Brooke-mai J. Whelan is a Speech-Language Pathologist based in Brisbane, QLD, Australia. She helps people who are dealing with changes to speech, language, and sometimes swallowing. Communication can be hard for many reasons, and in many cases the right support can make day to day life feel a bit more doable.
Her work often involves conditions that affect how a person speaks. This can include dysarthria, where speech becomes slurred, slow, or harder to understand. It can also involve apraxia, which can make it difficult to plan and carry out the movements needed for speech, even when the person knows exactly what they want to say.
Brooke-mai also looks after people living with motor neuron-related conditions such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), sometimes called Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Primary Lateral Sclerosis. Over time, these conditions can change breath control, voice quality, and the ability to form words clearly. Support needs to match what’s happening in each stage, not just what the diagnosis name is.
In appointments, the focus is usually on practical communication. That might mean working on clarity and pacing, helping with everyday speaking routines, or finding ways to reduce the strain of talking. At times, goals can include planning for future changes too, so someone has a clearer path forward when symptoms shift.
Speech-language therapy can also be about confidence. When words come out differently, it can be frustrating or worrying. Brooke-mai’s approach is calm and steady, with small steps that fit the person and their life. She works to support family members and carers as well, because communication happens in real situations, not just in the clinic.
Brooke-mai’s training is in speech-language pathology, with education that supports the assessment and care of communication needs. She has clinical experience working with the kinds of speech and communication challenges seen in conditions like dysarthria, apraxia, ALS and Primary Lateral Sclerosis. If you’re unsure whether speech therapy is the right next step, it’s still worth having a chat. Even a starting point can help.