Speech pathologist

About speech pathologists

A speech pathologist is a university-trained health professional who works with anyone who has communication difficulties. These dificulties might include:

speech disorders – for example, difficulty making or combining sounds in words and sentences
language delay – for example, trouble understanding what other people say or trouble using words and sentences to express ideas
stuttering
voice problems like hoarseness or breathiness
literacy difficulties, including spelling, reading and writing difficulties
difficulties with social skills.

Speech pathologists help people find the best way to communicate to meet their needs. This might include strategies to improve how clearly or fluently they speak. It might also include forms of assisted communication, like signs, symbols and gestures.

Speech pathologists also help children who have trouble feeding, as well as children and adults who have difficulties with swallowing food and drink.

Speech pathologists work in kindergartens and schools, hospitals, early intervention programs, community health centres, mental health services and private practice.

Speech pathologists often have expertise in specific areas like autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability or genetic conditions. They might work in specialist intervention services for children with these conditions.

Speech pathologists work one on one with children and also with groups – for example, in the classroom. They’re often part of early intervention teams of different specialists who work with children – for example, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and dietitians.

Speech pathologists are also called speech therapists or speech and language pathologists.

If your child has health or development concerns, allied health professionals like speech pathologists are there to care for your child and help you understand your child’s condition and treatment. With the support and expertise of these professionals, you can help your child thrive.

Why your child might see a speech pathologist

Your child might see a speech pathologist if they have communication difficulties including:

problems being understood by other people
problems understanding what people say
frustration because they can’t say what they want to say or can’t be understood by others
a husky voice that’s hard to hear
stuttering
difficulties with spelling, reading or writing.

A speech pathologist will assess your child’s strengths and difficulties to work out the best way to develop your child’s ability to communicate.

During the assessment
The speech pathologist will talk with you about what your child has difficulty with. The speech pathologist will also ask you about your child’s development, including their medical history.

The speech pathologist might use some special tests to assess how well your child understands instructions and questions.

The speech pathologist might also ask your child to do some tests or tasks so they can listen to and assess your child’s talking. This helps the speech pathologist get a good idea of the words and sounds your child uses.

The speech pathologist will look inside your child’s mouth to make sure there are no physical problems that could be making it hard for your child to speak. These problems are very rare, but checking for them is part of a full assessment.

After the assessment
The speech pathologist will tell you about your child’s communication abilities and needs. They might also give you a report that outlines your child’s speech difficulties and strengths, plus a therapy plan for your child. If the speech pathologist doesn’t give you this information, you can ask for it.

Other issues that speech pathologists can help with
Your child might also see a speech pathologist if they:

need help with feeding
have problems swallowing
have an intellectual disability, a genetic condition or severe speech difficulties and need alternative ways to communicate
have a history of ear infections and you’re worried about their communication.

You don’t need a GP referral to see a speech pathologist, but your GP or child and family health nurse is a good place to start if you’re worried about your child’s health or development. These professionals can help you decide about seeing a speech pathologist and help you find someone who’s right for your child. You can also use Speech Pathology Australia – Find a speech pathologist.

Before going to a speech pathologist

There are a few things to think about before you visit a speech pathologist:

Why you’re going – it’s important to understand why your child needs to see a speech pathologist. You might like to write down any concerns or questions you have about your child’s speech or language, so you’re ready for your visit.
Appointments – does the appointment need to be in person, or can it be via telehealth?
Waiting lists – how long before you can get an appointment to see the speech pathologist?
Is there anything you can do while you’re waiting for the appointment? For example, can your child start some therapy?
Costs – some speech pathologist services are free, and other services charge fees. If there’s a fee, you might be able to get a Medicare or private health insurance rebate or NDIS support.
Locations – find out where you have to go to see the speech pathologist – for example, a public or private hospital, private clinic, or community health centre. Many private speech pathologists use telehealth, particularly for families living in rural and remote areas.

You might want to talk about these and any other issues with your GP or child and family health nurse before you go to the speech pathologist. You could also ask the speech pathologist’s clinic when you make the appointment.