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Speech Pathology - Face to Face and Telehealth Appointments Available

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Feel Better For Life

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What is it?

Speech pathologists assess and treat people who have communication difficulties – in their speech, writing, reading, signs, symbols and gestures, as well as any issues with fluency and swallowing. They also treat defects, disorders and malfunctions of speech and voice, including stuttering, lisping, language disturbances or delayed language acquisition in children. Formerly, this profession was called speech therapy.

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How does it work to heal you?

You may be thinking a speech pathologist only helps people who stutter or lisp. While they do treat those difficulties, their scope of practice is far broader. Speech pathologists can also help with:

  • Speech delays and disorders including articulation and motor speech disorders
  • Language delays and disorders, including expression and comprehension in oral and non-verbal contexts
  • Fluency disorders, including stuttering
  • Voice and resonance disorders
  • Swallowing and feeding disorders in children and infants
  • Cognitive-communicative disorders including social communication skills, reasoning, and problem solving functions
  • Pre-literacy and literacy skills including phonological awareness, decoding, reading comprehension and writing
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Why are we different?

Our speech pathologists specialise in working with children. If you’re looking for an adult speech pathologist, we can refer you to someone who can help.

We focus on providing personal, quality care for your child – that combines comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services with an understanding of the functional and emotional issues attached to the challenge.

Our speech pathologists work closely with our other therapy disciplines within our integrated health model.  Therefore, they have a holistic and family-centred view of your child and how your child's communication needs fit into your life.

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While you're with us, you'll enjoy:


  • Caring, compassionate, experienced speech pathologists
  • Friendly, warm and helpful receptionists
  • Minimal waiting list times
  • Individualised holistic care
  • FaHCSIA, NDIS and Medicare-rebated funding accepted
  • Instant private health fund claiming
  • Paediatric team to assist with broader issues
  • Easy parking
  • A dedicated children's waiting area
  • Complimentary tea and coffee in the waiting area
 
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Speech pathology services available:


The speech pathologists at Tyack Health provide assessment and individualised therapy to children in relation to:

Speech
  • Sound errors (e.g. 'tar' for 'car')
  • Difficulty making mouth movements or sequences required for speech
  • Childhood Apraxia of Speech / Developmental Verbal Dyspraxia
  • Oro-motor skills / orofacial myofunctional disorders
Language
  • Receptive language (e.g. difficulty learning concepts, following directions, understanding information)
  • Expressive language (e.g. limited vocabulary, poor grammar, problems finding the right words, using short simple sentences)
  • Developmental Language Disorder
  • Specific Language Impairment
Fluency
  • Stuttering (e.g. repeating sounds, producing long sounds, long pauses when talking)
  • Rate of talking (ie. too fast, too slow)
  • Production errors impacting on ease of talking
Social Skills
  • Difficulty with conversations, making friends, misunderstanding facial expressions, uses humour incorrectly, too passive when resolving conflict, semantic-pragmatic disorder, ASD.
Literacy
  • Difficulty with rhyming, sound to letter association, sounding and blending words, knowing the alphabet, spelling, reading, dyslexia.
Auditory Processing
  • Difficulty following instructions, sequencing ideas, remembering information, easily distracted, slow processing, challenges in noisy environments.

 

 
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Additional services that are available include:


  • Group therapy programs, including 'Super Start for School' prep readiness program
  • Joint occupational therapy and speech pathology sessions
  • Home and school visits
  • Consultative support and education to parents/carers, teachers and other service providers
  • Training for parents/carers, teachers and community members: 'Key Word Sign' workshops, 'More Than Words' parent training, 'Learning Language and Loving It' educator training
  • Individualised resources (e.g. visuals supports, social stories) to support the child in other settings
 

Speech Pathology Telehealth


  • If you have ever used skype, facetime, messenger video, you will be able to do this – it’s essentially a video chat.
  • It allows you to stay home for your safety (and potentially convenience).
  • We will send you the information via email that walks you through the simple process of setting it all up.
  • Patients must complete a consent form prior to having a telehealth session.

Fees

  • Existing Speech Pathology fees apply for telehealth appointments.
  • Medicare funded EPC appointments – the Department of Health has stipulated certain criteria for patients at risk of Covid-19, which if met, will trigger a bulk-billed Speech Pathology EPC appointment.  Please discuss these criteria with your Speech Pathologist if you currently have an EPC plan.   
  • Health fund claiming – many health funds are now also rebating for telehealth appointments.  Please confirm with your own private health fund, should you be wanting to claim a rebate under your private health cover.

 

 
 

Rebecca Fuller

BSpPath (Honours)

Rebecca passionately believes communication is one of the most important things we do in everyday life, so being able to help people with their communication is hugely rewarding.  Seeing her clients improve and helping them move closer towards their goals gives Rebecca great satisfaction.  Rebecca became a Speech Pathologist because she truly enjoys helping others in a variety of specialty areas, including speech, early language, literacy and fluency, swallowing and feeding.

