Speech Pathology

We care for:

• inpatients at all three hospital sites, and those that have been referred for follow-up care on discharge
• people in the community who are referred to the Caulfield Community Health Service, Community Rehabilitation Program or the Voice Clinic

We have staff at all three hospital sites and provide a service to all units within the hospital. Each of our departments offers a variety of specialised services which can respond to your specific needs.

Inpatients and outpatients with a range of problems including disorders of swallowing, communication and voice may be referred. These problems can arise from:

• brain injuries including stroke and brain tumours
• progressive neurological conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease or Parkinson's Disease
• cancer affecting the head and neck structures
• burns affecting the head and neck region
• respiratory / breathing difficulties including tracheostomy tubes

Our service includes:

• speech and language assessments
• assessment and management of swallowing disorders including videofluoroscopy procedures (x-ray of swallowing) and FEES (fibreoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallow) assessments
• cognitive assessment and therapy
• individualised therapy programs to remediate communication disorders
• group therapy programs, including memory, and communication groups
• Return to Work/Study Program
• provision of alternative communication devices and strategies
• education and counselling to family and carers
• referral to other external agencies as appropriate

The Sandringham Speech Pathology Department also provides an outpatient videofluoroscopy service to patients from Bentleigh Bayside Community Health (referral required).

Voice Clinic

The Alfred Voice Clinic is conducted in conjunction with ENT staff on a monthly basis. This specialist clinic provides the assessment of voice disorders (via video-stroboscopy) and swallowing disorders (via fibre-optic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing).

Recommendations are developed by the team following assessment. The clinic is available to inpatients and outpatients.