Speech Pathology

Paediatric Allied Health

Speech Pathologists support a variety of client needs to allow them to communicate and interact with their peers as well as eat and participate in mealtimes.

Pre-intentional/preverbal language verbal/expressive language, comprehension/receptive language, social communication and cognition (attention, memory, executive function).

Language

Including phonological awareness, decoding and encoding strategies (Sounds Write Trained) and work on narrative retell skills.

Literacy

Speech

Articulation, phonology, motor speech therapies, as well as structural assessment of oral structures such as tongue ties.

Multi-modal communication (AAC)

Augmentative and alternative assistive technology including low and high tech trials and establishing robust communication systems.

Swallowing

Oral function for eating/drinking and meal time management.

Stuttering in children and techniques/programs to build fluency and choice/control. Including but not limited to Lidcombe and Westmead programs.

Stuttering

"Working at Lifespan Therapies has given me the opportunity to grow as a clinician as well as work in a multidisciplinary team that provide the utmost support to both clinicians and clients ensuring we can support our clients to blossom!"

- Kelsey Place, Speech Pathologist

Our Speech Pathologists' also support clients in using many forms of AAC.

AAC supports clients who may never verbally communicate, who need extra time to develop verbal communication skills and our speeches also use AAC in every session to support comprehension!

We use and implement a variety of AAC including:

  • Key Word Sign

  • Core Word Boards

  • Low tech PODD

  • Eye gaze Devices

  • SGDs (Speech Generating Devices)

  • Switches

Communication is so much more than verbal!

Many children need support with their verbal communication.

At Lifespan Therapy, we help children with the development of speech sounds, the formation of sentences through word combination, and the acquisition of language comprehension skills.

Strategies that we use include, but are not limited to:

  • Early Language Strategy Implementation

  • HANEN "It takes two to talk" program

  • Phonology Based Intervention

  • Articulation Intervention

We can support children with Literacy, Social Communication and School Skills.

To ensure effective intervention we utilise various strategies including, but not limited to:

  • The Sounds Write literacy program

  • Group programs that foster social communication

  • Targeted language intervention (Sentence structure, description skills, word use, preposition, plural work, narrative retell skills, and more!)

Additionally, we offer intervention that centers on the use of pragmatic skills and communication.

Speech and feeding starts with the physical structure and function of our mouths.

Speech Pathologists at Lifespan Therapies are able to support clients to develop the correct movement and strength within their mouths, allowing for greater outcomes with feeding in infants and children, as well as speech and lisps.

Our Speech Pathologists are also trained in assessing and supporting clients who have lip, tongue or buccal ties.

That's right, it's not just about the words!

Our Speech Pathologists are not only skilled in addressing communication and language issues, but also in providing support for feeding and mealtime concerns.

We understand that feeding and mealtime difficulties can manifest in a variety of ways, which is why our speeches can help with various challenges such as:

  • Swallowing

  • Early food skills

  • Food aversions

  • Limited diet

  • Mealtime management and support

  • Transition from tube to oral feeding