 
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Our Approach: fun, functional, focused and family-oriented.


Children who overcome communication issues grow in both confidence and self-esteem.  Like anything, learning to speak well is not just functionally difficult, it can also be emotionally challenging. For us, success comes when you connect, have fun, grow and celebrate each little win!

Our speech pathologists are experienced and are passionate about making a lifelong difference in the lives of the children with whom they work. They are committed to ongoing development of their skills and knowledge to ensure the delivery of up-to-date, evidence-based treatments for your children.  All our speech pathologists are members of Speech Pathology Australia and are registered Medicare providers.

Our speech pathology team offers both during school and after hours’ appointments to suit busy family schedules.  They aim to be flexible to fit in with your family needs.

Our speech pathologists are part of our larger paediatric team which includes occupational therapy and psychology.  The paediatric team works together to enhance the care of children who need to see more than one therapist to overcome their challenges.

 
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Appointments


  • Initial Assessment and Consultation: 1 hr
  • Subsequent Assessment Session: 1 hr
  • Formal Parent Only Feedback Session: 30 mins - 1 hr
  • Therapy - 60 mins / 45 mins / 30 mins.  Your speech pathologist will recommend appropriate length of therapy sessions, however this will be determined with your input.

The first appointment for your child will be a 1 hour assessment session. During this time, the therapist will take the opportunity to begin building rapport with your child, discuss the main concerns you have regarding your child’s communication skills and begin assessing their communication abilities.  You can help by ensuring you have completed the New Patient forms emailed to you prior to the appointment and bring along (or email) all reports/Letters about your child's development.

The length of time it will take to complete an assessment will depend on your child’s age and individual needs. Follow-on assessment sessions may be required, however this will be discussed with you at the first appointment.

At the completion of assessment, feedback will be provided and you will have an opportunity to discuss the assessment outcomes. Together, an intervention plan will be made for your child, if required. This may need to occur in a follow-up session and, in some cases, might require an appointment without your child present.

A written report can be provided outlining your child’s assessment results, recommendations and action plan. This is particularly relevant if your child has been referred to speech pathology by kindy or school staff, their doctor or paediatrician, or is receiving funding supports.

How much therapy, how often it is needed and where it should be provided varies with each individual. The recommended options will be discussed with you and, from this, you can decide the best step forward for your child and family.

 

Department Hours & Fees


Department Hours:

Monday   12.30pm - 6.30pm

Tuesday   12.30pm - 6.30pm

Wednesday  9.00am - 5.45pm

Friday   7.30am - 1.30pm

Consultation Fees:

Initial Assessment Session (60 mins) - $190

Report Fee - Reports are billed on an hourly rate.  Please discuss report fees with your therapist at the time of request.

Therapy/Feedback Session (45 mins) - $130

(Please note that brief appointments can be made at the discretion of the Practitioner; a reduced fee may apply.)

* NDIS Funding options available - see below.

* Private Health Fund Rebates available

* Medicare rebate available - see 'Funding Initiatives' below.

Cancellation Policy

We understand that life is unpredictable and you may not always be able to make your scheduled appointment. If you can’t make an appointment we respectfully request at least 48 hours notice to cancel or arrange for another time.


Missed appointments and appointments cancelled without 48 hours notice may be charged the full consultation fee.

 

Funding Initiatives:

(1) Medicare Rebates

Medicare rebates can be accessed by children under 15 years with the same medical conditions as above, as long they received a diagnosis prior to 13 years of age.

A referral under this plan can either be for assistance with the diagnosis process (up to 4 sessions), or for treatment after receiving diagnosis (up to 20 sessions). Note that these sessions cannot be renewed annually, and can be used for other allied health services as well (with the total number of services not exceeding 4 and/or 20). The sessions are available for children with Autism or a Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD).

(2) NDIS

At Tyack Health we are registered providers under NDIS.  We offer NDIS services under Therapeutic supports for children and families.  We can accept families who are self, plan or agency managed.  NDIS appointments are charged in line with the NDIS price guide.  For more information see  https://www.ndis.gov.au/providers/price-guides-and-pricing#ndis-price-guide-2020-21

(3) Chronic Disease Management/Team Care Plans (formerly EPCs)

Medicare rebates can be accessed when your child needs ongoing support and care for a persisting condition, which requires multiple therapists/multi-disciplinary team.  Eligible patients can claim a rebate of 5 allied health sessions in the calendar year.  Your child's GP can assess eligibility for this plan and provide referral information to the speech pathologist. Your therapist reports back to your doctor after the initial consultation and at the end of each block of treatment.  For more information see  https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mbsprimarycare-chronicdiseasemanagement