What is a Speech Pathologist?
A speech pathologist helps with developing a child’s speech, language and communication skills. Areas Speech Pathologists usually treat are:
• Articulation (speech)
• Language (understanding and expression)
• Social Skills (making friends, developing eye contact, conversation skills)
• Play
• Feeding/ swallowing
• Stuttering
• Voice problems
What does a session involve?:
• Initial Assessment sessions will involve collection of information about your child and family as well as either a formal or informal assessment to determine whether treatment is required or not.
• Therapy sessions usually begin by setting goals for your child and determining how often you will attend sessions (usually weekly or fortnightly). The clinician will then begin providing therapy/ intervention for these specific goals. Home practice is usually given verbally or in written format.
• Therapy sessions can be conducted with or without the parents but often it is preferred that parents stay for sessions to observe specific techniques that the clinician may use that would be helpful for home practice.
• Group therapy sessions will not have parents in the room (but are welcome to wait in the waiting room), the session is conducted and usually followed with a feedback session to parents at the conclusion of the group.
How do we work in a team with you and your child?
We aim to provide services in partnerships with our clients, their families and other educational/ health professionals. We constantly liaise with the people that are involved in your child’s team of therapists and educators to ensure that we are all working together to achieve the best outcomes for your child.
Rebates:
• Speech pathology services can receive a Medicare rebate. Some children are eligible for a Medicare rebate through the Chronic Disease Management program and/or HCWA or Better Start Initiative. Access to these programs is through your child’s GP or Paediatrician.
• Some private health insurance “extras” packages will provide a refund for speech pathology services. Please advise the clinician which health fund you are with so that she can provide you with the appropriate receipt
How do we handle your information?:
• Learning Links Speech Pathology is committed to protecting the privacy of personal information we collect and hold about individuals.
• Learning Links Speech Pathology complies with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), other privacy laws that govern how private sector health service providers like Learning Links Speech Pathology handle your personal information (including your health information), and Speech Pathology Australia’s Code of Ethics (2010).
• For more information, please see our privacy policy.