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Plain-language guides to the hearing, speech and swallowing difficulties we see most often. If something sounds familiar, an assessment gives you answers.
Hearing loss can be present from birth or develop with age, noise exposure, infection or medicines. Most adult hearing loss comes on slowly, so family members often notice first. A hearing test shows the type and degree of loss and whether hearing aids, medical treatment or an implant will help.
How we help:
Tinnitus is a sound heard in the ears or head. It is common and often linked to hearing loss or noise exposure. It rarely signals serious illness, but sudden one-sided tinnitus should be checked promptly. Sound therapy and counselling help most people notice it far less.
How we help:
Many cases of vertigo come from the inner ear. The most common, BPPV, often settles after a simple repositioning manoeuvre. Persistent dizziness benefits from vestibular rehabilitation exercises.
How we help:
Children develop at different rates, but some late talkers need help to catch up. An early hearing test and speech-language assessment rule out hearing loss and show which skills to build. Starting early makes a real difference.
How we help:
Autism affects how a person communicates and relates to others. Speech-language therapy builds communication in whatever form works best for the child, spoken words, signs, pictures or devices, and coaches parents to support it every day.
How we help:
Stuttering usually starts between ages 2 and 5. Many young children grow out of it, but therapy helps those who don't and is most effective when started early. Teens and adults who stutter also benefit from therapy that builds fluency and confidence.
How we help:
Voice problems are common in people who use their voice heavily at work. An ENT examination comes first; voice therapy then treats many conditions such as vocal nodules without surgery.
How we help:
Aphasia is a language disorder caused by damage to the brain, most often after a stroke. Intelligence is not affected. Therapy and family training help people communicate again, and improvement can continue for years.
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Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) can follow stroke, neurological illness or head-and-neck cancer treatment, and also affects some children. A swallowing assessment finds safe textures and exercises that reduce the risk of choking and chest infection.
How we help:
Tell us what you have noticed. We will suggest the right first appointment, whether that is a hearing test, a speech assessment, or both.
