Services

Shoalhaven Speech & Swallowing Clinic is focused on providing expert care where patient goals and values are prioritised.

Our Patients

Shoalhaven Speech & Swallowing Clinic specialises in high-quality care for adults experiencing communication and/or swallowing difficulties. We welcome anyone facing challenges - whether mild or complex, short-term or ongoing - and provide support tailored to each individual. With experience working with an extensive range of conditions, age groups and in various care settings, we offer respectful, evidence-based therapy that’s focused on meaningful goals and real-life outcomes.


Communication and swallowing difficulties can arise for many reasons - too many to list fully. Some common causes include:


  • Neurological conditions or injury (e.g. Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Dementia, stroke)
  • Oncological presentations (e.g. head and neck cancer, brain cancer, lung cancer, oncology treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy)
  • Structural impairments (e.g. changes to the anatomy of the head and neck associated with trauma/accident, surgery)
  • Other health related conditions (e.g. respiratory or cardiac conditions, general deconditioning/fatigue, malnutrition)
  • Developmental conditions (e.g. Cerebral Palsy, developmental delay, intellectual disability, Autism)
  • General age-related changes


Whether you're reaching out for yourself or someone you care about, we’re here to offer compassionate, expert care where you feel heard, supported and empowered to make progress in a way that matters to you.

How it works

  • 1. Get in touch

    Get in touch! Give us a call or fill out the referral form via our contact page.

  • 2. What to expect when booking an appointment

    We work with you to make an appointment at a time that suits you. If information regarding possible funding or rebates is requested, this can be discussed at this time.

  • 3. Do I need a referral?

    No, you do not need a referral to see a speech pathologist. 


    Although it is not required, in some cases, a medical practitioner may refer you to a speech pathologist and provide a written referral letter. If this is the case, please let your speech pathologist know of any referral paperwork at the time of booking. This allows us better understand your concerns and to help support planning for your initial assessment and onward care.

  • 4. Initial assessments

    The first appointment with a speech pathologist involves conducting a thorough assessment. This includes obtaining a detailed case history regarding your communication or swallowing concerns, as well as discussing relevant medical history. Depending on your concerns, assessment may also include review of the head and neck muscles. If you have concerns with your swallowing, you can expect to complete an assessment with items of food and/or drink during the initial appointment. Likewise, your speech pathologist may complete a number of speech or language assessment tools to allow them to best understand your presentation and determine optimum therapies. 

  • 5. Therapy sessions

    Depending on your presentation and the outcome of your assessment, it may be beneficial to commence therapy sessions with your speech pathologist. 

  • 6. Regular review and collaboration

    We are passionate about maintaining a clear focus for our patients and regularly reviewing progress towards their established goals. 


    If onward referrals are recommended, we will discuss this with you, ensuring you are in involved in all aspects of your care. Likewise, if the speech pathologist feels you would benefit from multi-disciplinary care, that is, collaboration between your speech pathologist and wider medical team such as GP, neurologist, geriatrician, etc., this is discussed with you in advance and included as part of your care.

Service Area

Shoalhaven Speech & Swallowing Clinic services communities within the beautiful Shoalhaven region of

New South Wales. From Kiama to Jervis Bay, give us a call to discuss organising a home visit from a

speech pathologist today.

Contact

Telehealth Services

If you live outside our service area for home visits, we offer telehealth speech pathology services to patients across Australia.


Telehealth is the delivery of health care via remote modalities, including phone calls or the use of video platforms. Evidence has shown telehealth to be an effective and valuable method for delivering speech pathology care, and can be just as effective as in-person therapy for various communication challenges.


If you would like to explore whether telehealth might be an option for your speech pathology journey, get in touch, we are ready to help!

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What can a speech pathologist help with?

Language and Communication

  • Expressing yourself clearly
  • Understanding written or spoken language
  • Social communication skills - e.g. reading and using body language, adjusting your language for different settings and situations
  • Professional communication skills such as public speaking or within work/business interactions
  • Cognitive communication changes (e.g. memory, planning, problem solving, attention)
  • Reading and writing difficulties
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Voice and Speech Changes

  • Voice disorders - changes to the quality, pitch or volume of your voice that makes it difficult for you to use your voice as needed within your life.
  • Speech changes - difficulty achieving clear, intelligible speech
  • Difficulties with breathing that may impact your voice/speech.
  • Stuttering or fluency disorders
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Swallowing

  • Any difficulties eating or drinking - e.g. taking a long time to finish meals, coughing or choking with intake, discomfort when swallowing or sensations of food 'getting stuck', pain on swallowing
  • Drooling / difficulties managing your saliva
  • Difficulties swallowing tablets and medications
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