Adelaide Speech Pathology Services

Consultation Rates as of 30/10/2001

Speech pathology services in Australia are covered by private health insurance extras. If you are covered, you will receive benefits equivalent to approximately half of the consultation fees, depending on your health insurer. Please note that sessions are usually 40-45 minutes long. Speech pathology services are GST exempt.

TREATMENT SESSION

15 - 30 minutes $50

30 - 45 minutes $70 (This our standard consultation rate)

45 - 60 minutes $100

over 60 minutes $150

INITIAL CONSULTATION SESSION

15 - 30 minutes $70

30 - 45 minutes $100

45 - 60 minutes $130

over 60 minutes $200

ASSESSMENT SESSION

15 - 30 minutes $70

30 - 45 minutes $120

45 - 60 minutes $150

over 60 minutes $220

SCHOOL OR KINDERGARTEN VISIT

15 - 30 minutes $60

30 - 45 minutes $80

45 - 60 minutes $110

over 60 minutes $160

There is a high demand for appointments at our clinic. Please advise us 24 hours in advance if you cannot make an appointment, as this gives us the opportunity to offer the appointment to someone else.

Explanation of consultation types and rates

In order to clarify what is involved in each session type, please take a moment to read the summary below. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of all of the events that may occur in each session type, and is intended as a guide only. Special consideration may be given to financially disadvantaged families with children who have severe communication difficulties. Please provide 24 hours notice if you are unable to keep an appointment. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask!

Initial consultation session

During this session a detailed case history (background information) is recorded and options regarding a course of action are discussed, including an explanation of recommended assessment procedures if appropriate. The initial consultation is charged at a higher fee due to the extra time involved in collating and documenting information following the initial consultation. The initial consultation will only be charged once (i.e. should more than one session be required to gather background information, the second session will be charged at the same rate as a treatment session).

Assessment session

During this type of session any assessment procedures required in order to determine the nature and extent of the communication disorder, or to determine progress or change over time are administered and the results, implications, and subsequent therapy goals are discussed with the client and / or the client's carers. The assessment is usually documented in a formal report that summarises the assessment methods used, the results of the assessment, suggestions for the client and / or the client's carers, as well as recommendations (if any) for ongoing treatment. The assessment session is charged at a higher rate due to the extra time involved in collating and documenting information collected during the initial assessment, as well as the costs involved in using formal assessment tools. The initial assessment fee will only be charged once (when the assessment process take more than one session, subsequent sessions will be charged at the same rate as a treatment session).

Treatment session

During this type of session areas of weakness identified in the initial consultation and assessment sessions are specifically targeted in exercises designed to strengthen these areas. The client's progress is monitored and discussed with the client and / or the client's carers. Recommendations are made regarding methods of strengthening the areas of weakness identified during the initial consultation and assessment to carers, and activities / exercises for home practice may be given.

School or kindergarten visit

A school or kindergarten visit involves discussing the assessment results and / or progress of a child with relevant school or kindergarten staff (eg. class teacher, special services officer, special education teacher, school principal etc.). Information regarding the child's progress at school or kindergarten is collected and incorporated into the therapy goals if appropriate. Implications of assessment results and their relationship to support at school or kindergarten are discussed, and suggestions for the classroom or kindergarten staff will be provided if necessary. The school or kindergarten visits are charged at a higher rate due to the time and costs involved in travelling to and from such meetings. Meetings with school or kindergarten staff may also be conducted at the clinic, in which case the meeting will be charged at the same rate as a treatment session.

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