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Speech Pathology

Health professionals

  • Services offered

    The Royal Children's Hospital Speech Pathology offers second opinion outpatient assessments in the following areas: 

    Speech Pathology Second Opinion Services 

    • Cleft: Second opinion assessment and management planning of cleft palate related speech difficulties and velopharyngeal insufficiency (poor palate movement) to support relevant diagnoses for concerns regarding palate movement for speech.  
    • Voice: Second opinion assessment for voice disorders and management planning. Children are referred to community services for therapy as needed. Instrumental assessments such as nasopharyngoscopy/nasendoscopy are conducted as part of this clinic with the ENT team.
    • Swallowing and Feeding: Second opinion assessments requested by community Speech Pathologists for feeding and swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), including requests for consideration of videofluoroscopy. A clear clinical question and reason for requesting a second opinion is required. This clinic is an assessment service and children are then linked back with their community Speech Pathologist for ongoing management. Referral to local health services for a second opinion should be considered in the first instance.  
    • Speech and language: Assessment of complex speech and language presentations primarily those requiring medical or surgical management considerations (e.g., pre and post epilepsy surgery). Children are referred to community services for therapy as needed.
    • Videofluoroscopy: Instrumental assessment of swallowing. We also conduct palatal videofluroscopy to examine how the palate functions for speech
    • Velopharyngeal Incompetency: Instrumental assessment (palatal videofluoroscopy and/or nasopharyngoscopy) and management of non-cleft and cleft VPI with support and liaison with other Cleft team members as required.Speech Pathology Second Opinion Services.

    Speech Pathologists in multidisciplinary clinics

    Speech pathologists are present at a large number of specialist multi-disciplinary outpatient clinics (e.g., Tracheostomy Clinic, Aerodigestive Clinic, Laryngology Clinic, Neuromuscular Clinic, Saliva Clinic, Cleft Clinic etc). 

    Instrumental investigations

    • Nasendoscopy for voice
    • Nasopharyngoscopy for VPI
    • Videofluorscopy (swallow and palate studies)

    Speech Pathologists working in other RCH programs

    There are speech pathologists working in other RCH programs. Further details about these programs are located on the RCH website

    • Rehabilitation Service - Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (VPRS)
    • Complex Care Hub
    • Hospital in the Home
    • Gender Service
    • RCH Early Childhood Early Intervention Service
    • RCH Mental Health

    Referring to Speech Pathology

    Referrals should be faxed to:         

    Central Intake Specialist Clinics on FAX (03) 9345 5034

    OR

    POSTED:        

    Central Intake
    RCH Specialist Clinics
    The Royal Children’s Hospital
    50 Flemington Rd Parkville Victoria, 3052

    To ensure appropriate and timely review and triage of referrals please ensure the following information is included:

    Patient demographic information

    • Full name and date of birth
    • Name of parent, guardian or carer
    • Address
    • Mobile (or best contact) phone number for parent, guardian or carer
    • Medicare number
    • ATSI (indigenous status)
    • CALD (interpreter requirements)

    Clinical information

    • Reason for referral
    • Physical examination results
    • Management to date
    • Investigation results
    • Relevant medical history
    • Allergies
    • Relevant medications

    Referrer details

    • Name and organisation
    • Contact number and/or email address

    Who can refer

    Referrals are only accepted from GPs, Paediatricians or other relevant medical specialists. Families cannot self-refer.

    Referrals for second opinion assessments are accepted from Speech Pathologists, please complete the Speech Pathology Second Opinion Referral Form and must be accompanied by a recent assessment report completed by the managing Speech Pathologist.

    Eligibility criteria and how to refer

    The RCH Speech Pathology department offers a consultative assessment service for outpatients. Ongoing therapy is not offered and is best provided in the community. Some referrals will not be accepted if a Speech Pathology service in the community would more appropriately meet the child’s needs.

    Outpatient referrals are only accepted on the basis of:

    1)     Requirement of tertiary-level Speech Pathology assessment and recommendations prior to, or following, an acute RCH admission/intervention 
    OR
    2)     Requirement of tertiary-level Speech Pathology assessment and recommendations for a communication or swallowing issue relating to a complex medical condition
    OR
    3)     Tertiary-level Speech Pathology assessment or second opinion is required to make recommendations concerning management

    If you require further information regarding Speech Pathology referrals, please contact the Speech Pathology Manager. 

    Some local hospitals and community health centres offer publicly funded paediatric Speech Pathology services.  They should be contacted individually to determine what services are available.

    Your patient may be best managed by a private Speech Pathologist closer to home, including if they have Speech Pathology as part of their NDIS package. You can search for a Speech Pathologist in their local area through the ‘Find a Speech Pathologist’ function of the Speech Pathology Australia website. 

    When to refer for Videofluoroscopy 

    A Videofluoroscopy Swallowing Study (VFSS) is recommended when there is concern about how well a child or infant swallows, how well the airway is protected during swallowing, and/or how well food moves from the mouth through the oesophagus.

    A Videofluoroscopy may be considered if some of the following symptoms occur regularly and haven’t improved after intervention with a Speech Pathologist:

    • Frequent choking
    • Coughing or gagging during meals/drinking
    • Trouble managing saliva
    • Gurgly/wet breathing during or after meals
    • Chronic respiratory problems including chest infections/pneumonia
    • Difficulty swallowing

    All patients referred for a Videofluoroscopy will be invited to attend a clinical swallowing assessment with an RCH Speech Pathologist prior to being booked for a Videofluoroscopy. Community Speech Pathologists are encouraged to attend these appointments where possible. Please note: A Videofluoroscopy is a different procedure to a barium meal, barium swallow, or barium follow-through.

    How to contact a Speech Pathologist at the RCH

    The Speech Pathology Department can be contacted on (03) 9345 9300 between 8.30am and 5.00pm.  As we are often treating children during the day we may not be able to take your call immediately, but we will call you back as soon as we can.

    Manager:

    Bronwyn Carrigg