Speech Pathology

Speech Pathology - Peter Mac Cancer Centre

The Speech Pathology service provides assessment and management of communication and swallowing problems.

What is a speech pathologist?
A speech pathologist is a person trained to assess and treat speech, language, voice and swallowing disorders.

At Peter Mac, our speech pathologist has specialist skills in the area of oncology and in particular, head and neck cancer.

Who can see the speech pathologist?
Any patient attending Peter Mac as an inpatient or outpatient who is experiencing swallowing or communication problems.

What can the speech therapist help with?
Speech, language, voice and swallowing can all be affected by cancer or treatment. A speech pathologist can assist you by assessing and advising you about these problems. Cancer treatment which can impact on speech or swallowing function can include:

Radiation therapy can have both short and long term effects on swallowing. Some common symptoms include:
  • changes in amount or consistency or saliva produced;
  • pain when swallowing;
  • dry mouth and or throat;
  • coughing when drinking;
  • food getting stuck.

Surgery can change both swallowing and communication. Some common symptoms include:
  • reduced tongue movement
  • difficulty chewing
  • voice problems; huskiness, hoarseness
  • reduced sensation and control of food/fluid in the mouth.

Chemotherapy can impact on swallowing if there is mucositis or thrush in the mouth or throat. Some common symptoms include:
  • sore mouth
  • mouth ulcers
  • dry mouth and or throat
  • white patches on the inside of the cheek and yellow coating on the tongue.

Swallowing problems
The speech pathologist at Pete rMac spends much of her time assessing and managing swallowing problems. Swallowing problems left undetected or untreated can impact significantly on quality of life, and may lead to aspiration pneumonia.

A videofluoroscopy study (moving x-ray examination) is used to thoroughly diagnose the cause of a swallowing problem. Suitable advice and or exercises can then be provided. These may include:
  • teaching techniques to make it easier and or safer to swallow
  • changin the texture or thickness of what you eat or drink.

Communication problems
Management of patients with communication difficulties vary, according to the underlying reason. For example, after a total laryngectomy a person needs to acquire a new form of speaking. This may involve using an artificial larynx or a silicon voice prosthesis.

Providing indidividual support and information to patients and families is an important role for the speech pathologist.

Contact
Ms Louise Dobbie BAppSc (SpPath)
Speech Pathologist
Phone: 03 9656 1850 or 03 9656 1137.

Available Monday (morning), Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

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