Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health offers expert Speech Therapy services in Perth for children and adults. Specialising in communication disorders, speech delays, and NDIS support. Book an appointment today.

A speech therapist or speech pathologist can treat and assist with a wide range of communication, speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing disorders. Here's a comprehensive list:

Speech Disorders

1. Articulation Disorders: Difficulty producing speech sounds correctly.

2. Phonological Disorders: Patterns of speech sound errors (e.g., replacing "r" with "w").

3. Apraxia of Speech: Difficulty coordinating the movements needed for speech.

4. Dysarthria: Weakness in the muscles used for speaking, often due to neurological conditions.

Language Disorders

1. Expressive Language Disorders: Difficulty expressing thoughts, ideas, or emotions using language.

2. Receptive Language Disorders: Difficulty understanding spoken or written language.

3. Mixed Expressive-Receptive Language Disorders: Both expressive and receptive language challenges.

4. Developmental Language Delays: Delays in language skills compared to age-appropriate norms.

5. Aphasia: Language impairment typically caused by stroke or brain injury affecting speaking, understanding, reading, or writing.

Voice Disorders

1. Hoarseness or Strained Voice: Issues with pitch, volume, or vocal quality due to vocal fold problems.

2. Vocal Cord Paralysis: Difficulty speaking due to damage to the nerves controlling vocal cords.

3. Resonance Disorders: Problems with how air flows through the nose and mouth during speech, affecting voice quality (e.g., hypernasality or hyponasality).

4. Laryngitis affected voice.

5. Vocal Cord Strain: caused by singing, using your voice loudly.

6. Acid Reflux (GORD): Hoarseness due to acid reflux.

7. Vocal Nodules or Polyps

Fluency Disorders

1. Stuttering: Disruptions in the flow of speech, including repetitions, prolongations, and blocks.

2. Cluttering: Rapid, disorganized speech that can be hard to understand.

Social Communication Disorders

1. Pragmatic Language Disorders: Difficulty with the social aspects of communication (e.g., knowing how to take turns in conversation, understanding nonverbal cues).

2. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Assisting with communication challenges, social interaction, and understanding language in context.

Cognitive-Communication Disorders

1. Memory Problems: Difficulties with recalling information, common after brain injuries or neurological conditions.

2. Problem-Solving Difficulties: Struggles with reasoning, organising thoughts, or decision-making.

3. Attention Deficits: Problems focusing and maintaining attention during communication.

Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)

1. Difficulty Swallowing Food or Liquids: Identifying issues with swallowing and working on improving safety and function.

2. Choking or Coughing While Eating: Addressing risks associated with aspiration (when food or liquid enters the airway).

3. Feeding Disorders in Children: Helping children who have difficulty with eating certain textures or food aversions.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

1. Nonverbal Communication: Helping individuals who are nonverbal or have limited verbal abilities use communication devices or strategies (e.g., picture boards, speech-generating devices).

Hearing Impairments

1. Communication Strategies for Hearing Loss: Assisting individuals with hearing impairments to develop communication skills using speechreading, auditory training, or AAC.

2. Auditory Processing Disorders: Difficulty understanding spoken language despite normal hearing ability.

Neurological Conditions

1. Stroke or Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Assisting with language, speech, and swallowing issues caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other neurological conditions.

2. Progressive Neurological Disorders: Speech and communication support for conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s Disease (PD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Dementia.

3. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Paediatric Services

1. Developmental Delays: Supporting early speech and language development in children with delays.

2. Speech Sound Disorders in Childhood: Addressing childhood apraxia, articulation delays, and phonological disorders.

3. Early Literacy and Phonological Awareness: Helping children develop the foundational skills needed for reading and writing.

Cleft Palate or Craniofacial Disorders

1. Speech and Resonance Therapy: Assisting with speech difficulties due to structural issues in the mouth, nose, or throat.

A speech therapist can work with people of all ages, from infants to the elderly, helping them communicate more effectively and address any issues that affect their ability to speak, understand language, or swallow.

Psychogenic Disorders

1. Psychogenic Voice Disorders

2. Conversion Disorder

Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

1. Laryngectomy Rehabilitation

2. Head and Neck Cancer Rehabilitation

Gender Affirming Voice

1. Speech Therapy for Transfemale- Voice

2. Speech Therapy for Trans-male Voice

Speech Therapy Services in Perth for Children & Adults

What is Speech Therapy?

