Dysphagia refers to impaired swallowing and is a common condition among older adults. This condition can lead to serious health concerns such as malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia. While safety is often our key concern for those diagnosed with dysphagia, it is essential to also remember how it impacts emotional and social well-being. Speech [...]
Dementia is more than just memory loss. It is a collection of symptoms affecting thinking, memory, language, and behaviour. A person with Dementia may have difficulty completing everyday tasks like reading, writing, expressing emotions, finding words when talking, and participating in conversations. Dementia is not a normal part of ageing. Rather, it is caused by brain disease. [...]
Join us in celebrating International Day of Older Persons 2022, with a focus on "celebrating the resilience and contributions of older women". In this video, Beth is reflecting on services that are available for those with dementia, to help our older people to live well as part of the Illawarra community. [...]
Speech pathologists play a key role in dementia management. Speech pathology intervention in dementia includes treating speech, language, communication, cognitive, and swallowing disorders that arise across the progression of the disease. This evidence-based summary of dementia interventions was written by two speech pathology students on placement with Wollongong Speech Pathology: Clarisse Baker and Sarah [...]
They say that communication is a two-way street. There are always two or more people involved in an interaction. So when communication breaks down, maybe both people need to make changes so that communication can be better? That is essentially what communication partner training is all about. In this article, I'll explain what it [...]
Caring for a person at the end of their life can be a gift. If done well, we can support a person to die with dignity as well as supporting the loved ones they will leave behind. This presents two questions: What is the role of speech pathology in end of life care, and [...]
What is it like to have a speech pathology placement in private practice? Great question! This guest blog post was written by a speech pathology student, Sarah El-Wahsh. Sarah completed her final speech pathology placement with us in August 2017. She gives us some great insights into a placement in private practice.... Learning beyond the [...]
Our first pair of speech pathology students - Jaimie and Lizzy - have now finished their placement with Wollongong Speech Pathology. It was a dream having them on board with us. I loved talking to them about clients! It was brilliant to have two extra people involved, giving input into clients' assessment and treatment plans. [...]
Wollongong Speech Pathology is now taking Student Speech Pathologists on clinical placement. Let's talk about why! Benefits to clients: a fresh perspective to therapy programs access to up-to-date evidence & techniques Benefits to the practice: give something back to the profession providing quality clinical opportunities to students Benefits to students: exposure to a wide range [...]
Making a dementia diagnosis is not a straight-forward process. Sometimes it can take years for a firm diagnosis to be made. What does an assessment involve? Dementia diagnosis requires a team approach. As a minimum, assessment will involve: a case history (your GP will ask you questions about your past, your current concerns, what is working [...]
