Speech Pathology
The Hospital Speech Pathology Department provides inpatient and outpatient services to adults (18+ years) as well as babies or children with feeding difficulties while they are in hospital.
Adult patients are seen for assessment, treatment, and/or management for a range of swallowing and communication disorders.
Swallowing difficulties
- Difficulties managing secretions, spillage of food/fluids from the mouth, problems chewing food, difficulty controlling and manipulating food or fluid, food pocketing in the mouth.
- Coughing or choking during eating or drinking, excessive throat clearing, gurgly voice, slow swallow response, absent swallow reflex, uncoordinated swallow, food getting stuck in the throat.
- Increased duration of meals, unexplained weight loss, dehydration, frequent chest infections.
Communication difficulties
- Language: difficulty understanding or using spoken and or written words (e.g. aphasia).
- Speech: use of speech sounds resulting in reduced clarity and intelligibility.
- Voice: disorders of vocal cord function and use.
- Fluency: stuttering.
Referral process
People can self-refer. GP and other agency referrals are accepted. Please phone (details below) to be placed on the waiting list for an appointment. Referral and intake details will be taken over the phone. Due to service demands a prioritisation system is utilised.
For Paediatric Speech Pathology services at Coffs Harbour please refer to the Child and Family section.
Child and Family Speech Pathology provides a free clinic based service to infants and children living in the Hastings/Macleay area.
Waiting times and session limits apply for all services.
Children with difficulties across multiple developmental areas, or a diagnosed disability, are eligible for NDIS Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) Services and can access this by phoning Northcott on 1800 818 286.
Speech Pathology Service (children) provides assistance with communication or feeding problems:
- early/infant feeding difficulties
- preverbal & early language development (0 – 24 months)
- language delay/disorder
- articulation (ability to speak clearly) difficulties
- stuttering
- social language
- pre-reading skills.
Referral process
Self referral to this service is accepted.
Speech Pathology Services – hospital based
The hospital Speech Pathology Department provides inpatient services to patients of all ages, while they are in hospital.
This includes support for swallowing and communication difficulties across the lifespan.
Referral process
This is an outreach service from Port Macquarie Base Hospital, inpatient referrals only.
Contact
Kempsey District Hospital
Mob: 0409 688 856
Contact
345 Pacific Highway
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450
119 River Street
West Kempsey, NSW 2440
Referral criteria
Children (0-16 years) are eligible for this service.
School aged children (in year one or older) are eligible for a one off assessment only.
100 Darruya Road
North Macksville NSW 2447
4 Fred Brain Avenue
Nambucca Heads NSW 2448
Morton Street
Port Macquarie, NSW 2444
Port Macquarie Community Health
Referral criteria
Children (0-16 years) are eligible for this service.
School aged children (in year one or older) are eligible for a one-off assessment only.
7-9 Steve Eagleton Drive
South West Rocks, NSW 2431
South West Rocks Community Health
Referral criteria
Outreach service only, as needed.
Children (0-16 years) are eligible for this service.
School aged children (in year one or older) are eligible for a one off assessment only.
69 High Street
Wauchope, NSW 2446
Wauchope District Memorial Hospital
Referral criteria
Outreach service only, as needed.
Children (0-16 years) are eligible for this service.
School aged children (in year one or older) are eligible for a one off assessment only.