NDIS Speech Therapy

Speech pathology is a therapy service that can be used to help people who have speech, language or communication problems. This could be due to a stutter, developmental delay, intellectual disability or other condition.

It can also help people with swallowing difficulties. NDIS funding can be used to fund a number of different support services, including speech therapy.

What is Speech Pathology?

Speech pathology is a field of healthcare that helps people with communication disorders improve their speech, language and swallowing skills. They work in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals and nursing and residential care facilities.

In addition to helping patients communicate more clearly and fluently, they can also improve their ability to interact socially, read, and process information. A speechlanguage disorder can affect a person’s ability to do all these things and can have a serious impact on their life.

Often, speech-language pathologists work with children on a one-on-one basis, but they can also assist students in small groups or with special education teachers. Their responsibilities include assessing patients’ needs, designing therapy programs and helping patients recover their full communication potential.

Assessment

NDIS speech therapy can help to improve the way people communicate with their family, friends and others. It can also support them with swallowing difficulties if this is a problem for them.

A speech pathologist will assess your ability to communicate and may prescribe activities that you can do at home to help with communication. This could include using hand and body gestures or picture cards or other forms of assisted communication to ensure you are understood by those around you.

Speech pathologists are often seen in a clinic or at home, depending on the individual’s needs and goals. They are a key part of the allied health industry and often work alongside other professionals such as occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Treatment

A speech pathologist can help improve a person’s communication, including speaking, listening, understanding and reading skills. They can also help with language regulation and reducing behaviours that may stem from difficulties with communication.

In many cases, NDIS funding can be used to fund speech therapy. Usually, a speech pathologist will meet with a participant weekly to discuss their progress and set goals for future work.

Capacity building is a key aspect of speech therapy. This includes the ability to put new strategies into practice, with the assistance of parents and carers.

A Talk HQ Bootcamp Talk Block is an option that encourages capacity building therapy and has been well received by many families. Agreed goals are established at the start of a talk block and evaluated at the end of 12 weeks.

Outcome Measurement

Outcome measurement is an essential part of speech pathology practice, as it enables clinicians to assess the impact of their work and inform best care for clients. It also helps to identify trends and areas for improvement in treatment.

Traditionally, outcome measures have focused on achieving specific treatment goals or using the results of standardized assessments; these measured levels of impairment or communication. Increasingly, however, they are used to measure the overall effect of therapy on a client.

This study explored current clinical practice and perceived barriers and facilitators to aphasia outcome measurement within Australian SLPs, who work clinically with people with aphasia. Data were obtained through a cross-sectional online survey.

Capacity Building

Capacity building is a large part of the NDIS and helps individuals and groups achieve their goals. It can include improving communication, gaining more independence and developing skills, as well as helping to reduce the impact of disability.

NDIS Speech therapy can help individuals and groups gain the skills they need to be more independent, confident and connected. This is through therapy sessions, group therapy, allied health assistants and other therapeutic supports.

The NDIS uses outcome/therapy reports to determine the amount of funding available for therapy support. It is important that NDIS therapists are well-versed in how to write these. They need to use clinical reasoning when writing these reports, as well as being able to explain what will get the best outcomes for your participant.