Speech Therapy
What is a Speech Pathologist?
Speech Pathologists have been trained to assess and provide therapy for people who have difficulties communicating.
Sound Solutions Therapy Services provide assessment and therapy for all aspects of communication including speech, writing, reading, signs, symbols and gestures. We also work with people who have difficulties swallowing food and drink. Speech pathologists or speech-language pathologists were formerly known as speech therapists.
Why do we need speech pathologists?
Communication – the process of being able to understand and to be understood – is something most of us take for granted. Communication disabilities are the result of problems with speech, using and understanding language, voice, fluency, hearing, or reading and writing.
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.
Where do speech pathologists work?
Speech pathologists can work in a variety of settings. Here at Sound Solutions Therapy Services, we can provide services in:
- Kindergartens
- Primary school
- Secondary schools
- Homes
- Child care centres or
- At our office, conveniently located on Boat Harbour Drive (Hervey Bay).
Who do speech pathologists work with?
A speech pathologist’s workload might include:
- 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
How do speech pathologists work?
Speech pathologists work in a variety of ways including providing individual therapy, working in small groups, working within a classroom, becoming involved in home-based programs, providing resources and information, as well giving advice and direction to clients, their carers and other professionals.
They coordinate the management of clients, work as part of a multi disciplinary team, consult with other agencies, provide workshops and support family members and other caregivers. A speech pathologist is an important member of an early intervention team, an aged care services team and a school therapy team.
The role of speech pathologists is to advocate strongly for appropriate care and services for people with communication disabilities.
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For more information about what a Speech Pathologist is or does, please visit the Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) website.
Source: Speech Pathology Australia – What is a Speech Pathologist?
http://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/information-for-the-public/what-is-
a-speech-pathologist