Does My Child Need Speech Therapy?
It’s a question we hear from parents every day. Sometimes there’s a clear concern; other times it’s simply a feeling that something about their child’s communication, learning or feeding isn’t quite where they expected it to be.
Children develop at different rates, and not every difference means therapy is needed. A speech pathologist can help you understand what’s happening and whether some extra support may be helpful.
When Might a Child Benefit from Seeing a Speech Pathologist?
Speech
Your child may be difficult to understand, leave sounds out of words, use different sounds in their place, or become frustrated when others don’t understand them.
Language
You may notice that your child is late to start talking, has difficulty understanding or following instructions, uses shorter or less complex sentences, or finds it hard to answer questions, tell stories or explain their ideas.
Literacy
Some children need support learning to read, spell or write. Difficulties may include recognising and manipulating sounds in words, sounding out unfamiliar words, spelling, reading fluently, understanding what they read or organising written ideas.
Stuttering
Your child may repeat sounds or words, stretch sounds out or become “stuck” when speaking. Stuttering can begin gradually or quite suddenly, and seeking advice early can help you understand whether support is needed.
Social Communication
Some children find conversation, play and social interaction more challenging, or communicate differently from their peers. We can support children to communicate, connect and participate in ways that are meaningful to them.
Feeding
You may have concerns about chewing, drinking, progressing through food textures, coughing or choking during meals, or your child eating a very limited range of foods.
Orofacial Myology
Open-mouth posture, mouth breathing, tongue thrust, unusual tongue resting position and some speech or swallowing difficulties can be associated with how the muscles of the mouth and face are working. We can assess these patterns and work alongside ENTs, dentists, orthodontists and other health professionals when needed.
What if I’m still not sure?
You don’t need to work that out before you contact us. Sometimes we recommend an assessment or therapy; sometimes a few practical strategies and monitoring are all that’s needed; and sometimes we can reassure you that your child’s development is on track.
When you call Little Language, you’ll speak directly with a speech pathologist rather than a receptionist. We’ll listen to your concerns, answer your questions and help you work out the most appropriate next step.
Helping kids find their roar
Communication is about so much more than saying sounds correctly or using more words. It helps children share their ideas, learn, play, build relationships and feel understood. Our goal is to understand the child in front of us and provide the support that will make a meaningful difference in their everyday life.
Not sure where to start? Get in touch with our speech pathology team for a chat about your child.