Speech pathology plays a vital role in supporting the communication development of children, addressing a wide range of speech, language, and cognitive-communication challenges. Early intervention is key, as it can significantly impact a child’s ability to express themselves, understand others, and succeed in social and academic environments. At Unified Speech Pathology, we work closely with children and their families to identify and address communication difficulties as early as possible. Our speech pathologists use age-appropriate, evidence-based techniques to help children overcome challenges such as speech sound disorders, language delays, stuttering, and social communication difficulties often associated with conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
How can a Speech Pathologist assist your child?
Our approach is child-centered and holistic, focusing not just on the specific speech or language issue, but on the overall development of the child.
Language
Expressive language refers to how we share our needs, thoughts and feelings Receptive language refers to how we understand and process what others say or what we read.
We assess, manage and treat children that present with language delays/disorders including difficulties with:
- Pre-verbal language
- Expressive language
- Receptive language
- Phonological awareness
- Literacy
- Written communication
- Social communication
- Cognition (attention, memory and executive functioning)
Speech
Speech refers to the sounds we make in the process of speaking. Speech sounds can be separated into two categories, either articulation errors or phonological errors. We assess, manage and treat children who present with speech difficulties as outlined below.
Articulation refers to how we use our mouth, lips, tongue and soft palate to make speech sounds. For example, we need to achieve correct placement of the tongue to say the “s” sound in order to say “sit” instead of “thit”.
Phonological errors refer to errors in the patterns of speech with result in the collapse of the differences between speech sounds.
AAC - Augmentative and Alternative Communication
AAC refers to any form of communication for individuals with significant difficulties expressing their needs, wants and ideas. For example, this can take the form of a communicative device.
We aim to assess, prescribe and train children and their carers in using multimodal communication.
AAC may include:
- Key Word Sign
- Low Tech AAC options (e.g. communication books)
- High Tech AAC options (e.g. physical devices and software such as LAMP Words for Life).
Voice
This refers to how we use our vocal folds to make sounds. Our voices can vary in volume, tone and/or pitch. Our voice can be impacted by significant health events or misuse of our voice.
We assess, treat and manage children who present with difficulties with their voice. This may present itself as one or a combination of the following:
- Hoarse voice
- Husky voice
- Croaky voice
- Soft/Load voice
- High/Low pitched voice
- Sounding as though they are speaking out of their nose while speaking
- Sounding as though too much air is escaping through their nose while speaking
- Constant coughing or clearing throat while speaking
Social Skills
Social skills refer to the skills we use to communicate with each other. This include both verbal and non-verbal communication (gestures, facial expression, body language etc.). These skills are imperative for a child to be able to establish and maintain friendships, hold a conversation and interact with those around them.
We assess, manage and treat social skills difficulty in children. A child may have social skills difficulties if they present with one or a combination of the following:
- Gaining someone’s attention
- Maintaining eye contact
- Listening to the speaker
- Taking turns during a conversation
- Interpreting non-verbal cues
- Using words appropriately to express needs and wants
Stuttering
Stuttering or dysfluency refers to frequent and sometimes involuntary, repetition of sounds and movements while talking. This overall impacts the rhythm and flow of our speech.
We assess, manage and treat stuttering in children. In children, stuttering can present as:
- Sound repetitions
- Part word repetitions
- Whole Word repetitions
This may be accompanied by secondary behaviours such as word substitution, facial grimacing, and avoidance of communicative environments.
Literacy
Literacy refers to the ability to blend and segment sounds for reading and spelling. We assess and treat literacy difficulties in children to assist them in developing the skills required for their individual needs.
A child with literacy difficulties may have trouble with one or a combination of the following:
- Rhyming
- Recognising sight words for reading
- Letter-sound relationships
- Unable to identify spelling rules
- Slow reading
- Spelling difficulties
Please complete the form to submit an enquiry.
Get In Touch
Please give us a call or use the form to submit an enquiry. Our services are accessible in clinic at 20 The Strand Penshurst.
We service Sydney and surrounding areas, Blue Mountains, Illawarra area & Central Coast with our mobile service & Australia wide through our telehealth service.
Mobile, Telehealth or In Clinic Service
We offer convenient mobile services where our speech pathologists come to you, or you can opt for our telehealth services to receive quality care from anywhere in Australia, and also in clinic services at our accessible and convenient location at 20 The Strand Penshurst.
