The Speech Therapy department specialises in the management of swallowing and communication disorders in the adult population. The department also provide paediatric services to the community such as to schools and Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS).
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 our patients. We provide services to both inpatients and outpatients within the main hospital, NCID and at TTSH Integrated Care Hub (ICH). Patient groups include ENT, Geriatrics, Acquired brain injuries (e.g., stroke and brain tumours), Progressive neurological disorders (e.g., Parkinson Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and those with Cervical Spine Injuries.
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), Community Health Teams (CHTs) and Home Ventilation and Respiratory Support Service (HVRSS).
The Speech Therapy Department provides a range of services including:
Adult Speech and Language Assessments/Interventions
- Apraxia of speech
- Dysarthria
- Stuttering
- Aphasia
- Cognitive-communication disorders
- Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)
- Voice therapy
Adult Swallowing Assessment and Intervention
- Clinical Bedside Assessment (CBA)
- Videofluoroscopy (VFS)
- Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
- Surface Electromyography (sEMG) biofeedback
- Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry (pHRM)
- Vital stim/E-stim
- Expiratory Muscle Strength Trainer Iowa Oral Performance Instrument (IOPI)
- Dysphagia table at ICH
Tracheostomy Management
- Cuff deflation
- Modified Evan's Blue Dye Test
- Speaking valve e.g. normal and inline speaking valve
- Other communication intervention e.g. talking tracheostomy, leak speech
Communication Group Management
- Speak and Move Well (Combined ST-OT group for PD patients)
- Dementia communication group
- Supported Conversation Group Therapy for patients with Chronic Aphasia
- Social Communication Group Therapy
- Dysarthria Group
- Aphasia Group
Other Services
- Paediatrics Speech and Language Assessments/Interventions (e.g. Speech and Language Delay)
- Telerehab for voice therapy in patients with Parkinson's Disease
- Provision of education of oral hygiene practises in inpatient wards for cancer patients
- Help Me Speak loan programme (for loan of Tobii eye gaze device)
- Teleservices for Tobii eye gaze device – provision of tele-carer training for set up, remote access for troubleshooting and teaching of patients
- Assessment and application for the purchase of Augmentative Alternative Communication aids from the Assistive Technology Fund
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
