Speech pathologists talk up their work

Speech pathologists across Australia are celebrating Speech Pathology Week, highlighting their day-to-day practices from August 25-31.

Advance Speech Pathology co-director Amanda Pierce said the week highlighted the role speech pathologists played in society.

“I think we are not a well known profession so it is nice to promote the role we can play in peoples lives which is different to what people expect,” Mrs Pierce said.

“I feel the name doesn’t highlight the scope of our role.”

Advance Speech Pathology co-director Catherine Coate said the theme depicted more about the role of a speech pathologist.

“This year is ‘communicating with confidence’ and communication disability is a hidden disability,” Mrs Coate said.

Mrs Coate said one of her clients was in a car crash that had left her completely paralysed but new NeuroNode technology enabled her to communicate again.

“She communicates using her left eyebrow linked to electrodes which detect electrical activity in her muscle and input the signal into a computer which generates speech for her,” Mrs Coate said.

“We have been trialling some new technology with Jo where she can move her left eye brow and she can also use her eyes to communicate.

“This new technology is enabling her to be able to interact with others and have her voice heard.”