Swallowing Assessments Adelaide

Thrive Health Therapies provides comprehensive swallowing assessments for individuals across Adelaide. Our speech pathologists are highly trained to evaluate and manage swallowing difficulties, medically known as dysphagia, ensuring you or your loved one can enjoy safer and more comfortable mealtimes

Paediatric speech therapist working with young child with a nasogastric tube during a swallowing assessment

What is a Swallowing Assessment?

A swallowing assessment is a detailed evaluation of how a person swallows food and liquids. Swallowing difficulties can arise due to various conditions, including:

  • Neurological disorders (e.g. stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy)

  • Cognitive impairments (e.g. dementia)

  • Weak throat muscles or poor muscle coordination

  • Physical injuries or surgeries affecting the throat or oesophagus

  • Cancer treatments (e.g. radiation or chemotherapy)

Our swallowing assessments aim to identify these challenges and create a personalised intervention plan to improve swallowing safety and efficiency.

Who Can Benefit From a Swallowing Assessment?

Our services are ideal for:

  • Older adults experiencing swallowing changes due to ageing or medical conditions

  • Individuals with disabilities, including NDIS participants

  • Children facing developmental delays or sensory challenges impacting mealtime

We conduct swallowing assessments in a variety of settings, including your home, aged care facilities, or our clinic in Findon, Adelaide.

How We Conduct Swallowing Assessments

At Thrive Health Therapies, our swallowing assessments follow a thorough process:

  1. Initial Phone Consultation We begin with a phone consultation to understand your goals and match you with the most suitable clinician.

  2. Clinical Evaluation Our speech pathologist observes how you swallow different textures and evaluates your oral motor function, posture, and breathing patterns.

  3. Comprehensive Reporting After the assessment, we provide a detailed report outlining findings and practical recommendations.

  4. Tailored Management Plan We create a customised plan, which may include:

    • Swallowing therapy

    • Dietary modifications

    • Strategies to ensure safe and enjoyable meals

What Happens After the Assessment?

Following the assessment, our speech pathologists collaborate with caregivers, educators, and other professionals to support ongoing care. Our services include:

  • Therapy Sessions: To strengthen swallowing muscles and improve function through tailored exercises and strategies.

  • Environmental Modifications: Adapting mealtime settings, such as seating arrangements, tableware, or texture-modified foods, to reduce sensory triggers and promote comfort.

  • Education for Caregivers: We provide practical training to families and caregivers, enabling them to create safe and positive mealtime experiences at home.

  • Ongoing Monitoring and Support: Regular follow-ups are conducted to monitor progress and adjust management plans as needed to ensure continuous improvement.

  • Multidisciplinary Collaboration: If required, we coordinate with dietitians, occupational therapists, and other specialists to provide holistic and comprehensive care tailored to the client’s needs.

These steps ensure that each individual receives the personalised care they need to overcome swallowing challenges and improve their quality of life.

Who Conducts Swallowing Assessments?

Swallowing assessments at Thrive Health Therapies are conducted by our experienced speech pathologists. These professionals specialise in diagnosing and managing swallowing difficulties across a wide range of conditions and age groups. With advanced training and years of experience, our team ensures a thorough evaluation and the creation of personalised management plans. They also collaborate with other health professionals, such as occupational therapists and dietitians, to provide holistic care tailored to each individual’s needs.

Learn more about our speech pathologists.

What Are the Signs of Swallowing Difficulties?

Common symptoms of dysphagia include:

  • Coughing or choking during meals

  • Changes in voice after eating or drinking

  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing food

  • Pain while swallowing

  • Frequent chest infections or aspiration pneumonia

  • Food regurgitation or liquids coming out through the nose

  • Unexplained weight loss or dehydration

If you or a loved one experiences these symptoms, a swallowing assessment can help prevent complications and improve quality of life.

Why Early Intervention Matters

Addressing swallowing difficulties early can make a profound difference in an individual’s overall health and well-being. Early intervention:

  • Prevents Health Complications: Reduces the risk of malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia caused by dysphagia.

  • Improves Emotional Well-Being: Helps alleviate mealtime anxiety, restoring confidence and enjoyment in eating and drinking.

  • Encourages Social Inclusion: Mitigates social isolation by enabling individuals to participate in meals with family and friends.

