We provide Speech Therapy for children in Adelaide. Childhood speech development is vital for children with speech disorders to begin the treatment process early. However, at times it could prove difficult to identify if a child needs speech therapy. If your child is struggling with any of the following, he/she may require early intervention speech therapy.
Speech
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- Pronouncing words accurately. He/she may be deleting or substituting sounds (e.g. "co" instead of "coat")with other sounds (e.g. "wed" instead of "red")
- Is your child's speech as clear as his/her peers
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Fluency
- Demonstrating fluent, clear speech that is free from repetitions (e.g. p-p-p-pat) and/or prolongation of sounds (e.g. sssssssat) and words
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Perspective taking
- Describing possible motives that a character has for certain actions and how he/she determined these.
- Identifying expected/unexpected topics to discuss with different types of people.
- An understanding of the relationship between their verbalizations and their effect on others
Understanding of language
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- Following basic instructions
- Understanding concepts such as big & small, top & under, in & out
- Understanding the meaning of words
- Understanding object functions (e.g. a pen is for writing)
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Use of language
- Using words to communicate
- Joining words to make sentences
- Naming people, places & things
- Learning new words
- Using grammar (e.g. he/she)
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Literacy
- Phonological awareness e.g. counting syllables, rhyming, counting and changing words in sounds
- School age literacy skills e.g. sounds to letter knowledge, reading, spelling and punctuation
Paediatric Speech Pathology
Speech therapy is the assessment and treatment of communication and speech disorders. It is performed by certified speech language pathologists (SLPs), often referred to as speech pathologists.
A certified speech pathologist will study, diagnose and treat communication disorders, including difficulties with speaking, listening, understanding language, reading, writing, social skills. stuttering and using voice. Children who experience difficulties swallowing food and drinking safely can also be assisted by a speech pathologist.
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Speech Therapy for Children
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For your child, the speech therapy session would usually take place in a one-on-one environment. Speech therapy exercises and activities are carried out and may vary depending on your child's disorder, age and needs. During speech therapy for children, the speech pathologist may:
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interact through talking and playing, and using books, pictures other objects as part of language intervention to help stimulate language development
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model correct sounds and syllables for a child during age-appropriate play to teach the child how to make certain sounds
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provide strategies and homework for the child and parent or caregiver on how to do speech therapy at home
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How long does your child need speech therapy?
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The amount of time an individual needs speech therapy depends on a few factors, including (not limited to):
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their age
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type and severity of the speech delay/disorder
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frequency of therapy
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underlying medical condition
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treatment of an underlying medical condition
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Some speech, language or communication delay/disorders begin in childhood and improve with age, while others persists into adulthood and require long-term therapy and constant care. The success rate of speech therapy varies depending on the condition being treated and the age group of the individual. Speech therapy has shown to be most successful when started early and practised at home with the involvement of parents and/or caregivers.
Childhood Speech Development
Centre Based Speech Therapy
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Our facilities provide a modern and professional environment in which our highly trained speech pathologists can help your child develop their skills and achieve their full potential. Centre based therapy is preferable for our clients for a number of reasons:
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- All therapy resources are available at our centre whereas limited resources are brought for each home/school visit.
- Parents/carers can actively attend sessions to see what is being practiced and can bring home written program suggestions after each appointment for faster therapy progress.
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School/Childcare/Kindergarten
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These visits are an excellent opportunity to conduct effective sessions with your child. It allows us to work closely with facilitators to ensure that they understand the specific needs as part of your child's treatment plan. It also allows us to observe how your child interact with others in a "real live" scenario. In addition, these visits are a terrific way to achieve language and literacy (ability to read and write) goals within the school curriculum. We will be able to collaborate with their teachers closely and pre-teach or reinforce vocabulary, concepts or literacy areas to support them to excel in school.
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If you would like to book in a speech therapy session, click on the "book now" button on the bottom right of your screen. Alternatively, call us at (08) 8102 4209 or email us to book your speech therapist today.
Service Delivery
It Takes Two to Talk® — The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children with Language Delays *modified to be neuroaffirming
More Than Words® — The Hanen Program® for Parents of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder or Social Communication Difficulties *modified to be neuroaffirming
DIR FLOORTIME - The Interdisciplinary Council on Development and Learning (ICDL) *modified to be neuroaffirming
Sounds ~ Write Literacy Program
LSVT LOUD; A speech treatment for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurological conditions. - LSVT Global