Speech Therapy Telehealth (Online Speech Pathology) – Perth

Telehealth speech therapy is a convenient way to access speech pathology support via secure video consults—ideal when travel is difficult, when you prefer support from home, or when you want flexible follow-ups between in-person appointments. 

Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health offers telehealth Speech Therapy in Perth, including for eligible private and NDIS clients (as applicable).

What is telehealth speech therapy?

Telehealth speech therapy is a speech pathology appointment delivered by video call. Your speech pathologist can:

• take a detailed history and clarify goals

• observe communication in real contexts (home/school/work)

• provide assessment activities suitable for telehealth

• teach practical strategies and home practice

• support parents/carers/supports to help skills carry over

Telehealth can be used for first appointments (for suitable presentations) and for ongoing therapy and progress reviews.

What we can help with via telehealth

Telehealth speech therapy is often well-suited to goals that can be assessed and progressed through observation, coaching, practice activities and structured home programs, including:

Speech & clarity

• speech sound development and intelligibility

• articulation and phonological patterns (case-by-case)

Language

• understanding language (receptive language)

• using words/sentences (expressive language)

• following instructions, storytelling and conversation skills

Social communication

• pragmatic language and interaction skills

• confidence and participation in everyday communication

Voice & fluency

• voice care strategies and safe voice use

• stuttering/fluency strategies (where appropriate)

Swallowing support (where appropriate)

Some swallowing concerns can be supported via telehealth through history-taking, education and strategy coaching. If an in-person assessment is required for safety, we’ll recommend the most appropriate pathway.

What to expect in your first telehealth session

Before the appointment

Set up a space with:

• good lighting

• minimal background noise

• room to sit comfortably and, if needed, show materials on camera

During the appointment

Your speech pathologist will:

1. Clarify goals and concerns

2. Complete appropriate assessment tasks via video

3. Provide practical strategies and a structured plan

4. Outline next steps and follow-up options

After the appointment

You’ll leave with:

• a clear home practice plan

• strategies that fit your daily routine

• recommendations for frequency and progression
  
  

What you’ll need (quick checklist)

• phone/tablet/laptop with camera + microphone

• stable internet connection

• a quiet space (where possible)

• any relevant reports (school, medical, previous therapy)

• for children: a few simple items (paper/pencils, a favourite book/toy) can help engagement

What telehealth speech therapy can include

Depending on your goals, sessions may include:

• assessment activities suited to telehealth

• parent/carer coaching and home strategy planning

• personalised exercises and practice tasks

• AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) support and coaching (where appropriate)

• goal tracking and progress reviews

• practical supports for school/work participation (case-by-case)
  
  

When an in-clinic appointment may be better

Telehealth is not ideal for every situation. In-person appointments may be recommended when:

• a hands-on or equipment-based assessment is required

• a detailed swallowing assessment is needed for safety

• technology barriers prevent accurate assessment or participation

• complex presentations require in-clinic observation

If you’re unsure, start with telehealth and we’ll advise the safest next step.

Telehealth Speech Therapy for NDIS, Medicare, DVA and private clients

Telehealth speech therapy may be available under different funding pathways depending on eligibility and requirements. Palms offers telehealth services for Speech Therapy, including for NDIS and private clients (as applicable).

Privacy and consent

Telehealth sessions are delivered via secure video consult. Your clinician will explain privacy considerations and obtain consent before commencing.

FAQ

Do I need a referral?
Not for private telehealth speech therapy. Some funding pathways may require a referral—our team can advise.

Can telehealth work for children?
Yes—telehealth can work very well for parent coaching, routine-based strategies and structured practice activities.

What if telehealth isn’t suitable?
We’ll recommend the most appropriate option, including in-clinic appointments where needed.

Book telehealth speech therapy

If you’d like speech pathology support from home, we can help you get started with a practical, goal-focused plan.

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).

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.