Speech Pathology
Speech Pathologists provide specialist assessment and management for adults and children who have communication, cognitive and swallowing difficulties.
Communication problems can include difficulty with:
- Understanding
- Speaking (finding the right words, slurred speech, voice changes, stuttering)
- Reading and writing
- Expressing yourself
Swallowing problems can include:
- Coughing when eating and drinking
- Food getting stuck in your throat
- Difficulty chewing
- Difficulty managing your saliva (too much or too little)
Barwon Health offer speech pathology services across the organisation. Click the headings below to find out more.
Speech Pathology - Acute Service
This service provides assessment, diagnosis and management of inpatients and outpatients with communication and/or swallowing disorders of medical and neurological origin and Ear Nose & Throat and Head & Neck surgery origin.
Specialist services include radiation oncology, tracheostomy management, laryngectomy management, videofluoroscopic swallow studies, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) and paediatric feeding.
Contact
University Hospital Geelong, Allied Health, Heath Wing Level 2, Bellerine St, Geelong 3220
8.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
03 4215 0826
Dysphagia Clinic
The Barwon Health Speech Pathology Dysphagia Clinic provides assessment and management to clients presenting with oropharyngeal swallowing disorders. This includes issues with oral health, secretion management, and swallowing problems that are acute, chronic or progressive in nature. Our clinic offers the following specialised swallowing assessments for ages 16+:
- Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS)
- Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
Contact
Please be sure to include previous medical history and all relevant specialist information (from ENT, gastroenterology, respiratory, etc.)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fax: 4215 7795
If you have any questions about your referral please call 4215 0849
Voice Clinic
The Barwon Health Speech Pathology Voice Clinic provides assessment and management to clients aged 16 years and over presenting with acute, chronic or progressive voice disorders, including:
- Vocal fold nodules or polyps
- Vocal cord paresis or paralysis
- Paradoxical Vocal Fold Movement (PVFM)
- Functional voice disorder
- Neurological voice disorders (including spasmodic dysphonia, essential tremor)
An Ear, Nose & Throat assessment is not required – we are able to arrange an ENT assessment if indicated.
Contact
Please be sure to include previous medical history and all relevant specialist information (from ENT, respiratory, etc.)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Fax: 4215 7795
If you have any questions about your referral please call 4215 0849.
Speech Pathology - Paediatric Service
University Hospital Geelong Outpatient Paediatric Service
This service is provided to pre-school children, aged 0 – 6 years, with a primary feeding difficulty, or a primary speech and/or language difficulty as a result of a medical aetiology.
Primary Feeding Difficulties may include:
- Failure to Thrive / Poor Weight Gain
- Refusal of breast/bottle/solid foods
- Breast/bottle feeding difficulties - difficulties initiating or sustaining the feed, poor intake, weak suck, fatigue, inco-ordination
- Signs of swallowing dysfunction e.g. coughing/gurgly during feeds, frequent chest infections, chronic asthma not relieved with medication
- Difficulties with solid foods e.g. problems with chewing/gagging/transition to solids
Primary Speech and/or Language Difficulties as a result of a medical aetiology may include the following aetiologies:
- Cleft lip and/or palate
- Velopharyngeal insufficiency
- Syndromes
Contact
University Hospital Geelong, Allied Health, Heath Wing Level 2, Bellerine St, Geelong 3220
8:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday
4215 0826
Community Health Paediatric Services
This service provides assessment and treatment of communication disorders in children:
- Aged up to 6 years, prior to school entry with:
- A speech delay and difficult to understand
- A language delay (not children with a cognitive or developmental delay)
- A stutter
- Voice difficulties
- Swallowing difficulties / feeding problems not related to a medical aetiology i.e. fussy eating
Children who have a diagnosed disability or suspected developmental delay are ineligible for Barwon Health's community health speech pathology services. There are other specialised programs available for children with disabilities or developments delays and these cases should be referred to Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS).
Once eligible, the speech pathologist and family will discuss goals and options for follow-up services that may include:
- Further assessment
- Group or individual therapy
- Parent training/workshops
- Liaison with other health professionals
- Support with transition to school
Community Health Speech Pathology services are available at:
Barwon Health North
Newcomb Community Health Centre
Belmont Community Health Centre
Surfcoast Community Health Centre
Bannockburn Community Health Centre
Contact
1300 715 673
Speech Pathology - Rehabilitation Services
McKellar Inpatient Rehabilitation Centre (IRC)
This service provides inpatient assessment, diagnosis and management of the full range of communication and swallowing disorders resulting from traumatic brain injury, stroke, other acquired brain injury, other illness or ageing.
The service provides a consumer centred, goal-directed and inter-disciplinary service within specialist teams to assist patients in achieving their optimum level of independence.
Contact
Inpatient Rehabilitation Centre, McKellar Centre, 45-95 Ballarat Rd, North Geelong
8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday
4215 5812
Community Rehabilitation Centres (CRC)
- McKellar Community Rehabilitation Centre
- Belmont Community Rehabilitation Centre
Speech pathologists work with clients and their carers to achieve their goals. Speech pathologists work as part of a team of specialist health professionals in the areas of neurology, traumatic brain injury, spinal injury, and general rehabilitation. Services include assessment and rehabilitation of swallowing and individual and group therapy for communication and cognition. Therapy is provided in the centre, at home or the community depending on the client’s goals.
Our Speech Pathology team at Belmont are qualified to treat clients with Parkinson’s Disease with both the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment -LSVT Loud (www.lsvtglobal.com) and the SPEAK OUT! & LOUD Crowd programs (www.ParkinsonVoiceProject.org).
Contact
McKellar Community Rehabilitation Centre Reception
8.00am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
4215 5301
For referrals – Fax 4215 6376
Speech Pathology - Gender Affirming Voice Training Clinic
WHAT IS THE GENDER AFFIRMING VOICE TRAINING CLINIC?
This clinic provides assessment and management for those seeking gender affirming voice treatment, that is, a voice and communication style that affirms their gender. People who identify as trans or gender diverse might seek the assistance of this specialist speech pathology service for assistance developing vocal characteristics (e.g., pitch, intonation, resonance, speech rate, phrasing patterns) and non-verbal communication patterns (e.g., gestures, posture/movement, facial expressions) that affirms their gender identity.
ELIGIBILITY:
Aged 18 years or over
GP referral
LOCATION:
This clinic aims to increase inclusivity and access by offering the service via telehealth and in person at University Hospital Geelong (UHG). Therapy may be provided at UHG, at a community centre (McKellar, Belmont or North) or via telehealth.
SERVICE:
Clients will be offered 5 sessions of voice training, ideally fortnightly.
FOR PATIENTS - HOW DO I ACCESS THE CLINIC?
Speak to your GP to arrange a referral.
FOR GPs - HOW DO I REFER?
Please be sure to include previous medical history and all relevant information.
Online referral template: Community Health & Rehabilitation https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/health-professionals/outpatient-services/referral-templates
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Fax: 4215 7795
If you have any questions about your referral please call 4215 0849
Last Modified: Friday, 11 November 2022