At Enhance Speech Pathology we work with children from approximately 9 months of age though to adolescents finalising formal education and moving into workplaces. Speech Pathology intervention may incorporate:
- Early communication skills, such as turn taking and joint attention
- Developing play skill
- Clearly saying words
- Using correct grammar when talking
- Organising and telling a story
- Participating in a 2-way conversation
- Understanding jokes and non-literal language
- Attending to and understanding instructions
- Speaking “smoothly”
- Using a clear strong voice at appropriate volume
- Reading, including sounding out words and understanding what has been read
- Expressing yourself through writing, including spelling
- Using gesture or Key Word Sign to support verbal communication
- Developing Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) to support communication in nonverbal and minimally verbal clients.
- Using technology to support reading and writing difficulties
Enhance Speech Pathology, work with children who have communication difficulties related to a variety of diagnosis such as:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Social Communication Impairment
- Specific Learning Disorder (Dyslexia)
- Developmental Language Disorder
- Global Developmental Delay
- Intellectual Disability
- Brain Injury
- Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Trauma
At Enhance Speech Pathology intervention will include:
- Direct 1:1 therapy sessions
- Training of families/carers: you will be involved in your child’s therapy
- Advocacy for support, such as for technology at school, accommodations in assessments, strategies to support engagement, communication and learning
Focus Areas
Some children may have difficulty saying the speech sounds which results in speech that is difficult to understand. This can happen for many different reasons.
A speech pathology assessment is recommended if you are concerned about any of the following:
- If you or other people have difficulty understanding what your child is saying
- Some speech sounds are left out when your child is talking
- If your child is not saying the sounds expected for their age
Please see the Speech Pathology Milestone package for more information about what sounds are expected by what age (https://speechpathologyaustralia.cld.bz/Communication-Milestones-A4-sheets)
Language refers to the ability to understand and express oneself with a variety of words and sentence forms.
Some children with language difficulties may:
- Not follow instructions or look to their peers when following instructions
- Not be able to use a range of words to express themselves.
- Not use the correct grammar when talking.
- Using fewer words or less mature words as their peers
- Difficulty participating in conversations with others.
- Difficulty expressing how they are feeling, and/or organising and telling their story
- Present with attention and/or behaviour difficulties
Please see Speech Pathology Milestone package for more information about what is expected for preschool children (https://speechpathologyaustralia.cld.bz/Communication-Milestones-A4-sheets)
Developmental Language Disorder impacts about 7 children in every 100, that means there are at least 2 children with Developmental Language Disorder in every classroom. Developmental Language disorder is a lifelong condition and without intervention and support it can impact learning, socialising and future employment. Assessment and therapy is recommended for all children with suspected language difficulties.
Literacy difficulties encompass any difficulties with reading or writing. This may be at sound level, word level, sentence level or difficulty with longer passages. They may present as:
- Difficulty with rhyming words, blending sounds together
- Difficulty knowing the sounds the letters make
- Sounding out single words
- Spelling
- Understanding what you have read, or reading comprehension
- Difficulty reading fluently and with expression
- Difficulty writing a sentence or planning and writing a story or essay.
- Summarising and making inferences from what you have read.
Pre-literacy skills, which also include Phonological Awareness skills begin developing in preschool years and are an important foundation and predictor of education and employment achievement later in life. The early primary years of schooling support children learning to read, however from Year 3 up, students “read to learn”, and in high school years use writing to demonstrate to others what they have learnt. Speech Pathologist assess and provide intervention for children, from preschool age, with early literacy skills, through to adolescents, who may need support with essay planning, organisation and making inferences.
Why a Speech Pathologist?
A speech pathologist is an expert in all forms of human communication: spoken, written, gestural (nonverbal) and augmentative. Reading and writing are forms of communication and therefore within a Speech Pathologists scope of practice. A speech pathologist can provide targeted and focused intervention for a child requiring literacy support.
Please make contact with Enhance Speech Pathology to find out how Speech Pathology can help your child.
Stuttering is fairly common and often starts between the ages of 2 and 3 years. Stuttering makes it hard for children to get their words out smoothly. For some children stuttering may disappear as quickly as it starts, but for others it will persist and the longer it lasts the harder it is to treat.
Early assessment and intervention are recommended for children who stutter. There are some excellent evidenced based treatments available for children who stutter.
Voice problems may present as:
- Hoarse voice
- Breathy voice
- Unusually high or low pitch
- Periods of voice loss.
Voice problems can impact how your child is able to communicate at home, school and extracurricular activities.
If you are concerned about your child’s voice, please discuss it with your GP who may suggest a referral to an Ear Nose and Throat Specialist (ENT). The ENT may have a look inside your child’s throat to determine the reason for your child’s voice. They may then recommend a block of voice therapy with a Speech Pathologist.