FAQ

Does DVA cover speech pathology?

DVA lists speech pathology as one of the allied health services available to eligible members of the veteran community. Access depends on the client’s DVA eligibility, referral and treatment rules.

Do I need a referral for DVA speech pathology?

Usually, yes. DVA allied health services generally operate under referral and treatment cycle arrangements.

How long does a DVA treatment cycle last?

In general, a DVA allied health treatment cycle lasts for up to 12 sessions or one year, whichever ends first.

Can speech pathology help with swallowing problems?

Yes. Speech pathologists assess and manage swallowing difficulties as well as communication issues. DVA’s speech pathology schedule includes clinical assessment and treatment items relevant to swallowing support.

Do you offer home visits for DVA speech pathology?

Yes, where suitable. We offer clinic and mobile appointments, depending on therapist availability, location and clinical appropriateness.

Can White Card holders access speech pathology?

Potentially, but White Card access is generally limited to accepted service-related conditions or specific approved pathways. Eligibility depends on the client’s circumstances and DVA rules.

Do you only provide speech therapy for veterans?

No. We also provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy and exercise physiology, depending on referral, eligibility and clinical need.

Do you support older veterans?

Yes. We support adults and older adults with speech pathology needs relating to communication, voice, cognition and swallowing.

Speech Therapy Services in Perth for Children & Adults

Speech Therapy (also called Speech Pathology) focuses on assessing, diagnosing, and treating communication and swallowing difficulties. At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, our speech pathologists support children, teens, and adults to improve speech clarity, language skills, social communication, voice and fluency and swallowing safety.

How Can Speech Therapy Help You?

Speech therapy can help with a wide range of concerns, including:

• Speech delays in children: Supporting speech sound development, clarity, and age-appropriate communication.

• Speech sound disorders: Including articulation (sound production) and phonological (sound patterns) difficulties.

•  Language disorders: Helping with both receptive language (understanding) and expressive language (using words and sentences).

• Swallowing and feeding difficulties (dysphagia): Supporting people who have difficulty swallowing safely due to conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or neurological conditions.

• Social communication differences: Supporting conversational skills, turn-taking, perspective-taking, and understanding non-verbal communication.

•  Stuttering and fluency disorders: Helping clients manage fluency, reduce effort/tension, and build confidence in communication.

Speech Therapy Services We Provide

Paediatric Speech Therapy

• Paediatric speech therapy supports children with speech, language, communication, and early literacy needs using evidence-based and child-friendly approaches. Sessions may be play-based (especially for younger children), while still being structured and goal-directed.

• Common areas we support include:

  1. Speech sound development (clarity and intelligibility)

  2. Language delays and developmental language disorder

  3. Social communication support

  4. AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) where appropriate

  5. Early literacy foundations (e.g., phonological awareness)

Adult Speech Therapy

• Adult speech therapy supports adults with communication and swallowing needs related to neurological conditions, injury, medical events, or age-related changes. Therapy is practical, functional, and designed around everyday participation (home, work, community).

• Common areas we support include:

  1. Communication changes after stroke, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or neurological illness

  2. Dysarthria and motor speech changes

  3. Cognitive-communication difficulties (attention, memory, organisation impacting communication)

  4. Voice therapy where indicated

  5. Dysphagia support and mealtime strategies

NDIS Speech Therapy Services

• NDIS speech therapy is available for self-managed and plan-managed participants. Therapy may focus on functional communication goals, speech clarity, social interaction and participation, and AAC support where required. We collaborate with participants, families, support coordinators, schools, and relevant providers to support practical, meaningful outcomes.

Speech Therapy for Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)

• Dysphagia (swallowing) support helps when swallowing difficulties affect hydration, nutrition, safety and confidence with eating and drinking. Our speech pathologists can complete clinical assessments (as appropriate), provide strategies for safer swallowing, recommend targeted exercises when indicated, and support shared-care referral pathways with GPs/ENT/medical teams when needed.

• Why Choose Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health for Speech Therapy?

• Experienced Speech Pathologists: Skilled in paediatric and adult communication and swallowing support.

• NDIS Provider (self- and plan-managed): Therapy is aligned to participant goals and everyday function.

• Family-Centred Approach: We involve parents, carers, and supports where appropriate so strategies carry over into real life.

• Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Care: We work alongside our broader allied health team when integrated support is beneficial.

Sensory Room and Kids Therapy Gym

• Our sensory room and kids therapy gym can support therapy goals through a motivating, functional environment—particularly helpful for children who benefit from movement-based learning and sensory regulation strategies. These spaces may be used when clinically relevant to support engagement, attention, participation, and goal progress.

Locations

• We offer speech pathology services in Perth, including our Malaga and Noranda clinics.

Speech Therapy – What We Can Help With

Speech pathologists (speech therapists) support children and adults with a wide range of speech, language, voice, fluency, and swallowing needs. Below is a practical overview of the common areas we assess and treat at Palms.

Speech Sound & Motor Speech

• Articulation Disorders: Difficulty producing specific speech sounds clearly (e.g., /s/, /r/, /l/).

• Phonological Disorders: Patterns/rules of sound errors that reduce intelligibility (e.g., fronting, final consonant deletion).

• Apraxia of Speech: Motor planning/programming difficulty; speech errors may be inconsistent and speech can sound “choppy.”

• Dysarthria: Speech changes due to weakness, tone or coordination differences affecting speech muscles.

Language

• Expressive Language Disorder: Difficulty using words/sentences to share ideas, tell stories, ask questions, or use grammar accurately.

• Receptive Language Disorder: Difficulty understanding spoken/written language, following instructions, or processing complex language.

• Mixed Expressive–Receptive Language Disorder: Difficulties with both understanding and expressing language.

