Speech Therapy and the NDIS
What NDIS speech therapy covers: communication, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), swallowing and mealtime management, and funding.
Speech pathologists — often called speech therapists — help people communicate and, perhaps surprisingly, help people eat and drink safely too. On the NDIS, their work can be life-changing: finding a way to be understood, or making mealtimes safe and enjoyable. This guide explains what speech therapy involves, including communication and AAC, swallowing and mealtime support, and how it's usually…
What speech pathologists do
Communication and language
Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
Swallowing and mealtime management
How speech therapy is funded
Frequently asked questions
What does a speech pathologist do on the NDIS?
They help with communication in its broadest sense — understanding and using language, speech clarity, social communication, and alternative methods for people who can't rely on speech. They also assess and manage swallowing and mealtime safety. Their work is centred on your daily life and…
What is AAC?
AAC stands for augmentative and alternative communication — any method that adds to or replaces speech, from picture boards and sign to speech-generating devices and apps. A speech pathologist assesses which suits you, trials options, and trains you and the people around you to use it well.
Why do speech pathologists help with swallowing?
Because the muscles and coordination used for speech are also used for eating and drinking. Unsafe swallowing can carry real risks, so a speech pathologist assesses how you swallow and builds a mealtime plan, which might involve modified textures, thickened drinks, positioning or specific…
Does the NDIS fund communication devices?
It can. Where an AAC device is reasonable and necessary and recommended by a speech pathologist, it's usually funded as assistive technology from your Capital budget. The therapist assesses and trials options first to make sure the device genuinely suits you before it's funded.
Which budget pays for speech therapy?
Speech therapy sessions are usually funded from Capacity Building, which builds communication and daily living capacity. AAC devices typically come from Capital as assistive technology, and some supports may draw on Core. The support must be reasonable and necessary and related to your disability.
Can a speech pathologist and a dietitian both help with meals?
Yes, and they often work together. A speech pathologist focuses on safe swallowing and the mechanics of eating, while a dietitian focuses on nutrition and what's eaten. For mealtime management, their combined input helps make meals both safe and nourishing. See our dietitians and nutrition guide.