Speech Therapy for Adults After a Stroke or Brain Injury
How a stroke or brain injury can affect communication and swallowing, and how Speech Pathology helps with recovery
A stroke or brain injury can change the way a person talks, understands, reads, writes and swallows, sometimes overnight. For many people, recovery continues long after they leave hospital, and Speech Pathology plays a big part.
How communication can be affected
Depending on which part of the brain is affected, a person may experience one or more of the following:
- Aphasia: difficulty finding words, understanding what others say, reading or writing. A person's intelligence isn't affected, but getting words in and out becomes hard.
- Dysarthria: slurred or soft speech caused by weakness in the muscles used for talking.
- Apraxia of speech: difficulty planning the movements needed for speech, even when the muscles are strong.
- Cognitive-communication difficulties: changes to attention, memory and problem-solving that affect conversation, such as losing track or going off topic.
- Swallowing difficulties: problems chewing or swallowing safely, known as dysphagia.
Recovery doesn't stop after hospital
Many people continue to make gains for months and even years after a stroke or brain injury, especially with regular, goal-focused therapy. Community-based therapy lets us work on the things that matter in everyday life, such as using the phone, ordering at a café, returning to work or chatting with family.
What therapy looks like
- Assessment: we look at speech, language, thinking skills and swallowing, and talk about the person's goals.
- Therapy: practice targeting specific skills, along with strategies to help get the message across.
- Communication partner training: helping family, friends and support workers communicate more easily with the person.
- AAC if needed: tools such as communication boards or apps to support communication while skills recover.
- Swallowing support: swallowing assessments and Mealtime Management Plans where needed.
Funding: NDIS and Medicare
People with a lasting disability after a stroke or brain injury may be eligible for the NDIS, which can fund Speech Pathology as a capacity building support. If you aren't on the NDIS, your GP may be able to refer you for Medicare-rebated Speech Pathology sessions. We also see private clients.
Book an appointment
We currently have no waitlist for NDIS Speech Pathology. Our Speech Pathologists see adults at our Balwyn North clinic and at home across Melbourne's east. Call (03) 8849 9795 or make a referral through our NDIS Referrals page.
