Communication & Thinking Skills

Communication is a complex process, which involves many aspects of thinking and social skills.

Also called ‘cognitive communication’ it includes skills such as planning, organisation, information processing, memory, flexible thinking and social behaviour.

This can impact a person’s ability to remember a conversation, recall important points from a doctor’s appointment, read someone else’s body language or take turns during a conversation.

Who Does This Affect?

Our communication support services are provided to:

  • Adults and older people following stroke, brain injury, or diagnosis of a progressive neurological condition
  • NDIS participants with communication-related functional goals
  • Aged care residents requiring communication support as part of their care plan

Children with language delay, autism, or developmental differences

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

For people with complex communication needs, AAC refers to any strategy or tool that supplements or replaces spoken communication. This may include:

  • Low-tech options: communication boards, alphabet charts, gesture systems
  • High-tech options: speech generating devices (SGDs), tablet-based apps (e.g., Proloquo2Go, Snap Core First)

Our speech pathologists conduct AAC assessments and can prescribe and train you and your support network to use AAC tools effectively. AAC is funded under the NDIS for eligible participants.

Example of a communication board to assist a client with vision and hearing impairment

Helping the Community

Changes to communication and thinking skills can occur due to a variety of conditions. Examples of such conditions include, but are not limited to, Brain injury, Stroke, Dementia, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Upon referral, Speech Pathologists conduct a comprehensive assessment to identify specific areas of communication difficulty. This assessment may involve evaluating speech production, language comprehension and expression, social communication skills, voice quality, writing abilities, and cognitive functions related to communication. By thoroughly understanding the nature and extent of an individual’s communication difficulties, Speech Pathologists can tailor intervention strategies to address their unique needs.

Speech Pathologists work with people to improve their communication and thinking skills by building new skills or optimising current skills in therapy. They can also help by implementing functional strategies to help communicate and participate more effectively in everyday activities and situations.

Physiotherapist smiling in front of a branded car

What Does a Speech Pathology Assessment Look Like?

Step 1: Intake & history

We gather background information about your communication, health history, and goals before or at your first appointment.

Step 2: Assessment

Your speech pathologist will assess relevant aspects of communication — this may include standardised language or cognitive assessments, observation of functional communication, and review of any previous reports.

Step 3: Report & plan

You receive a clear summary of findings and a therapy plan with meaningful, person-centred goals.

Step 4: Therapy

Sessions are tailored to your goals. Therapy may include:

  • Direct skill-building (e.g., word-finding strategies, sentence production)
  • Partner and carer training (so important people in your life can better support communication)
  • AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) assessment and prescription — for people who benefit from communication aids, apps, or devices
  • Participation-focused therapy — practising communication in real-life contexts

Physiotherapist smiling in front of a Community Therapy branded car