To provide Speech Pathology services within a multi disciplinary environment, which are timely and achieve quality outcomes for persons with acquired disorders in hearing, swallowing, and communication; speech, voice, language / cognition.

Services

The Speech and Hearing Department provides evaluation and management for patients admitted to the sub acute wards, Aged Persons Mental Health Program and the Community Programs including: Community Rehabilitation Centre, Rehabilitation in the Home and the Movement Disorders Program.

Access

Persons admitted to the Centre have automatic access to Speech Pathology services.

Access to Community Speech Pathology is via a written referral, usually the patient's attending medical officer. There is a short waiting time of approximately two weeks from receipt of the referral but this will depend on the Program. Patients may be referred for Speech Pathology only.

During the course of Speech Pathology management and in consultation with the patient, contact is arranged with family members and significant carers.

Referral Form

Management Goals

• To evaluate, utilise and maintain the person's residual communication skills for independent living, emotional adjustment and effective social communication.
• To inform and educate patients and carers as to relevant communication disorder, associated problems and appropriate management strategies.
• To provide audiometric screening tests of patient's hearing, using the department's sound treated Audiometric Suite and arrange referral to community service providers as required.
• To provide information regarding community agencies, hearing aids and strategies which enhance the person's residual hearing.
• To evaluate the person's chewing and swallowing ability, and to make recommendations regarding mode of nutritional intake, dietary texture modified diets, thickened fluids and Safe Swallowing Strategies.
• To inform and educate patients and carers concerning the management of persons with chewing and swallowing difficulties.
• To conduct video-fluoroscopic evaluation of swallow. The treating Peter James Centre, Speech Pathologist, conducts video-fluoroscopic evaluation of swallow in the Box Hill Hospital Imaging Department. The test is completed following receipt of a medical referral.
• To plan effective, safe discharge. Speech Pathology staff members attend Team Review Meetings, Case Discussion Meetings and Family Conferences. The Team Discharge Plan is developed in concert with the patient and carers. Referral for post discharge Speech Pathology services is arranged as required.

Hours

0830 hrs - 1700 hrs Monday to Friday

There is no Speech Pathology service on weekends or public holidays.

Contact

Lynette Greulich, Chief Speech Pathologist

Telephone - 03 9881 1888 extension 834 or pager 0834

Fax - 03 9881 2439

Email - speech@peterjames.org.au or Lyn.Greulich@peterjames.org.au