WHAT WE DO
Speech Pathologists see children with a variety of difficulties. A summary of some of the areas in which we cover can be found below.
Speech
Children develop sounds at different ages. Sometimes speech sounds develop later than expected (articulation delays) and sometimes children have omissions or distortions of sounds. If a child has a pattern of errors such as ‘t’ for ‘k’ these are are referred to as phonological disorders.
A child may also have difficulty with the motor aspect of speech which is referred to as dyspraxia. Dyspraxia is also known as childhood apraxia or developmental verbal dyspraxia. There are different types of Dyspraxia including oral dyspraxia, verbal dyspraxia and motor dyspraxia.
Language
Receptive language refers to the comprehension of language including attention, word meanings, understanding concepts and being able to follow directions. Language also includes expressive language ie. being able to express ideas, thoughts and feelings. This requires the use of appropriate vocabulary, grammar and word order in sentences. Speech Pathologists look at expressive language (talking) and receptive language (comprehension) separately.
Pragmatics
Pragmatics refers to the social aspects of language. Social language skills include use of eye contact and body language, and knowing how to start, maintain and finish conversations in different social situations.
Literacy
Sounding out new words when reading and spelling, understanding what has been read, and expressing ideas through writing. Early literacy skills including basic phonics are often required to be taught when a child is having difficulty learning to read using alternative methods.
Fluency
Speech fluency refers to speaking smoothly without stuttering. Difficulty with fluency is characterised by repetitions of sounds, words or phrases. Sometimes there may be secondary behaviours such as eye blinking, facial grimacing or blocking. Blocking refers to a period of silence prior to the onset of speech where a child as difficulty initiating the speech process.
Voice
Using a clear voice that is not too loud, quiet, hoarse or rough.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Children on the spectrum have communication difficulties and poor social skills. Speech Pathologists provide therapy for children with Autism. Therapy targets imaginative play, greetings and farewells, turn taking skills, understanding emotions, conversation skills, topic maintenance, body language and understanding social nuances.
Aspergers Syndrome and Pervasive Developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-nos) are other diagnoses that are on the Autism Spectrum. The spectrum is varied and children can be non verbal or high functioning or somewhere in between.