The Speech Therapy department specialises in swallowing management and communication disorder management.

Our team of speech therapists work as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes various medical and allied health professionals to provide holistic care for patients. We provide services to inpatients and outpatients within the main hospital, and at the TTSH Rehabilitation Centre located within Ang Mo Kio-Thye Hua Kwan Hospital.

The team also collaborates with the Ministry of Health to provide regular service to various nursing homes located throughout the island; as well as home visits to patients through the Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP), Transitional Care Service (TCS) and Home Ventilation and Respiratory Support Service (HVRSS).

Referrals for Speech Therapy are initiated by a medical doctor. The Speech Therapy Department provides a range of services including:

Swallowing/Dysphagia Management

Videofluoroscopy (VFS) clinic
Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) clinic
Surface Electromyography (sEMG) biofeedback clinic
Vital stim/e-stim to rehabilitate swallowing function
Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer - for patients with Parkinson's disease (PD)
Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer - a form of swallow therapy for the stroke patient
Provision of Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI) for swallow therapy/ rehabilitation
Dysphagia table at subacute wards
Development of flowchart to guide ST referral/services in the cervical spine patient population

Tracheostomy Management

Cuff deflation
Modified Evan's Blue Dye Test
Speaking valve eg. normal and inline speaking valve
Other communication intervention eg. talking tracheostomy, leak speech

Speech and Language Disorders

Apraxia of speech
Dysarthria
Stuttering
Aphasia
Cognitive-communication disorders

Speech and Communication Management

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
Speak and Move Well (Combined ST-OT group for PD patients)
Development of life story handouts to help to improve communication in individuals with dementia
Supported Conversation Group Therapy for patients with Chronic Aphasia
Social Communication Group Therapy
Help Me Speak loan programme (for loan of Tobii eye gaze device)
Assessment and application for purchase of Augmentative Alternative Communication aids from the Assistive Technology Fund
Voice therapy for individuals with Parkinson's Disease including Lee Silverman Voice Treatment

Research Activities

Continual clinical research, quality projects and innovation projects.

Professional Development

Student clinical attachments
Lectures and workshops for polytechnics and other facilities such as nursing homes and hospices on invitation.
Professional talks, workshops and seminars
Public forums
Quality assurance programs
Inter-professional Education

Projected Services

Collaboration with NNI to provide integrated specialised communication services for individuals with dementia
Telerehab for voice therapy in patients with Parkinson's Disease
Provision of education of oral hygiene practises in inpatient wards for cancer patients
Teleservices for Tobii eye gaze device - provision of tele-carer training for set up, remote access for troubleshooting and teaching of patients