Speech Pathology Australia - Allied Health Assistant Feature

in focus

Functional support in settings outside the clinic Provide regular and frequent coaching or modelling and/ or supports the use of strategies in a client’s everyday environment based on a session provided in the clinic by the speech pathologist. Spend time at the home of an 8-year-old child who has Autism to support them to interact with siblings, with a focus on communication development as directed by the speech pathologist, for example, developing the use of 3-4 word utterances and commenting. Attend the school setting to facilitate use of Key Word Signing for a 10-year-old child, including a focus on supporting their peers to interact more successfully with the child, and increasing the capacity of the class teacher to use Key Word Signing. Work with an older person with Down Syndrome to practice using apps for communication, with the goal of supporting more successful community access, and developing confidence with unfamiliar communication partners. Develop visual resources in consultation with the speech pathologist to act as a reminder for how and when apps could be used. Support communication interactions between clients who have had a stroke in a community aphasia group. Support client’s communication partners, such as friends, family, carers etc by modelling strategies to increase opportunities for communication in settings outside of the clinic. Support with technology and use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Assistive Technology (AAC AT) Work with a family and a young person to identify individualised vocabulary needs within a particular context or setting, and then to find pictures or programe them on the young person’s electronic aided augmentative or alternative communication device. Support a young person with literacy difficulties to learn how to text message on their phone. Demonstrate the use of an about me book to care staff so they can understand preferences for personal care routines of an older person with dementia. Support a young person who is recovering from a traumatic brain injury by providing frequent and regular sessions to practice use of yes/no switches, including as part of partner assisted scanning of non-electronic aided AAC. Visit a client’s home to demonstrate the use of visuals for self-care skills as part of the morning routine for getting ready for school. Observe a child who is deaf or hard of hearing in their school environment, to identify communication opportunities and any barriers, for example, issues

related to missed interaction opportunities when the child did not hear their peer try to engage. Assist the speech pathologist to run a social skills group for people with a disability living in the community; model appropriate social communication skills; support any group members to use non electronic aided AAC (designed by the speech pathologist); provide extra opportunities for group members to practise skills. Support staff with the set up and modelling of an assistive listening device with older person in residential aged care. Planning, maintaining and delivering speech pathology services Assist with filing/uploading case notes and other client documentation in clinical records at the end of each session. Arrange home visit appointment days and times with client. Identify, collect and collate images for use in low tech communication boards, talking mats, communication books, etc. Create communication boards with personalised vocabulary for a client and using photographs from their specific environments. Program AAC AT devices. Create resources for a client as agreed with the speech pathologist. Support with setting up and delivering small intervention

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June 2021 | Speak Out