Speech Therapy (also called Speech Pathology) focuses on assessing, diagnosing, and treating communication and swallowing difficulties. At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, our speech pathologists support children, teens, and adults to improve speech clarity, language skills, social communication, voice and fluency and swallowing safety.

Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health provides Speech Pathology services in Perth for children & adults. We support communication & speech concerns, language difficulties & swallowing (dysphagia). 

Choose in-clinic or mobile appointments. We welcome NDIS, DVA, WorkCover, Medicare & private clients. Book your appointment today. 

Although this page focuses on Speech Therapy in Perth, Palms also offers other allied health services from our Malaga clinic.

 This can be helpful for clients who need a more coordinated approach across mobility, physical function, communication, sensory needs or everyday participation.

We work with children and adults across a range of presentations, including developmental, disability-related, rehabilitation, chronic health, and injury-related needs.

This may include:

👉 Children requiring support with development, play, movement, communication, sensory needs, or everyday function

👉 Adults needing support with recovery, rehabilitation, mobility, communication, physical function, or independence

👉 Self-managed and Plan-managed NDIS participants

👉 Private patients

👉 Eligible Medicare Care Plan patients

👉 DVA clients with appropriate referrals

👉 Workers Compensation clients

👉 Motor Vehicle Accident clients

👉 Aged Care / Home Care Packages

Appointments may be available in clinic, via mobile services, or through telehealth where clinically appropriate.

What is Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy, also known as speech pathology, is an allied health service that supports people with difficulties related to communication, speech, language, social interaction, voice, fluency, feeding and swallowing. Speech therapy can help children and adults develop skills, improve function, and participate more confidently in everyday life.

What does a Speech Therapist help with?

A speech therapist, or speech pathologist, may help with:

speech clarity and pronunciation

language development and understanding

communication skills

social communication

stuttering and fluency

voice problems

feeding and swallowing difficulties

cognitive-communication concerns

communication support for people with disability or developmental delays

The type of support provided depends on the individual’s needs, goals and age.

Who can benefit from Speech Therapy?

Speech therapy may be helpful for:

babies and young children with delayed speech or language development

school-aged children with communication or learning-related language difficulties

adults with communication or swallowing changes after illness, injury or neurological conditions

people with disability who need support with communication, feeding or participation

older adults experiencing voice, swallowing or cognitive-communication changes

Do you provide Speech Therapy for children and adults?

Yes. At Palms Physiotherapy & Allied Health, we provide speech therapy support for children, adults and older adults, depending on their individual needs and goals.

What is the difference between speech and language?

Speech refers to how sounds are produced and how clearly a person speaks. Language refers to understanding and using words, sentences and meaning to communicate. A person may have difficulty with speech, language, or both.

Can Speech Therapy help with late talking?

Yes. Speech therapy may help children who are late to start talking, have delayed language development, or are having difficulty understanding or using language compared with what is expected for their age.

Can Speech Therapy help with autism?

Speech therapy may support autistic children and adults with areas such as communication, social interaction, language development, emotional expression, and participation in daily life. Therapy should always be tailored to the individual and their communication style.

Can speech therapy help with feeding and swallowing?

Yes. Speech pathologists also assess and manage feeding and swallowing difficulties, sometimes called dysphagia. Support may include assessment, practical strategies, education, and recommendations to support safer and more effective eating and drinking where appropriate.

What is dysphagia?

Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing. It can affect eating, drinking, swallowing medication, or managing saliva. Speech pathologists are the allied health professionals who assess and help manage swallowing concerns.

What happens in a Speech Therapy appointment?

A speech therapy appointment may include:

discussion of concerns and goals

assessment of communication, speech, language, voice, feeding or swallowing

observation of how the person communicates or functions

therapy activities tailored to the individual

practical strategies for home, school, work or daily life

education for parents, carers or support workers where appropriate

The exact structure of the appointment depends on the person’s needs.

Do parents or carers attend Speech Therapy sessions?

For many children, parent or carer involvement is very helpful and may be encouraged as part of therapy. For adults, family or support workers may also be involved where appropriate and with the person’s consent.

How many Speech Therapy sessions will I need?

This depends on the person’s needs, goals, age, presentation and how often therapy is recommended. Some people may need short-term support, while others may benefit from ongoing therapy over a longer period.

Do you offer Speech Therapy in clinic and mobile?

You can adjust this question depending on your actual service model, but a good generic version is:

We offer Speech Therapy services in clinic, and in some cases mobile or alternative service options may also be available depending on the person’s needs, location and the type of support required.

Can Speech Therapy be funded by the NDIS?

Speech therapy may be available for NDIS participants where the support is relevant to their disability-related goals and plan funding. Final funding decisions rest with the NDIA, and service availability may depend on plan management type and provider arrangements.

Can I access Speech Therapy through Medicare?

Some clients may be eligible to access speech therapy through Medicare with the appropriate referral pathway, such as a GP chronic condition management plan, depending on eligibility and Medicare requirements.

Do you accept private health insurance?

Some speech therapy services may be claimable through private health insurance, depending on your level of cover and your insurer’s rules. It is best to check directly with your fund.

Do you work with other professionals involved in care?

Yes. Where appropriate, speech pathologists may work collaboratively with other members of the person’s support team, such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, GPs, paediatricians, teachers, support workers and family members.

What should I do if I’m worried about my child’s speech or language?

If you are concerned about your child’s speech, language, communication, feeding or swallowing, it can be helpful to seek an assessment. Early assessment can help clarify whether support may be useful and what next steps are appropriate.

Do I need a referral to see a Speech Therapist?

Not always. Some clients attend privately without a referral, while others may come via Medicare, NDIS, DVA, aged care or other funding pathways that have their own requirements.

Speech Pathology Australia
https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au
The national peak body for speech pathologists in Australia, providing information for the public on speech therapy services and professional standards.

Raising Children Network
https://raisingchildren.net.au
Resources for parents and carers about child development, including communication milestones and when to seek speech therapy for children.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
https://www.ndis.gov.au
Information on how to access speech therapy services for NDIS participants.

Better Health Channel (Victoria)
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
Provides detailed information on communication disorders and the role of speech therapy in managing these conditions.

Australian Aphasia Association
https://www.aphasia.org.au
Support and resources for individuals living with aphasia, a communication disorder often resulting from stroke or brain injury.