Speech & Language Therapy

Speech & Language Therapy

Our Speech and Language Therapy service provides comprehensive assessment and intervention to clients with a wide range of diagnoses including Autism, Down Syndrome, Global Developmental Delay, genetic disorders, language delay, intellectual disability, ADHD, stammering and speech sound delay/disorder.

Based on many factors that are individual to each client, the speech and language therapist will select the most appropriate clinical approaches, therapy intensity, frequency, and duration that will support your child in meeting their full potential. Our approach is client centred and play based creating a highly motivational learning environment that is tailored to each client’s learning style, needs and functional abilities. Remember if your child is having fun then they are also learning.

You and your child are central to the decision making process and you will be informed about all aspects of their therapeutic journey. Our individual sessions consist of 50 minutes of direct services and 10 minutes of feedback with the parents/client. Parents are provided with activities to complete in the home setting between appointments. This is key to supporting the communication gains made in clinic and ensure progress is achieved across all settings.
If you seek further information regarding our speech and language services please do not hesitate to contact us and one of our team members can answer any of your questions.

What is Speech and Language therapy?

  • Speech and Language Therapists work on ALL aspects of communication.

  • We assess, diagnose and treat a wide range of communication abilities.

  • Therapy is provided in the context of play to improve quality of life and functional communication skills.

Communication disorders to look out for

  • Receptive language delay: Difficulty understanding spoken language

  • Expressive language delay: Difficulty using language

  • Pragmatic Language difficulties: To use language appropriately in social situations

  • Speech delay/disorder: difficulties with the production of sounds

  • Fluency/stammer: repetition of sounds, syllables and/or words, prolonging sounds and/or pausing or ‘blocking’.

How a child with a speech disorder/delay may present

  • Difficult for you or others to understand

  • Difficulty producing certain sounds or combinations of sounds

  • Feel frustrated and may be avoidant of speaking at times

  • Difficulties with literacy and phonological awareness

How a child with a language delay may present

  • Slow to react to speech and language

  • Limited understanding or use of age appropriate vocabulary

  • Difficulties understanding concepts, humour, non-literal language

  • Slow vocabulary development

  • Difficulty following instructions or answering questions appropriately

  • Difficulty describing events (narratives) and using appropriate grammar in sentences

  • Difficulties finding the ‘right’ word

How a child with social communication difficulties may present

  • Limited friendship group

  • Difficulty maintaining appropriate eye contact or respecting personal space

  • Difficulty engaging conversations about topics that are not of particular interest to them

  • He/she may not initiate conversations or demonstrate appropriate turn-taking

Communication difficulties can lead to

  • High levels of frustration

  • Challenging behaviour

  • Rigid and controlling behaviour

  • Anxiety/mental health difficulties

  • Withdrawal

  • Low self esteem/self perception

  • Difficulties forming and maintaining age appropriate relationships

  • Difficulties accessing and contributing to the school curriculum

  • Lack of independence skills

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