Assessment and therapy vary based on the concerns and needs of participants. At Communico Speech Language and Swallowing Therapy, participants are always involved in the decision making. Below is a general guide of what is involved.
We review your referral/intake information to determine if our services are appropriate for you. If services are appropriate or more information is needed to determine this, an assessment/consultation appointment will be offered. You can also chat to your GP for more information.
Assessment tools, techniques, surveys, and observations are used to identify a participant's skills and areas they are concerned with. The results are analysed, and if necessary, a formal diagnosis is made.
We determine what therapeutic supports the participant requires to address their communication and/or swallowing concerns. This may involve referrals to other practitioners (e.g. OT, Psychology) as well as a report detailing results and recommendations.
Therapy goals are determined based on the participant's assessment results, individual concerns, preferences, and priorities. We break these goals down further and work towards them one step at a time.
Therapy duration and frequency vary case by case, from months to years. We continuously monitor and adapt therapy strategies to ensure progress is made throughout. The therapy structures can involve traditional 1:1 therapy with the clinician to an indirect consultation approach. Find out about the various therapy approaches and elements we offer here.
Services end when the Speech Pathologist and participant are satisfied their goals have been met. This may involve a re-assessment towards the end of services or 3-6 months after. If concerns/changes arise, especially involving swallow function, sudden communication changes or behavioral issues secondary to communication difficulties, a follow up review is necessary.
For children especially, a large focus of the speech therapy session is supporting the parent/carer to learn how to implement speech therapy strategies. This is because regular practice outside of the therapy session, at home and in the community with a trusted family/friend results in better outcomes and progress towards a targeted goal. Collaboration and training with the wider team ensures they are also able to implement recommended strategies to consolidate the participants' skill development.
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