Speech Pathology

Speech Pathology at Bass Coast Health works with inpatients of the Wonthaggi Hospital and the outpatients of the preschool and post school age of the South Coast Region.

Speech Pathologists provide assessment, therapy and referral services for communication and swallowing difficulties.

Communication difficulties may be in the areas of:

• speech (how clear speech is)
• language (ability to formulate words or sentences and to understand what is said)
• reading and writing
• voice quality changes
• fluency (stuttering)
• hearing difficulties.

Swallowing difficulties may be in the areas of

• chewing and manipulating food or fluid in the mouth
• swallowing safely
• Difficulty communicating and / or swallowing can be due to things such as developmental delays, stroke, brain injuries, learning disability, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, dementia and  hearing loss.

Speech pathologists also work with Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), devices that help people who find it difficult to speak or write to communicate more easily.

Admission Criteria

• Pre-schoolers and post school adults are eligible for outpatient’s services.
• School aged children - parents can discuss strategies and available services to support their child's development with the classroom teacher and school leadership team, or access private speech pathology service via the Speech Pathology Australia website. 
• Referrals for outpatients can be made by care providers, carers/parents, or self-referral.

Availability

Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm

Services are based at Wonthaggi however, sessions are arranged at these locations on an as needs basis:

• Cowes
• Grantville
• Inverloch
• San Remo.

Contact for referrals or enquiries - Phone: (03) 5671 3343