How we can help you

With expert knowledge in swallowing (dysphagia) and communication disorders in the adult population, our Adult Speech Pathologist's are here to help you maximise your swallow or speech functioning, no matter what difficulties you have.

 

With over 21 years of Australian and UK experience working with adults in hospital, community and rehabilitation settings, we can advise and support you through various conditions including Dementia, Early Onset Dementia, Mental Health Issues which involve communication and swallowing difficulties, Motor Neurone Disease, Myasthenia Gravis, Huntington's Disease, Parkinsons's Disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Guillian Barre, Stroke and Brain Injury, Intellectual Disabilities, and Palliative Care that involves communication and swallowing difficulties.  Voice rehabilitation is another focused area of our clinical practice.   

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Swallowing/Dysphagia (including severe dysphagia)

At Enable, we take a holistic approach to patient care.  This allows us to assess and view each client as a whole, rather than just treating a single symptom.  We aim to help you achieve your swallowing goals whether that be as simple as:

• Gaining back some independence when eating/drinking

• Participating in mealtimes with your family/loved ones

• Reducing coughing or choking at mealtimes, or

• Upgrading or reviewing your diet/fluids from a prior swallow assessment

We provide full oral eating care plans (also called mealtime management plans if you are an NDIS participant) for each client as part of our care process.  We aim to see any urgent swallow assessments within 48 hours.

 

Communication

Want to improve your communication or your speech?  We can help!! We offer strategies and exercises to help with various conditions. Examples could include:​

• Voice strengthening exercises for Parkinson's Disease and our "Voice for Life" ONLINE group for the more elderly Parkinson's clients

• Coming soon - "Speak Out" accreditation for Parkinson's 

• Voice rehabilitation or learning how to keep your voice healthy if you are a professional talker/user

• Therapy for talking difficulties after a stroke (aphasia) or brain injury  

• Exercises for your memory and language

Or if you just want your speech to be clearer - we are here to help!!

 

EMST (Expiratory Muscle Strength training) & RMST (Respiratory Muscle Strength training)

• Is a relatively new therapy

• May help with both swallowing and communication

• Studies have shown that it has the potential to delay the onset/deterioration of swallowing problems in Motor Neurone Disease.

• NOT available elsewhere in Adelaide - we are the first to offer this. 

• We have several devices to trial that can best suit your needs

Ask us how you can SAVE money, and your health, over the longer term by purchasing our EMST package deal!. 

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AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication)

Don't lose your voice!!  If you have a progressive disease or have limited speech and want help and advice in finding alternative methods of communicating, we can support you to do this.

• We work collaboratively with other organisations

• You benefit by knowing that you are are being provided with the most up to date advice and equipment out there.

• We are able to provide trials for some software progammes such as the Grid 3, Touchchat, Predictable and many more

• We seek alternative ways to provide you with equipment that meets your needs, and your budget.

• We have also achieved level 1 certification in Grid 3 operation so you know that we are competent in helping you set up your new programmes.

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We can also provide reports to help secure NDIS funding for your new equipment.

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Specialist Services

NURSING HOMES

Being experts in Aged Care, we can provide your facility with swallow assessments and training to help you achieve the accredited standards.   We can also assist with updating your current swallow recommendations to meet the new international criteria of the IDDSI (International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative).  This could help protect you and your staff from any adverse choking and swallowing incidents.  Did you know, that under the IDDSI swallow guidelines that bread is now not generally allowed on a soft diet? If you didn't, you should ask us for further information.  We aim to see urgent swallow requests within a 48 hour period.

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RETURN TO WORK SA (Workcover SA)

We are able to provide assessment and therapy under the Return to Work SA initiative. If you have suffered an injury at work that has caused some difficulties with your communication and/or swallowing, we can assist you in targeting goals which can help you make the most of your recovery.  We involve you at every stage of the therapeutic process, in line with Return to Work guidelines.

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COMMUNICATION PARTNER SERVICE  (for the Justice System)

We also offer a Communication Partner Service, for those entering the legal justice system.  Available between 0700am and 1000pm for emergency cases.