Services Offered

Swallow & Speech provides specialist assessment, therapy and rehabilitation for adults experiencing swallowing, airway, voice and communication difficulties. Services are available in clinic, via telehealth, and through selected home or facility visits within the Nelson region. ACC provider.

Swallowing Disorders (Dysphagia)

Assessment and management for adults experiencing:

  • Coughing or choking with food and fluids

  • Difficulty swallowing tablets or meals

  • Aspiration risk and recurrent chest infections

  • Weight loss or reduced nutrition due to swallowing difficulties

  • Swallowing changes related to neurological conditions, ageing, surgery or illness

Specialist dysphagia services include:

  • Comprehensive clinical swallowing assessments

  • Rehabilitation programmes to improve swallowing safety and function

  • Mealtime and texture modification recommendations

  • Comfort feeding and risk-feeding guidance

  • Support for progressive neurological conditions and palliative care

  • Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS) referrals and interpretation

Tracheostomy & Airway Management

Specialist support for individuals with:

  • Tracheostomies

  • Complex airway needs

  • Chronic cough

  • Inducible Laryngeal Obstruction (ILO) / Vocal Cord Dysfunction

  • Breathing pattern disorders and upper airway dysfunction

Services include:

  • Tracheostomy communication and swallowing management

  • Caregiver education

  • Decannulation support/guidance in liaison with wider team

  • Airway education for patients, carers and support staff

  • Breathing and cough retraining strategies

Voice Therapy

Assessment and therapy for:

  • Hoarse, weak or strained voice

  • Vocal fatigue and loss of vocal endurance

  • Persistent throat clearing or voice discomfort

  • Voice changes following illness, surgery or medical treatment

  • Professional voice users requiring vocal optimisation

Gender-Affirming Voice Training

Individualised therapy supporting voice and communication goals for transgender and gender-diverse individuals. Therapy may include:

  • Vocal pitch and resonance training

  • Communication style and vocal expression

  • Vocal confidence and sustainability

  • Personalised home practice programmes

Head & Neck Cancer Rehabilitation

Support across the cancer treatment pathway, including:

  • Pre-treatment education and counselling

  • Swallowing rehabilitation during and after treatment

  • Long-term swallowing and communication management

Neurological Rehabilitation

Assessment and rehabilitation for adults with communication and swallowing difficulties related to:

  • Stroke

  • Parkinson’s disease

  • Motor Neurone Disease (MND)

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Progressive neurological conditions

Education & Consultation

Education and consultancy services available for:

  • Rest homes and aged care facilities

  • Healthcare providers and support staff

  • Multidisciplinary teams

  • Teacher/group training on voice use and endurance

  • Families and carers supporting individuals with swallowing or airway needs

Get in touch

If you would like to make an appointment, discuss a referral, or find out more about services offered by Swallow & Speech, please get in touch.

Referrals are welcome from individuals, family members, GPs, specialists, aged care facilities and allied health professionals.

Please contact via the website enquiry form or email: hello@swallowandspeech.co.nz

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