Speech Pathology (for adults) - Royal North Shore Hospital

We provide assessment, diagnosis, intervention and treatment for patients with communication, swallowing and voice disorders.
 
We care for and treat people with:

• Speech (articulation, stuttering, acquired or progressive neurological disorders)
• Language (acquired difficulties with word knowledge, syntax, semantics, language processing, listening and the social aspects of communication). This also includes the comprehension and expression of spoken, written, non-verbal (signs symbols and gestures) modalities
• Cognitive communication (attention, memory, problem solving, executive functions)
• Oral, pharyngeal and upper oesophageal swallowing function (acquired dysphagia)
• Voice (abnormal quality such as rough, breathy and/or strained or difficulties pitch and volume modulation) 
• Tracheostomy management, including facilitation of verbal speech with tracheostomy, swallowing with tracheostomy and decannulation pathways
• Augmentative and alternative communication (picture or alphabet boards, voice output technology)
• Head and neck management, including surgical laryngectomy voice restoration and swallowing.
• Burns management involving scar management for orofacial contractures including splinting, massaging and stretching as well as voice and swallow management 

All referrals should clearly state the reason for referrals including the current communication and swallowing status and any history of the signs and symtoms.

In-patients

We accept in-patient referrals via eMR for any of the above conditions.

Out-patients

We accept outpatient referrals for swallowing, voice, head and neck oncology and burns. A referral needs to be completed by one of the following:
•    GP
•    Medical specialist
•    Speech Pathologist

Individuals are eligible for our outpatient service if they meet the following criteria:
•    Reside within the NSLHD 
•    Are under the age of 65, and 
•    Do not have a competing funding package including NDIS

Should your concern fall out of these areas or you do not meet the eligibility criteria, you will need to consider seeking speech pathology through Royal North Shore Hospital Community Health Centre or with a private clinician.
•    RNSH Community Speech Pathologist (for individuals 65 years+) - NSLHD-RNS-AgedCare@health.nsw.gov.au
•    Private Speech Pathologists (including individuals with NDIS funding) - https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/SPAweb/Resources_for_the_Public/Find_a_Speech_Pathologist/SPAweb/Resources_for_the_Pubic/Find_a_Speech_Pathologist/Find_a_Speech_Pathologist.aspx?hkey=0b04c883-80b2-43e7-9298-7e5db5c75197

We do not have a designated referral form, however all referrals should clearly state the reason for referral including the current communication and swallowing status and any history of the signs and symptoms.

VFSS 
We accept referrals for any eligible individual requiring a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS). Please refer to the eligibility criteria above. You can find the required referral form here. 

FEES
We accept referrals for any eligible individual requiring a Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES). Please refer to the eligibility criteria above. You can find the required referral form here. 

Voice and Swallow Clinic
We accept referrals for any individual who would benefit from a joint ENT and Speech Pathology assessment. You do need to reside in the NSLHD to attend this clinic. You can find the required referral form here.