Adult Acute & Subacute Services
Speech Pathology is viewed as an integral part of the service profile in the acute, inpatient and community rehabilitation
services.
Clinicians provide timely and effective assessment and management of patients with swallowing and communication difficulties as well as providing appropriate support to carers/families and staff.
Where do Speech Pathologists work?
Speech Pathologists work across all three hospitals of
Western Health (Sunshine, Western and Williamstown).
Speech Pathologists work as part of a multidisciplinary team
to provide a service to adult patients in hospital wards, outpatient clinics and the Community Based Rehabilitation service.
What do Speech Pathologists do?
Speech Pathologists provide detailed, specialist assessment
and management of:
Swallowing difficulties
Dysphagia or swallowing difficulty can be caused by structural changes or neurological conditions (eg. dementia, Motor
Neurone Disease or Parkinson's disease).
Swallowing difficulties are sometimes seen in elderly people
with no specific neurological condition. Left unmanaged, dysphagia can lead to choking or food and fluid entering the
airway resulting in serious illness (pneumonia).
Speech Pathologists conduct videofluoroscopies (an x-ray of swallowing) as a diagnostic tool to objectively assess
swallowing difficulties.
Speech difficulties
Dysarthria is a speech difficulty caused by weakness of the muscles as a result of damage to the brain or nerves.
The speech can sound slurred, unclear or slow.
Dyspraxia is a difficulty performing a coordinated movement voluntarily despite intact muscle strength. It can affect the
limbs or speech. Verbal Dyspraxia can be frustrating and
sound effortful as the speaker tries to correct inconsistent
speech errors.