Biography
Melissa Avis is a Highly Specialist Speech and Language Therapist with extensive experience in adult neurorehabilitation, stroke and acquired brain injury. She currently works within a Stroke Early Supported Discharge Team, providing specialist assessment and treatment in patients’ homes following stroke, with particular expertise in aphasia, dysarthria, dyspraxia, dysphagia and cognitive communication difficulties.
Melissa has worked across acute hospitals, specialist neurorehabilitation services, community settings and private neurological rehabilitation, supporting individuals with stroke, traumatic and hypoxic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease, brain tumours, dementia, motor neurone disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Her clinical work includes the assessment and treatment of communication, speech, language and swallowing difficulties, as well as augmentative and alternative communication where required.
A central part of Melissa’s approach is multidisciplinary and family-centred rehabilitation. Throughout her career, she has worked closely with physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, dietitians, medical teams, rehabilitation assistants, case managers and families to develop coordinated rehabilitation goals and support patients through different stages of recovery.
Melissa also has substantial experience supporting patients and families through the transition from hospital to community rehabilitation. Her work has given her a strong understanding of the practical challenges families may face when navigating discharge planning, ongoing rehabilitation and longer-term support, and she places particular importance on clear communication and helping families understand the options available to them.
She has additional specialist experience in dysphagia management, Facial Oral Tract Therapy, LSVT LOUD, Talking Mats and the use of surface electromyography within rehabilitation. She has also undertaken training towards FEES competency and has experience working with tracheostomy, complex swallowing needs and patients requiring highly specialist neurological rehabilitation.
Melissa has also contributed to professional education and service development. In 2026, she worked as a Visiting Lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, delivering teaching within the MSc Speech and Language Therapy programme.
Awards & Education
Melissa completed her Bachelor of Speech Pathology at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, before developing a career spanning Australia and the UK in neurological and rehabilitation Speech and Language Therapy.
She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a member of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT). She also participates in a number of specialist Clinical Excellence Networks, including the Acquired Brain Injury CEN, London Adult Neuro CEN, FEES/VF CEN and Mouth Care CEN, reflecting her continued commitment to specialist professional development.
Her additional training includes Facial Oral Tract Therapy (FOTT), LSVT LOUD, Talking Mats, FEES-related training, dysphagia assessment and intervention, cognitive communication disorders, cough reflex testing and specialist acquired brain injury education.
Across her clinical practice, Melissa remains committed to evidence-based, person-centred rehabilitation and to working collaboratively with patients, families and multidisciplinary teams to support communication, swallowing and meaningful participation in everyday life.