Speech Therapy, also known as Speech Pathology, focuses on diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, our speech therapists work with individuals of all ages, helping them improve their communication skills, speech clarity, social interaction, and swallowing function. Whether you’re seeking support for a child with speech delays or an adult recovering from a stroke, we provide tailored therapy plans to meet each person's unique needs.

How Can Speech Therapy Help You?
Speech Therapy is a vital service that can improve various aspects of communication and swallowing:

• Speech Delays in Children: Helping children with delayed speech development, articulation issues, and phonological disorders.

• Language Disorders: Addressing difficulties with understanding or using language, including receptive language disorders and expressive language disorders.

• Swallowing and Feeding Difficulties: Assisting individuals who have trouble swallowing (dysphagia) due to conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or neurological conditions like Parkinson's Disease.

• Social Communication Disorders: Supporting individuals who struggle with social interactions, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

• Stuttering & Fluency Disorders: Helping clients manage fluency issues like stuttering, improving speech flow and confidence.

Speech Therapy Services We Provide
At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, we offer a comprehensive range of Speech Therapy services for both children and adults:

• Paediatric Speech Therapy
  We specialise in working with children with speech delays, language difficulties, and communication disorders. Our therapists use play-based and evidence-based interventions to make therapy engaging and effective. We support children with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Developmental Delays, and Speech Sound Disorders.

• Adult Speech Therapy
  For adults, we provide therapy for communication and swallowing issues that arise from conditions like Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or aging. Our goal is to help individuals regain their communication skills and improve their quality of life.

• NDIS Speech Therapy Services
  As a provider to the NDIS, we deliver speech therapy services for individuals with disabilities. Our NDIS-funded speech therapy programs aim to improve communication, swallowing, and social interaction, empowering clients to lead more independent lives.

• Speech Therapy for Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)
  Swallowing disorders can make eating and drinking difficult, leading to health complications. Our speech therapists assess and treat dysphagia, offering personalized treatment plans to improve swallowing safety and function.

Why Choose Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health for Speech Therapy?

• Experienced Speech Therapists: Our speech pathologists are experienced in treating a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders.

• NDIS Provider: We are a provider under the NDIS (for self and plan-managed participants), offering speech therapy services tailored to each participant’s plan and goals.

• Family-Centered Approach: We work closely with families and carers, ensuring they are involved in the therapy process and can support progress at home.

• Comprehensive Care: Our speech therapists collaborate with other allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and exercise physiologists, to provide holistic, integrated care.

Sensory Room and Kids Therapy Gym
Our state-of-the-art sensory room and kids therapy gym are designed to provide sensory integration therapy and gross motor development in a fun and safe environment. These spaces are equipped with a trampoline, climbing frames, swings, and other tools to help children and adults with sensory processing challenges or developmental delays.

Why Choose Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health for Occupational Therapy?

• Qualified and experienced occupational therapists with a passion for helping people

• State-of-the-art facilities, including sensory rooms and rehabilitation gyms

• Tailored therapy plans for all ages and abilities

• NDIS provider offering individual and group sessions (plan and self managed participants)

• Multidisciplinary team working alongside physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, and speech therapists

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Speech Therapy

Q: What does a speech therapist do?
A speech therapist, also known as a speech pathologist, diagnoses and treats individuals with communication, speech, language, and swallowing disorders. They work with both children and adults to improve their ability to communicate effectively and manage swallowing difficulties.

Q: What are common signs that my child needs speech therapy?

Some common signs that a child might need speech therapy include:

• Difficulty pronouncing words or making speech sounds

• Delayed speech development (not speaking by age 2)

• Struggling to form sentences or use correct grammar

• Trouble following directions or understanding language

• Stuttering or difficulties with fluency

If you notice any of these signs, it’s a good idea to consult a speech therapist for an assessment.

Q: Can speech therapy help adults after a stroke?

Yes, speech therapy can help adults who have experienced a stroke by improving speech clarity, language skills, and swallowing function. Speech therapists work with stroke survivors to restore communication abilities and regain independence in their daily lives.

Q: Is speech therapy covered by the NDIS?

Yes, speech therapy is covered under the NDIS for individuals with disabilities. If you have NDIS funding, our team can help you access speech therapy services that align with your goals and needs.

Q: How long does speech therapy take?

The length of speech therapy depends on the individual’s specific needs and the severity of the communication or swallowing disorder. Some clients may see significant improvement in a few months, while others may require ongoing therapy over a longer period.

Q: Is speech therapy covered by Medicare?

Speech therapy may be covered by Medicare under a Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM) for eligible patients. You will need a referral from your GP, and the plan allows for up to five subsidized sessions each year.