Speech and Language Pathologists help children to develop communication skills, including understanding what words mean, using these words and having the speech skills to say them.

Our Speech Pathologists can help with the following:

• Speech e.g. how well a child produces intelligible (understandable) speech sound combinations using the lips, tongue and palate
• Language e.g. how a child uses words (vocabulary), combines words into sentences (grammar) and how they retell stories and events (narrative) with enough detail and in the correct sequence
• Comprehension e.g. how well a child understands instructions and interprets information delivered verbally, using gestures or via signs and/or symbols
• Social language e.g. how well a child participates in a variety of settings using appropriate social skills to initiate and maintain conversations and develop quality connections with others
• Stuttering e.g. how well a child can regulate the fluency or flow of their speech
• Voice e.g. the volume and quality of the voice they use when communicating
• Reading e.g. including pre-reading skills (phonological awareness), knowledge of phonics and gleaning meaning from text
• Written language e.g. their ability to express themselves using text
• Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) e.g. use of natural gesture, sign, low-tech and high-tech programs for low-verbal or non-verbal children