  • Enhances Nutritional Outcomes: Ensures dietary needs are met to promote overall health and energy levels.

  • Supports Caregivers: Provides caregivers with effective strategies to manage swallowing difficulties, reducing stress and improving the care environment.

  • Optimises Long-Term Outcomes: Facilitates the development of personalised management plans, preventing further complications and improving quality of life.

Where Do We Conduct Swallowing Assessments in Adelaide?

At Thrive Health Therapies, we offer community-based and clinic-based and swallowing assessments to clients throughout metropolitan Adelaide:

  • Community-Based services: We conduct community-based swallowing assessments throughout metropolitan Adelaide, for example in your home or nursing home.

  • Clinic-Based Services: Where it is not appropriate to conduct a swallowing assessment in the community, we offer clinic-based assessments at our clinic in Findon.

Funding Options for Swallowing Assessments

We accept a variety of funding options, making swallowing assessments accessible for everyone:

Speech therapist and client smiling sitting on a couch during a swallowing assessment at home

Why Choose Thrive Health Therapies for Swallowing Assessments in Adelaide

  • No wait time: We can start working with clients straight away!

  • Experienced Clinicians: Our speech therapists are senior clinicians with years of experience working with a wide range of presentations.

  • Extensive Coverage in the community: We serve a large geographical area, providing speech pathology across all of metropolitan Adelaide from Gawler to Aldinga. We see clients at home, in their school or kindergarten, or at a location convenient to them.

  • Clinic space: Our fully accessible clinic in Findon has been specially designed to be appropriate for a wide range of presentations and disabilities.

  • Individualised care: Every client receives a personalised therapy plan based on their unique needs and goals.

  • Neuroaffirming Practice: We provide compassionate and affirming services to support and empower neurodiverse individuals.

  • Multi-Disciplinary Approach: We offer a wide range of allied health services under one roof, allowing for a holistic approach to your health.

  • NDIS Registered: We are proudly registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

  • LGBTQIA+ friendly: We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, and sexualities, Our Findon clinic is a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for all LGBTQIA+ people and families.

Speech pathologist working with a child during a swallow assessment

FAQs About Swallowing Assessments Adelaide

If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact our friendly team on 0474 248 081 or email enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com

  • A swallowing assessment evaluates how a person processes food and liquids to ensure safety and efficiency during meals.

  • Swallowing assessments can identify underlying issues, prevent serious complications, and provide strategies to ensure safe and enjoyable mealtimes.

  • Dysphagia refers to difficulties with swallowing, which can range from mild discomfort to severe challenges in consuming food and liquids. It is often associated with medical conditions such as neurological disorders, head or neck injuries, or ageing. Dysphagia can lead to complications such as malnutrition, dehydration, and aspiration pneumonia if left untreated.

  • Our experienced speech pathologists perform all assessments, supported by a multidisciplinary team when necessary. They are trained to provide thorough evaluations and develop effective management plans tailored to individual needs.

  • The assessment includes a clinical evaluation of swallowing abilities and observation of different food textures.

  • Assessments typically take 60-90 minutes, depending on the complexity of the case and any instrumental assessments required.

  • We provide swallowing assessments throughout the community in metropolitan Adelaide and in our Findon Clinic, depending on your needs.

  • Our speech pathologists are skilled at working with individuals with communication challenges. We use observation, caregiver input, and tailored techniques to ensure a thorough assessment.

  • Ensure that any relevant medical history, current medications, and information about recent swallowing difficulties are available for the session.

  • No! We can start working with new clients right away.

    Once we have received a referral form with all of your details, we are able to book an Initial Assessment as soon as possible, depending on your availability.

    You can find our paediatric referral forms here and our adult referral forms here.

    If you have any questions prior to referring please reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.

  • Yes! As a registered NDIS provider, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants.

    As a NDIS registered provider, we are also able to offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.

  • As a registered NDIS provider, interpreter services are available free of charge for NDIS participants. Please inform us if you require this service, and we will arrange this for you.

  • No! You can refer yourself or your child directly via our online referral form, or reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.

  • To book a swallowing assessment with Thrive Health Therapies, reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.

Your Trusted NDIS Registered Provider in Adelaide

As a registered NDIS provider in Adelaide, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants.

As a NDIS registered provider, we offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.

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Referral Form

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