Frequently asked questions
What is a speech pathologist?
Speech Pathologists, also referred to as 'speech therapists' or 'speech-language pathologists,' are university-trained professionals specialising in communication across the lifespan. They offer their expertise and experience across various settings such as schools, community organisations, private practices, and government health departments.
Benefits of accessing private speech pathology support:
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Individualised Support: Tailored therapy programs designed to address the specific needs and goals of each individual, ensuring personalised care.
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Flexible Scheduling & Mobile Services: Convenient appointments that accommodate busy schedules and commitments.
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Continuity of Care: Consistent and ongoing support provided by the same therapist, promoting progress and rapport.
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Choice of Therapist: The freedom to select a speech pathologist who best suits your child's personality, preferences, and therapeutic needs.
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Specialised Expertise: The ability to choose a speech pathologist with specialised skills and experience in the specific area where your child requires support, ensuring targeted and effective intervention.
does my child need speech therapy?
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Mispronounces speech sounds or is difficult to understand (You should understanding 75% of what a 3 year old says and 100% of what a 4+ year old says)
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Leaves sounds off the beginning or endings of words;
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Lisps or has difficulty saying 's', 'th' or 'r'
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Is getting frustrated at not being understood
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Has difficulty imitating sounds or words
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Has difficulty understanding what you say
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Does not follow your instructions
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Uses fewer words or shorter sentences than peers of a similar age
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Mixes up grammatical words in sentences or has word finding difficulties
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Difficulties with phonological awareness/pre-literacy skills such as breaking words into syllables; rhyme; sound identification.
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Experiences difficulty with reading accuracy, reading comprehension or spelling skills.
Little Voices Speech Pathology offers services in the areas of speech, language and literacy development for children aged 3-12 years. We do not provide services for swallowing, stuttering or voice disorders. See below for some signs that your child may need to see a speech pathologist:
HOW DO I ACCESS SPEECH PATHOLOGY?
You do not need a doctor's referral to access speech pathology services. However, it you think you are eligible to access government rebates, you may want to discuss this with your doctor or speech pathologist prior to your initial appointment.
A child's parent, carer or guardian can access speech pathology for their child by contacting their local speech pathology service directly. Most speech pathology services are experiencing lengthy wait times, so joining wait lists as early as possible is highly recommended.
Once you are offered an appointment, you will be provided with forms to complete prior to your child's first appointment. This will allow the therapist to start building an understanding of your child's needs and plan the appropriate assessments. Once the assessment process is complete, your therapist will discuss your child's strengths and weaknesses and will collaborate with you to develop goals. Your child will then be offered a block of therapy and progress will be reviewed after the block to determine whether further therapy is required.
