- General
- Speech Therapy - What you need to know
- Services: Speech Therapy
- Audiology - What you need to know
- Services: Audiology
- Contact Us
General
- All services are provided on appointment basis only
- Out-patient services are only provided to patients with complicated conditions who falls within our catchment area. Other patients will be referred to the relevant health care facility.
Speech Therapy - What you need to know
Speech therapists assist babies, children and adults with speech, language, voice and/or feeding difficulties:
- Communication difficulties
- Speech: Difficulties in pronouncing and articulating sounds and words.
- Language: Struggling to understand or produce language (e.g. sentences, stories) in written or verbal format.
- Voice: Cannot produce voice or voice quality is poor, e.g. hoarse.
- Feeding difficulties
- Struggling to suck, chew and/or swallow.
These communication and/or feeding difficulties may be caused by various medical conditions, including stroke, traumatic brain injury, oral-facial abnormalities (e.g. cleft lip/palate), cerebral palsy and/or other neurological conditions, oral / laryngeal cancer, etc.
Services: Speech Therapy
Individual In-Patient Therapy
Acute therapy is usually provided on a daily basis (depending on the diagnosis). Most of our in-patient therapy is aimed at improving feeding difficulties and to address severe speech/language/voice difficulties.
Out-Patient Clinics
Out-patient clinic services are usually provided within a multi-disciplinary team:
- Neuro-Developmental and Intervention (NDI) clinic for children with neurological difficulties, e.g. cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, etc. (Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 – 12:00, Paediatric Neurology, Level 3)
- Under 5 clinic for children under 5 years of age with developmental delay (Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 – 12:00)
- High risk clinic for babies with high risk of developmental delay, e.g. premature babies (Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 – 12:00, Paediatric out patients, Level 8)
- ECI clinic for children with developmental difficulties, e.g. autism (Mondays and Fridays 9:00 – 12:00, Occupational Therapy, Level 3)
- Radiotherapy clinic for patients with head- and neck cancer (Wednesdays 9:00 – 11:00)
Videofluoroscopy Swallow (VFS) / Modified Barium Swallow
VFS assessments are conducted to diagnose dysphagia (feeding difficulties), aspiration and the causes thereof. Patients are required to be referred by a Speech Therapist. (Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:00 – 12:00, Radiology, Level 8)
Individual Out-Patient Therapy
Individual out-patient therapy is provided to patients with complicated speech, language, voice and/or feeding difficulties. Specific assistive devices to improve speech or feeding may be provided if needed and available. These include specialised feeding bottles for babies with cleft- lip and palate, as well as specialised devices (e.g. Augmentative and Alternative communication (AAC) and/or electronic larynxes). (First assessments: Monday (13:00 – 15:00) and Friday (8:00 – 9:00))
Audiology - What you need to know
Audiologists assists babies, children and adults with hearing loss. They also play a valuable role in the monitoring of hearing and early identification of hearing loss in high risk populations. These patients are tested and managed accordingly, which may include the provision of hearing aids.
Services: Audiology
Hearing Assessments
Screening and diagnostic hearing assessments are conducted to determine the level of hearing abilities. If a patient refers during a screening assessment, a comprehensive diagnostic assessment should be conducted to assess hearing levels at different frequencies and intensities.
Management of Hearing Loss
Aural rehabilitation and assistive listening devices (including hearing aids, FM systems, etc.) are provided as required. These services include:
- Determination of candidacy
- Initial fittings
- Aural rehabilitation
- Re-adjustments and arrangements for repairs
- Provision of batteries
Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)
All babies should have their hearing screened before they are 6 weeks old. The early identification and management of hearing loss has a significant positive impact on speech and language development and abilities, as well as improved educational outcomes of a child with hearing loss. Hearing loss is the most prevalent disability babies can be born with and can easily be missed in very young babies.
Please contact us for an appointment to have your baby’s hearing screened.
Ototoxicity Monitoring
Many lifesaving medications may be ototoxic and cause hearing loss, especially medications used in the treatment of cancer and tuberculosis. If you are receiving ototoxic medication, your hearing should be monitored to conserve your hearing abilities if possible.
Please contact us for an appointment to monitor your hearing.
Contact Us
Reception: 012 354 2723
Audiology: 012 354 4293
Head of Department: Ms Helena van Heerden: 012 354 2714 /