What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing. It can affect eating, drinking, saliva management, or swallowing medication. Dysphagia can occur for many different reasons and may range from mild to more significant swallowing difficulty.

Swallowing problems may be associated with:

• stroke

• Parkinson’s disease

• multiple sclerosis

• brain injury

• dementia

• head and neck cancer

• developmental disability

• frailty and ageing-related changes

• prolonged illness, surgery, or hospitalisation

Signs of swallowing difficulty

Some signs that may suggest dysphagia include:

• coughing or choking during meals or drinks

• a wet or gurgly voice after swallowing

• food feeling stuck in the throat or chest

• needing extra time or effort to eat and drink

• recurrent chest infections

• unexplained weight loss

• dehydration

• avoiding meals due to discomfort, fear, or fatigue

• needing frequent prompts or support at mealtimes

Not every person with dysphagia will show the same signs, which is why an individual assessment is important.

Who we work with

We provide swallowing assessment and dysphagia support for:

• private clients

• children and adults

• self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants

• older adults receiving in-home aged care supports

• CHSP clients

• DVA clients, where appropriate

• clients referred by GPs and other health professionals

• families, carers, community care teams, and support workers seeking guidance around swallowing safety
  
  

Aged care terminology has changed nationally: Support at Home replaced the Home Care Packages Program on 1 November 2025, while CHSP continues and will transition no earlier than 1 July 2027.

Our swallowing assessment services

Clinical swallowing assessment

Our speech pathologists provide comprehensive clinical swallowing assessments to understand how swallowing difficulties may be affecting safety and function. Assessment may include:

• review of medical history and presenting concerns

• discussion of symptoms, eating habits, and mealtime challenges

• observation of eating and drinking, where clinically appropriate

• assessment of oral motor function, such as lips, tongue, jaw, and coordination

• consideration of posture, fatigue, alertness, cognition, and support needs

• identification of practical risks and mealtime concerns

• recommendations for safer swallowing strategies, food and fluid texture considerations, and mealtime support

Where appropriate, we also provide education for family members, carers, support workers, or residential care staff to help support safer day-to-day swallowing management.

Ongoing dysphagia management

For some clients, assessment is only the first step. Ongoing speech pathology input may include:

• review and monitoring over time

• swallowing strategies tailored to the person’s needs

• mealtime and positioning recommendations

• support with pacing, supervision, and mealtime setup

• carer and support worker training

• liaison with GPs, specialists, dietitians, nursing staff, and other treating professionals

• referral for instrumental swallowing assessment when indicated

We keep recommendations practical and relevant to the person’s everyday setting, whether that is home, clinic, supported accommodation, or aged care.

Our approach

At Palms, we aim to provide swallowing support that is:

• individualised

• respectful

• practical

• evidence-informed

• family and carer inclusive where appropriate

We understand that swallowing concerns can feel stressful for clients and families. Our goal is to help make recommendations clearer, safer, and easier to follow in real life.

Funding and referral pathways

Depending on the person’s circumstances, swallowing assessment and speech pathology services may be accessed through:

• private fee-paying arrangements

• self-managed or plan-managed NDIS funding

• selected aged care pathways

• DVA, where applicable

• Medicare allied health referrals where eligibility requirements are met

For Medicare, current terminology is GP chronic condition management, not the older CDM/CDMP phrasing. Medicare benefits may be available for some allied health services for eligible patients referred under a GP chronic condition management plan.

Who can benefit?

Feeding & Swallowing assessments and plans may help:

Children with feeding challenges, sensory-based preferences, limited food range, or mealtime distress

Adults with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), neurological conditions, or post-illness deconditioning

Older adults experiencing coughing/choking risk, fatigue, reduced appetite, or swallowing changes

People with disability who need consistent, safe mealtime strategies across settings

Funding & referrals

We welcome a range of funding pathways and can help you understand the best option for your situation.

We see clients using:

Private (self-funded)

NDIS (self-managed and plan-managed)

Aged Care / Home Care Packages

Medicare (where eligible, with a GP referral)

DVA (eligible veterans)

Other funding pathways (e.g., insurers or schemes, where applicable)

Where clinically appropriate, we can provide supporting documentation to inform service planning and care coordination.

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.

FAQ

What is a swallowing assessment?

A swallowing assessment is a speech pathology assessment that looks at how a person manages food, fluids, saliva, and sometimes medication. It helps identify swallowing concerns and guide recommendations for safer eating and drinking.

What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing. It can affect a person’s ability to eat and drink safely and comfortably.

Who needs a swallowing assessment?

A swallowing assessment may be helpful for a person who is coughing during meals, choking on food or drink, losing weight unexpectedly, having recurrent chest infections, or showing other signs of swallowing difficulty.

Do you assess both adults and children?

Yes. We provide swallowing assessments for both adults and children, depending on the referral concern and clinical presentation.

Can speech pathology help with swallowing problems?

Speech pathologists are the allied health professionals who assess and manage swallowing disorders. Support may include assessment, strategies, education, monitoring, and referral for further investigation where needed.

Do you provide dysphagia support for NDIS participants?

Yes, for self-managed and plan-managed NDIS participants where speech pathology support is relevant to their needs and plan.

Do you see older adults?

Yes. We provide swallowing assessments for older adults, including those living at home, receiving community supports, or requiring aged care-related speech pathology input.

Can you come to the home or aged care setting?

Depending on the service model and clinical suitability, support may be provided in clinic or in the person’s usual environment.

Do you provide instrumental swallowing assessments?

We can identify when an instrumental assessment may be needed and refer on where appropriate. Instrumental assessments are not always required, but they can be important in some cases.

Do I need a referral?

Not always. Some clients come privately, while others are referred by a GP, specialist, hospital, aged care team, or other health professional.

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.