Having difficulty articulating and pronouncing sounds is a relatively common speech issue in children and can be the result of articulation errors or phonological errors. Our Speech Pathologists work with both children and adults with unclear speech and a variety of speech sound disorders. This can include:  

• Articulation errors are caused by not putting the lips, tongue or jaw in the correct position to make the right sound. Lisps are a common example of an articulation error.

• Phonological errors occur when the individual does not understand the differences between sounds and how they are used.

• Motor Speech disorders – including Childhood Apraxia of speech (CAS) – deficits of motor planning and programming and also Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder caused by muscle weakness or impaired coordination affecting speech clarity, speech volume and prosody (intonation).

Voice difficulties can present in children at an early age. Sometimes a child speaks too softly, sounds hoarse or husky, or their pitch is quite different to similarly aged children. Voice difficulties such as dysphonia can also arise as a result of an acquired brain injury such as stroke or neurodegenerative disease in adults.

They may also stem from physiological conditions such as vocal nodules or lesions, all leading to a different production in the individual’s voice. The voice can appear strained or hoarse and the voice volume can be too soft or loud. These factors can contribute to communication breakdown due to poor intelligibility.

Speech pathology can play a part in identifying the root cause of these concerns and assist to resolve the issue at hand. Our Speech Pathologists can also provide recommendations to other health professionals for further assessment including ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat).

Stuttering, also known as dysfluency, is a disorder of verbal communication where the flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds, syllables, words, or phrases as well as involuntary pauses or blocks in which the individual is unable to produce sounds.

Stuttering often begins around 3-4 years of age, and early intervention works best. If a child is stuttering in the early primary school years, it is strongly recommended they undergo assessment and begin therapy in order to have the best chance of effective treatment and resolution.

Feeding issues and fussy eating can be the result of either oral motor feeding or sensory feeding issues.

• Some children have difficulty moving or coordinating the muscles needed for eating which indicates oral motor feeding difficulties.

• Sensory feeding difficulties can present as food avoidance based on texture or colour, or sometimes the desire to eat only a very limited array of food.

Our speech pathologists have been trained in the “Get Permission Approach” to feeding, which is a responsive, sensitive, and supportive approach to feeding therapy. "Get Permission" strategies lovingly support children and their families to create positive change at mealtimes.

Regardless of the cause of your child’s fussy eating, our therapists will work with your child to help manage their food and fluid safely and improve their ongoing relationship with food, with a responsive feeding therapy approach.

Dysphagia, or swallowing difficulties, can often present in adults with acquired brain injury such as stroke, or neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or dementia. Dysphagia can present as difficulties in the oral phase of swallowing (chewing food) or pharyngeal phase (the swallow).

There can be a risk of aspiration and/or penetration where food or drink enters the airways and into the lungs due to disordered swallowing, leading to further health complications such as aspiration related pneumonia.

Our Speech Pathologists play a crucial role in evaluating and treating dysphagia.

They can assess swallowing function through observational methods and provide further recommendation and referrals to instrumental assessments such as a Video Fluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS). The Speech Pathologist will then develop a personalised treatment plan that may include dietary modifications, strategies to improve safety, and strengthening exercises with the goal to prioritise quality of life and safe and effective swallowing.

In simple terms, literacy refers to the ability of a person to read and write. The starting point for literacy is sound awareness, which is why speech therapists can play a key role in helping children who are having trouble learning to read and spell.

During the primary school years, it can be easy for children to fall behind. This might be noticed as a reluctance to read and write, regularly guessing words or struggling to sound out unfamiliar words. If you have any concerns about your child’s literacy progress, it is highly recommended to speak to a speech therapist a early as possible, to assess whether intervention is required.

Difficulties with literacy can present in adulthood when the individual is struggling to develop independence such as writing a resume to seek employment, or has difficulty navigating on public transport due to reading signs and instructions. Difficulties in literacy can also present with individuals with acquired brain injuries or neurodegenerative diseases, where their ability to successfully read or write is impaired. This can impact their ability to perform everyday tasks such as writing grocery lists or reading appointment times. Our Speech Pathologists can assess and provide tailored treatment plans that prioritise functional and client-focused goals for those with literacy difficulties or dyslexia. 

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is any form of communication for people with a range of conditions who have significant difficulties speaking or communicating. AAC may combine gestures, eye gaze, vocalisations and pointing to symbols as communication for people with limited verbal abilities. It can also include Key Word Sign and also speech generating devices.

We can support both children and adults, and their families, to use alternative and/or augmentative strategies and devices to optimise communication. By introducing AAC, our Speech Pathologist's empower individuals to express themselves, fostering greater independence and participation in their communities and daily lives.