you do not need a referral to see a speech pathologist.
In order to receive a Medicare rebate for speech pathology session though, you do need a referral from either a general practitioner or a paediatrician. Both these health care providers can provide you with a care plan to receive rebates.
Often the first point of contact with a health care professional will be either a General Practitioner or Paediatrician however; you or your child may be examined by your GP for an Ear Nose and Throat assessment. An ENT specialist may then send you for a hearing assessment with an Audiologist to ensure there are no hearing difficulties at play. Both these health care professionals are important in determining the cause of a speech or language delay and once you attend a visit with a Speech Pathologist you may be sent to see either an ENT specialist or Audiologist. So it is useful to come prepared with results from both, if you have already completed these visits. The reason for this is that hearing difficulties may be the reason for a communication delay and will need to be addressed to help rectify the issue. Similarly, an adult may find that they have lost their voice and a check up of their throat with an ENT specialist may identify a structural change that requires addressing to assist with their communication difficulty.
For children, childcare workers and teachers may be the point of referral. While they are not health care professionals, they encounter many children on a daily basis and can give you an indication of how your child is progressing compared to other children their age. They can also identify issues that your child might be having which you may not notice yourself. This is a very common occurrence as you are more likely to be familiar with your child’s way of communicating and therefore can understand the message they are trying to get across more easily.
If your child has been referred for a speech pathology assessment by a childcare worker, ENT specialist, teacher or Audiologist; be sure to visit your GP to get an enhanced primary care plan or EPC referral so you can receive a Medicare Rebate where applicable.
This article was written by our Speech Pathologist Ashleigh Fattah who is a Speech Pathology Australia member. If you have speech pathology related questions, make an appointment. We‘ll provide you with simple and effective therapy targeted to your concerns. Contact us today.
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