Our Services

At Melbourne Swallowing Clinics we are proud to offer you comprehensive assessment, treatment and counselling services by some of the most experienced clinicians in Melbourne.

Consultation
If you feel your child, yourself or a loved one may have an issue with their ability to feed or swallow, we offer a 30-45 minute consultation to assess and address your concerns.
We shall listen, work with you and advise you as to the most appropriate developmental, clinical, therapeutic or functional pathway to take.

Assessment
A thorough assessment is a personalised, in depth process of gathering necessary information from the client and or the family. Informal and formal assessment procedures and the interpretation of the results, form the basis of our treatment plan.
A treatment plan of care and recommendations can then be made to you and if you wish, a complete report prepared for your records for further consideration.

As a matter of professional courtesy and care and as a legal requirement of Medicare`s provisions of service, an assessment report is sent to the referring doctor or physician for their record.
Clinical assessments may include oromotor – bulbar musculature functioning, voice assessment, functional feeding/ swallowing session or indeed the need to examine the swallow function radiologically.

Treatment
Once the assessment is complete we will develop an individualised treatment plan of care for you. The treatment plan is personalised, as every swallowing disorder and presentation is different.
The treatment of feeding and swallowing impairment varies greatly depending on the cause and symptoms of the swallowing problem. Our clinicians are sensitive to the developmental stage of children or the accompanying anxiety a new mother may be experiencing. Similarly, we are aware that an adult experiencing swallowing impairment may present with a loss of confidence that requires explanation, reassurance and a clear treatment and management plan.

Children
Based on the feeding and swallowing evaluation, the Speech Pathologist or consulting team may recommend:

  • Direct feeding therapy designed to meet the individual`s need
  • Feeding pattern change including presentation technique, bolus control and management or posturing/positioning changes for feeding or swallowing
  • Introduction of specialised feed cups, sippers or feeding aids
  • Nutritional changes (e.g. varying foods or fluids, nutritional supplements)
  • Nutritional/ diet modification
  • Increasing acceptance of new foods or textures
  • Food temperature and texture changes
  • Behaviour management techniques, including reward systems and reinforcement schedules
  • Referral to other professionals for opinion

Adults
Treatment options for adults depend on their individual presentation. They may include:

  • Medical interventions e.g. medicine for reflux, change of medications.
  • Patients with G.E.R.D. may benefit from modifying their diet and living habits, such as consuming a bland diet with smaller more frequent meals, eliminating caffeine, alcohol or excessive dairy products from their diet, reducing weight and stress, avoiding food and fluids within three hours of bedtime and elevating the head whilst sleeping. Antacids between mealtimes may assist.
  • Patients with swallowing disorders caused by Stroke, Parkinson’s disease or other neurological disorders may benefit from direct swallowing therapy following a detailed bulbar assessment.
  • The individual may need to optimise their posture and positioning of the head and neck for swallowing, the placement of food orally or use specific swallowing techniques to achieve a competent swallow.
  • Patients with Dysphagia may require a specialist Speech Pathologist who can provide special exercises for coordinating the swallowing muscles or stimulating the nerves that trigger and control the swallowing reflex and process. Patients may also benefit from counselling and education as to how best to place and manage foodstuffs and fluids orally and the best positioning of the head and neck for a competent swallow. Swallowing technique is invaluable for the adult with Dysphagia.
  • Patients who experience Dysphagia due to age related changes or the onset of Dementia may require a revaluation and close monitoring of their diet, eating habits, food and fluid consistencies and food/ fluid balance charting to avoid weight loss or dehydration.
  • Patients who are at risk of continuing oropharyngeal incompetence, penetration or aspiration of food or fluids and who are unable to maintain minimal oral intake of food/calories or hydration may require enteral feeds (P.E.G.).
  • All clinical and therapeutic decisions are made in consultation with the referring Doctor, who we treat as an active team member.

The family will be included at all stages of treatment and we encourage their continued involvement and support in the home, hospital or aged care environment. Their active involvement assists to maximise therapeutic impact and maintain the momentum of therapeutic change occurring.

Our sessions are non confrontational and our clinicians are supportive and understanding. A full range of interpreter services are available for the non English speaking client.

Please speak to your clinician if you require any further, more detailed information and a report for your home record.
Therapy sessions are conducted at our clinic, however home, hospital or aged care centre visits can easily be arranged.

As always, if you, a loved one or someone in your professional care is experiencing difficulties with feeding or swallowing, please seek the assistance of an experienced Speech Pathologist or medical professional.

Melbourne Swallowing Clinics T: 1300654540