Speech Pathology

Speech Pathology provides rehabilitation services to inpatients and outpatients aged 16 years and older who present with acquired communication and/or swallowing disorders.

Presentations to Speech Pathology include:

  • aphasia (language disturbance)
  • dysarthria (slurred speech)
  • apraxia of speech (difficulty producing speech sounds)
  • dysphonia (voice difficulties)
  • dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
  • transgender voice and communication

Medical conditions seen in Speech Pathology include stroke, Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, inclusion body myositis, dementia, head injury, Bell’s palsy, voice disorders secondary to vocal strain, neurosurgery, and other neurological conditions.

Please note we do not see individuals with developmental disorders such as specific language impairment, dyslexia or chronic disabilities including cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome.

Group-based Interventions

Speech Pathology offers individual assessment and treatment as well as group-based interventions. Groups operate on a weekly basis and include:

  1. Cognitive/communication group – intended for individuals who have communication and/or cognitive impairment following a neurological event.
     
  2. Parkinson’s maintenance group – intended for patients who have undertaken Lee Silvermann Voice Treatment and who wish to maintain communication skills.
     
  3. Primary Progressive Aphasia – intended for patients with suspected or diagnosed primary progressive aphasia secondary to dementia. Education is also provided to carers on facilitating communication.

Outpatient Services

Specialty outpatient services include:

  • Aged care
  • Under 65 rehabilitation
  • Stroke rehabilitation
  • Progressive neurological (MND, PD, MS, IBM, Dementia)

A specialist diagnostic radiology service (Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study) is available to inpatients and outpatients with swallowing disorders. This service is run collaboratively with the Perth Radiology Clinic located at Bentley Health Service.

Referral Process

Referrals are accepted from all health professionals including General Practitioners, Medical Specialists, Community/Specialist Nurses and Allied Health Clinicians. Self-referral (where clinically indicated) is also accepted.

Patients must live in the Bentley Health Service catchment area which includes the following post codes:

  • 6000
  • 6003 – 6005
  • 6050 – 6053
  • 6062
  • 6100 – 6107
  • 6151.

For advice on whether to refer, please phone 9416 3233.

Last Updated: 18/03/2022