• Developmental Delays: Support when speech and language milestones are developing more slowly than expected.

• Aphasia: Language difficulty often after stroke/brain injury, affecting speaking, understanding, reading and/or writing.

Voice

• Hoarseness or Strained Voice: Raspy, breathy, strained or unreliable voice; can relate to vocal load, inflammation, reflux, or vocal fold changes.

• Vocal Cord Paralysis: One or both vocal folds do not move normally, impacting voice, breathing and/or swallowing.

• Resonance Disorders: Speech that sounds overly nasal or “blocked”; may be structural, neuromuscular and/or learned.

• Gender Affirming Voice and Speech Therapy: Support to align voice and communication with gender identity using safe, evidence-based voice techniques.

• Psychogenic Voice Disorders and Conversion Disorder: Voice changes linked to psychological factors; therapy supports voice recovery and functional communication.

Fluency

• Stuttering: Disruptions to speech flow (repetitions, prolongations, blocks) that can impact confidence and participation.

• Cluttering: Fast or irregular speech rate that can reduce clarity and organisation of spoken messages.

Social Communication

•  Pragmatic Language Disorder: Support for conversation skills, turn-taking, topic maintenance, inference, and interpreting non-verbal cues.

Swallowing & Feeding

• Dysphagia (Swallowing Disorders): Assessment and strategies to support safe swallowing and reduce aspiration risk (often alongside GP/ENT/medical teams when needed).

Hearing & Listening

• Hearing Impairments: Therapy to support listening, speech clarity, language development, and communication strategies in partnership with audiology where required.

Neurological Conditions

• Speech Therapy for Neurological Conditions: Communication and swallowing rehabilitation for stroke, TBI, Parkinson’s disease, MS, dementia and other neurological conditions.

Early Literacy & Phonological Awareness

• Phonological Awareness: Therapy targeting sound awareness skills that underpin reading/spelling (rhyming, blending, segmenting, manipulation).

Post-Surgical Head & Neck Rehab

• Post‑Surgical Rehabilitation for Laryngectomy and Head and Neck Cancer: Multidisciplinary support for communication, swallowing and function after surgery/treatment (in shared care with your treating team).

Speech Therapy Services in Perth for Children & Adults

What is Speech Therapy?

Speech Therapy, also known as Speech Pathology, focuses on diagnosing and treating communication and swallowing disorders. At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, our speech therapists work with individuals of all ages, helping them improve their communication skills, speech clarity, social interaction, and swallowing function. Whether you’re seeking support for a child with speech delays or an adult recovering from a stroke, we provide tailored therapy plans to meet each person's unique needs.

How Can Speech Therapy Help You?
Speech Therapy is a vital service that can improve various aspects of communication and swallowing:

• Speech Delays in Children: Helping children with delayed speech development, articulation issues, and phonological disorders.

• Language Disorders: Addressing difficulties with understanding or using language, including receptive language disorders and expressive language disorders.

• Swallowing and Feeding Difficulties: Assisting individuals who have trouble swallowing (dysphagia) due to conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or neurological conditions like Parkinson's Disease.

• Social Communication Disorders: Supporting individuals who struggle with social interactions, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

• Stuttering & Fluency Disorders: Helping clients manage fluency issues like stuttering, improving speech flow and confidence.

Speech Therapy Services We Provide
At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, we offer a comprehensive range of Speech Therapy services for both children and adults:

• Paediatric Speech Therapy
  We specialise in working with children with speech delays, language difficulties, and communication disorders. Our therapists use play-based and evidence-based interventions to make therapy engaging and effective. We support children with conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Developmental Delays, and Speech Sound Disorders.

• Adult Speech Therapy
  For adults, we provide therapy for communication and swallowing issues that arise from conditions like Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), or aging. Our goal is to help individuals regain their communication skills and improve their quality of life.

• NDIS Speech Therapy Services
  As a provider to the NDIS, we deliver speech therapy services for individuals with disabilities. Our NDIS-funded speech therapy programs aim to improve communication, swallowing, and social interaction, empowering clients to lead more independent lives.

• Speech Therapy for Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)
  Swallowing disorders can make eating and drinking difficult, leading to health complications. Our speech therapists assess and treat dysphagia, offering personalized treatment plans to improve swallowing safety and function.

Why Choose Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health for Speech Therapy?

• Experienced Speech Therapists: Our speech pathologists are experienced in treating a wide range of communication and swallowing disorders.

• NDIS Provider: We are a provider under the NDIS (for self and plan-managed participants), offering speech therapy services tailored to each participant’s plan and goals.

• Family-Centered Approach: We work closely with families and carers, ensuring they are involved in the therapy process and can support progress at home.

• Comprehensive Care: Our speech therapists collaborate with other allied health professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and exercise physiologists, to provide holistic, integrated care.

Sensory Room and Kids Therapy Gym
Our state-of-the-art sensory room and kids therapy gym are designed to provide sensory integration therapy and gross motor development in a fun and safe environment. These spaces are equipped with a trampoline, climbing frames, swings, and other tools to help children and adults with sensory processing challenges or developmental delays.

Why Choose Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health for Occupational Therapy?

• Qualified and experienced occupational therapists with a passion for helping people

• State-of-the-art facilities, including sensory rooms and rehabilitation gyms

• Tailored therapy plans for all ages and abilities

• NDIS provider offering individual and group sessions (plan and self managed participants)

• Multidisciplinary team working alongside physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, and speech therapists

Important disclaimer: This webpage contains general information only and is not intended to be relied upon as personal clinical advice. While we aim to keep information accurate and up to date, it may not reflect the most current research or your individual circumstances. Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health does not accept liability for decisions made based on this information without an individualised assessment by an appropriately qualified health professional. If you have concerns, please contact us to book an assessment or speak with your GP/medical team.