Newcastle Neuro Speech Pathology

23/05/2025

Our Senior Speech Pathologist and Director, Kristin, has been supporting adults across the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region for the past two years now!

She takes a person-centred, evidence-based approach to care and is passionate about supporting her clients to make informed decisions that enhance their quality of life.

Kristin has a special interest in:
🌿 Dysphagia (swallowing difficulties)
🌿 Neurodegenerative and acquired neurological conditions
🌿 Age-related conditions

Stay tuned for some exciting changes to the Newcastle Neuro team!

0467 093 613
speechpathology@newcastleneuro.com.au
www.newcastleneuro.com.au

17/04/2025

🌸🐰 Happy Easter from Newcastle Neuro! 🐣🌼

We will be closed for the Easter long weekend from Friday 18th April and will reopen on Wednesday 23rd April.

Wishing you a wonderful Easter filled with joy, laughter, and a well-deserved break 💛

04/04/2025

🌸🐣 Easter and Dysphagia 🐣🌸

For many, Easter is about food (chocolate!), family, and connection. But for people living with dysphagia (swallowing difficulties), it can be a time of quiet exclusion.

As we gather this Easter, remember that not everyone experiences mealtimes the same way. A little understanding can go a long way in helping others feel included, supported, and safe.

Kindness at the table matters 💛

10/01/2025

Expiratory Muscle Strength Training (EMST) is a rehabilitation approach, which uses a device to exercise and increase the maximal pressure of the expiratory muscles. These muscles are important for breathing out forcefully, coughing, and swallowing.

It may benefit people with:
💚 Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
💚 Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
💚 Presbyphonia, or age-related voice changes
💚 Post-stroke dysphagia
💚 Myotonic dystrophy
💚 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
💚 Motor Neuron Disease (MND)

We have seen good outcomes in using EMST, including:
🌬️ Improved cough airflow - coughing is important for preventing food and drink going into the lungs (aspiration), which could lead to a pneumonia (aspiration pneumonia)
🌬️ Improvements in pharyngeal swallow function and saliva management
🌬️ Improved measures of swallow-related quality of life
🌬️ When combined with a voice therapy program, we see an effect of increased speech loudness
🌬️ Reduced risk of aspiration
EMST allows us to be specific about the muscles we target with exercise.

Give us a call if you think you may benefit from an individualised EMST program!

0467 093 613
speechpathology@newcastleneuro.com.au
www.newcastleneuro.com.au

20/12/2024

Your incredible support has made 2024 a truly special year for Newcastle Neuro—thank you for being part of our journey! 🎄✨

We are taking a short break to recharge, celebrate, and make the most of the sunshine! We’ll be back in 2025, refreshed and ready to continue making a difference.

Wishing you full, happy bellies, lots of love, and wonderful moments with the people in your life this holiday season! 🦐🍮🍉🥧🎄

05/12/2024

This festive season, take a moment to consider the people in your life with swallowing difficulties. Being prescribed a modified diet can be difficult to get used to, let alone during the Christmas period.

While it may take a little additional planning, catering for different food and fluid textures doesn't need to be stressful!

We all love a good Christmas pavlova - give this one a try and let us know what you think! 🧁

18/09/2024

People living with dementia might notice changes in their memory, behaviour, rational thinking and ability to communicate. It can be difficult for some people to immediately engage with services, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to help your loved one.

💬 Adjust your communication: Keep language clear, concise, and straightforward to make it easier for the person to follow. Avoid overwhelming the person with complex information. Break down instructions into simple steps. Gain eye contact, use body language, facial expressions and gesture to reinforce what is being spoken. Use real objects or pictures to support your message. Be patient, give your loved one extra time to process what has been said, rephrase information instead of repeat the same thing and give choices.

🏠 Modify the environment: Surround your loved one with familiar items and décor to maintain a sense of identity and comfort. Keep the space uncluttered and organised, with plenty of natural light. Avoid lighting that creates dark spots or shadows as these can cause disorientation. Use clear labels, incorporating visuals where possible. Reduce noise and echo in living spaces.

🎾Maintain engagement: Encourage continued participation in any social or recreational activities, even if adaptations are necessary. Access the community frequently and provide opportunity for your loved one to help with the shopping, making a cup of tea and ordering your coffees. Maintain friendships and family relationships by sharing memories and looking back at special photos or home videos.

💡Use memory tools: Use a large, family calendar to display appointments and track the days of the week. Ensure clocks and watches are readily available, with alarms set for medications or other important tasks. Keep a pen and note pad by the phone and always put the keys in the same place as you walk in the door! Maintain a predictable routine. Sticky notes can be great for reminding your loved one about specific tasks, like ‘turn off the TV’.

For individualised support, get in touch with our speech pathologist.

0467 093 613
speechpathology@newcastleneuro.com.au
www.newcastleneuro.com.au

16/09/2024

💙 Dementia Action Week 2024: A Dementia Friendly Future 💙

This Dementia Action Week, we're focusing on how we can include and empower people living with dementia.

At Newcastle Neuro, we're committed to creating a dementia-friendly future. Together, we can make a difference in helping people with dementia feel supported, valued, and heard. Here's how:

💡 How You Can Help:
• Include & Empower: People living with dementia can still participate in many activities, have hobbies and engage with community groups. Take the time to find out what someone might like to get involved in and how, and if they might need a little extra support in order to participate.
• Listen Actively: When speaking with someone who has dementia, listen with empathy. Give them the time and space they need to express themselves.
• Genuine Curiosity: Invite someone with dementia to share their ideas. Take time to find things you may have in common and ask questions that could lead to an inclusive conversation, such as ‘what made you want to start hiking?’

🏠 Create Accessible Environments:
• Simplify Communication: Use clear language, visual aids, and gentle reminders to help them navigate social settings. Consider introducing yourself each time you meet, such as ‘Hi Jules, it’s Helen from the hair salon, how are you?’.
• Dementia-Friendly Spaces: Ensure your environment is easy to navigate. Use clear signage with both pictures and words, unambiguous seating and consider the music and lighting used in commercial spaces.

🗣 Speech Pathologists play a crucial role in helping people with dementia communicate and stay connected. They offer strategies to maintain speech and language skills, promoting independence and a sense of identity.

Let’s take the first step together this Dementia Action Week and build communities where everyone feels they belong! 🙌

08/08/2024

20/06/2024

Do you know someone with Parkinson's Disease?

Over 80% of Australians living with Parkinson's disease have voice, speech and/or swallowing problems.

These are high statistics, but there's good news too! Evidence-based speech therapy for people with Parkinson's can help you regain and retain your speech and swallowing for a lifetime.

Not sure if it's for you? Have a chat with our friendly Speech Pathologist Kristin for more information.

0467 093 613
speechpathology@newcastleneuro.com.au
www.newcastleneuro.com.au

10/04/2024

Have you every stepped onto a stationary or broken escalator? You might remember stepping onto the stationary stairs and feeling dizzy or wobbly 🥴

Even though we are fully aware that the escalator is not moving, parts of our brains still act on previous experience gained when it was moving, and so we misjudge how to step onto it.

In Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), the brain and body have a disconnect.

FND can cause a variety of symptoms that cannot be explained by an underlying condition or anatomical abnormalities. It is caused by a complex combination of biological, psychological and social factors on the brain.

The cause of FND is not entirely known but there are effective treatments available.

09/04/2024

Let's talk FND.