Our Services
Speech Sounds
It is expected that children make speech errors as they learn to talk. Your child may substitute one sound for another, leave sounds out, add sounds, or change a sound. Some of these errors are expected to resolve naturally by certain ages, whereas other errors are not usually seen in child development. These errors can make your child’s speech difficult to understand.
In your initial appointment, Esther will provide a comprehensive assessment of your child’s speech at the single word and conversational level. The structure and function of the oral and facial muscles are also assessed to determine any additional contributions to your child’s speech difficulties. Speech assessment includes (when necessary) an assessment of early literacy skills as these can often be affected in children with speech difficulties.
Literacy
Phonological awareness refers to a child’s ability to recognise and work with sounds in spoken language. It includes skills like identifying rhymes, blending sounds together to make words, and breaking words into smaller parts, like syllables or individual sounds. These skills are crucial for learning to read and spell.
Children who have phonological awareness difficulties may struggle with recognising and manipulating these sounds, which can make it harder for them to learn to read, write, and spell.
In your initial appointment, your child will undergo a comprehensive assessment of their phonological awareness and literacy skills. Esther integrates the Sounds-Write and Little Learners Love Literacy approaches to make literacy intervention engaging for your child. These are both evidence-based, systematic phonics approaches to literacy development.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that affects how children plan and coordinate the movements needed for speech. In simpler terms, kids with CAS know what they want to say, but their brains have difficulty sending the right signals to the muscles that help them talk. This can make it hard for them to say sounds, syllables, or words correctly and consistently.
In your initial appointment, a motor speech assessment will be conducted to determine appropriate therapy targets. The structure and function of the oral and facial muscles are also assessed to determine whether there are any additional difficulties with strength or coordination. Esther has experience in treating CAS with DTTC, ReST and the Nuffield Dyspraxia Program.
Fluency
Stuttering occurs when someone has disruptions or blocks in their speech. These interruptions can include repeating sounds, syllables, or words, stretching sounds, or getting stuck on a word or sound, making it difficult for the person to communicate fluently.
While the cause of stuttering in childhood is not well understood, current research highlights a difference in the way the brain coordinates the movement of speech muscles. Some children will outgrow stuttering without intervention, however, speech pathologists cannot currently predict which children will persist with stuttering. For this reason, early intervention is recommended for children who stutter.
Following a detailed initial assessment, where your child’s stuttering is characterised, we will discuss potential treatment approaches. Esther is trained in implementing the Lidcombe Program, Syllable Timed Speech and the Camperdown Program.