Speech Pathologists have been trained to assess and provide therapy for people who have difficulties communicating.

Sound Solutions Therapy Services provide assessment and therapy for all aspects of communication including speech, writing, reading, signs, symbols and gestures. We also work with people who have difficulties swallowing food and drink. Speech pathologists or speech-language pathologists were formerly known as speech therapists.

Speech pathologists can work in a variety of settings. Here at Sound Solutions Therapy Services, we can provide services in:

• Kindergartens

• Primary school

• Secondary schools

• Homes

• Child care centres or

• At our office, conveniently located on Boat Harbour Drive (Hervey Bay).

​Generally, you can book an initial Speech Therapy appointment without needing a referral. This allows you to contact a speech therapist directly to set up a session. However, if you want to use Medicare to help cover the cost, you'll need a referral from your doctor. There are also other funding options that might require a referral. For instance, if your child's teacher has concerns about their speech and communication skills, they might write a referral letter. Bringing this letter to the speech therapist can be very helpful for the initial assessment.

A speech pathologist’s workload might include:

• Working in a child care centre with a group of children who are hard to understand

• Working with a school child who can’t understand what his teacher says

• Working with a high school student who stutters

• Training a teacher who constantly loses her voice to use it more effectively

• Rehabilitating a young man who has severe brain injury due to a motorcycle accident

• Liaising with the carers of an elderly man, who has dementia

• Helping a woman who has had a stroke to regain her communication skills, advising her husband and family

• Providing education for teachers, doctors or parents

• Providing communication strategies for a person with intellectual disability

• Treating a person who has swallowing problems following a stroke

• Assisting children and adults who are learning to read

The necessary number of speech therapy sessions varies from person to person and is influenced by several key factors to see noticeable effects:

• The specific reasons prompting the need for speech therapy.

• The presence and impact of other conditions alongside the main communication issue, such as a combination of Autism Spectrum Disorder and stuttering.

• The severity of the communication difficulties being addressed.

• The extent of family or parental involvement, especially in applying therapeutic strategies outside of sessions.