Speech Pathology Services
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Top level
Community Health
Services
Speech Pathology
Who is this service for?
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Children (primarily under 4 years of age) with communication and / or swallowing difficulties, and their parents/carers. See Children and Families Team for further details.
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Adults with communication and /or swallowing problems, and their families/carers
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Community groups seeking information or support about communication and swallowing difficulties.
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Organisations seeking upskilling of their staff around communication and/or swallowing problems
How do I access Speech Pathology services?
To make a referral, contact MMCHS on (08) 8535 6800 and speak with the Referrals Officer. Adults may refer themselves, and parents/gaurdians may refer their children without a doctors referral.
Agencies may refer a child with parent or gaurdian consent. Referrals may also be faxed to (08) 8535 6808 or posted to PO Box 346, Murray Bridge SA 5253
If you would like a Speech Pathologist to do a presentation or workshop for your organisation or community group, please contact MMCHS administration on 8535 6800 and ask to speak with a Speech Pathologist. Please indicate whether the focus of the talk is to be for adults or children.
Where can I see a Speech Pathologist?
Within the MMCHS catchment area, a MMCHS Speech Pathologist may see people in:
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MMCHS facilities
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Client homes
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Murray Bridge Soldiers Memorial Hospital
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Child care, Kindergarten and Child Parent Centre facilities
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Playgroups
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Other community locations
Are there costs involved?
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Speech Pathology services for children are free
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Service for adults may incur a small fee, depending on whether the client is eligible for health care card concessions or is on a pension or government benifit. If you are unsure whether you should be charged a fee, please check with MMCHS.
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Presentations or workshops for community groups are usually free, but organisations may be billed
What groups do MMCHS Speech Pathologist run?
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See Children and Families Team for groups run for Parents and Children
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Community Choir - Wednesdays during school term, 4-5pm at MMCHS. Contact Sarah on 8535 6800
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Talkback group for people living with aphasia - contact Sarah on 8535 6800
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What does a Speech Pathologist do?
Prevention and early intervention underpin Speech Pathology work at MMCHS - if problems are prevented, or detected and worked on as soon as possible, the outcomes are likely to be better. If people suspect they or their child has a difficulty with communication or swallowing, we encourage people to seek advice sooner rather than later. When a problem is identified, Speech Pathologists focus on helping people with their communication and/or swallowing skills in everyday life situations. Speech Pathologist can help with:
Language:
-the ability to understand and use spoken and written language.
Speech:
-the ability to produce all the speech sounds that make up spoken words.
Voice:
-the ability to use appropriately, the noise generated by the larynx (voicebox) and airway for speech.
Fluency:
-the ability to have fluent, stutter-free speech
Swallowing:
-maximising coordination of the muscles in the mouth and throat, and modifying diet if necessary, to enable efficient and safe swallowing
Are there other Speech Pathology services in the Murray Mallee Region?
The Department of Education and Children's Services employs Speech Pathologists. Children attending DECS (public) preschool/kindergarten or school are eligible for services. Referral forms are completed by the Preschool Director or class teacher only with parent consent.
Speech Pathologists from Novita Children's Services visit Murray Bridge on a regular basis, and conduct outreach visits to regional areas every term. There is eligibility criteria, see Novita Services for more information.
Disability SA works closely with Novita Children's Services and Autism SA to support children, adults and families with special needs.
Private Speech Pathology services can be found in the Yellow Pages
What training has a Speech Pathologist had?
Speech Pathology is a 4 year degree at tertiary level that requires high entry scores. The course covers a wide range of theoretical and practical subjects including:
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Speech and language pathology and disorders
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Acquired speech and language pathology and therapy
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Linguistics
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Psychology
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Anatomy and physiology
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Audiology
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Swallowing development and disorders
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Voice
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Fluency
More information on the Speech Pathology profession and Australian training courses is available through the Speech Pathology Australia website. information about Speech Pathology undergraduate course in South Australia is available at the Flinders University website.
Other useful links - services for people with a communication or swallowing difficulty:
Australian Stuttering Research Centre
Australian Communication Exchange
Can Do 4 Kids (Townsend house)
Carers SA
Commonwealth Carelink
Disability Information and Resource Centre SA
EnableNet
Independent Living Centre
Stroke SA
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