Frequently Asked Questions
What is a speech pathologist? What does a speech pathologist do?
A speech pathologist is a university-trained, allied health professional. Speech pathologists help with speech and language difficulties, and they can also help with swallowing, as it involves the same area of nerves and muscles that we use for talking. At Talk, Read, Grow, we are focused on helping children to communicate, both orally and in writing. This includes:
Why choose us?
We are a passionate team and aim to provide support we would want our own family members to receive. We value working collaboratively with you, the family, and any other important people in your child's life e.g. teachers, grandparents, carers. We strive to provide evidence based support, so your child has the best chance of success. Also, we have lots of fun!
How do I know if my child's talking is developing normally?
There are some great resources available that explain how talking develops, and outline signs that your child may be having difficulty. See these links:
Speech Pathology Australia Communication Milestones 0-5 years
Raising Children - Language Development 0-8 years
After the toddler years, if you see the following with your child's language, seeking a consultation may be indicated:
Do you work with Autistic children?
Yes we do, along with other neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD or dyslexia. When working with Autistic children and their families, we are on our journey to providing neurodiversity affirming services. This means we will not provide 'social skills training'. Rather, in this area of communication, we will work with you and your child to grow understanding of how brains work and the different ways people communicate. We will support your child to understand and advocate for themselves, alongside other members of their support team, like a psychologist or OT.
For early years support our team uses elements from Hanen's 'More Than Words' program, and Cara has just completed training in Natural Language Acquisition for Gestalt Language Processors. We also support you with total communication approaches, incorporating spoken words, signs and AAC/visuals.
My child is struggling to learn to read. Is this an area you work in?
Yes! Helping children learn to read is one of our passions. We implement the Science of Reading, and use effective, evidence based methods to develop literacy skills. We also equip you with the knowledge and resources you need to support your child with this at home. One of our effective tools of choice is the phonics programme Sounds~Write, which is used at our clinic.
Depending on your child's needs, you could work with our literacy tutor, or our speech pathologist to target literacy.
Is my child too young to see a speech pathologist?
The research base shows us that early intervention is really effective. If you have concerns about how your child's talking is developing, it's important to seek help, rather than to wait and see. In the early years, we may take a parent coaching model. This means we focus on working with you, so you can best support your child at home, where they spend most of their time!
Do I need a referral?
No, you do not need a referral to see a speech pathologist. Call us today and we can help you get started.
Are their rebates available for speech pathology?
Some children are eligible for a small number of Medicare rebates for allied health professionals per calendar year, under a 'Care Plan'. Talk to your doctor about whether your child is eligible, and to obtain a referral/plan.
Speech Pathology is covered under the extras plan of some private health insurers. Please check with your own insurer to make sure! We can then provide you with an invoice for making a claim. We do no have instant rebates onsite at this time.
I have NDIS funding. Can I use this for speech pathology?
Yes. We are able to work with NDIS participants who are self managed or plan managed. For all things NDIS, visit the NDIS website.
What is an Allied Health Assistant? Is their support appropriate for my child?
An Allied Health Assistant or AHA, is a para-professional who provides delegated care. In our team, AHAs are either:
- a teacher
- studying to be a speech pathologist or another allied health profession (e.g. an Occupational Therapist)
- completing or completed a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assisting
They can help to implement therapy that is planned and supervised by your speech pathologist. They may also help to practice skills learned with the speech pathologist, or prepare resources for you. Your speech pathologist can advise if this is an appropriate option for your support.
A speech pathologist is a university-trained, allied health professional. Speech pathologists help with speech and language difficulties, and they can also help with swallowing, as it involves the same area of nerves and muscles that we use for talking. At Talk, Read, Grow, we are focused on helping children to communicate, both orally and in writing. This includes:
- Speech sounds
- Language skills - both understanding and using words and sentences
- Literacy - developing spelling and reading skills
Why choose us?
We are a passionate team and aim to provide support we would want our own family members to receive. We value working collaboratively with you, the family, and any other important people in your child's life e.g. teachers, grandparents, carers. We strive to provide evidence based support, so your child has the best chance of success. Also, we have lots of fun!
How do I know if my child's talking is developing normally?
There are some great resources available that explain how talking develops, and outline signs that your child may be having difficulty. See these links:
Speech Pathology Australia Communication Milestones 0-5 years
Raising Children - Language Development 0-8 years
After the toddler years, if you see the following with your child's language, seeking a consultation may be indicated:
- Difficult to understand their speech (by 5 years of age a child should be completely clear!)
- Difficulty thinking of the right word, or using the wrong words
- Leaving out words from sentences
- Using very short sentences
- Using incorrect grammar when talking e.g. Him runned to me
- Difficulty asking and answering questions
- Difficulty telling stories or sequencing their ideas
Do you work with Autistic children?
Yes we do, along with other neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD or dyslexia. When working with Autistic children and their families, we are on our journey to providing neurodiversity affirming services. This means we will not provide 'social skills training'. Rather, in this area of communication, we will work with you and your child to grow understanding of how brains work and the different ways people communicate. We will support your child to understand and advocate for themselves, alongside other members of their support team, like a psychologist or OT.
For early years support our team uses elements from Hanen's 'More Than Words' program, and Cara has just completed training in Natural Language Acquisition for Gestalt Language Processors. We also support you with total communication approaches, incorporating spoken words, signs and AAC/visuals.
My child is struggling to learn to read. Is this an area you work in?
Yes! Helping children learn to read is one of our passions. We implement the Science of Reading, and use effective, evidence based methods to develop literacy skills. We also equip you with the knowledge and resources you need to support your child with this at home. One of our effective tools of choice is the phonics programme Sounds~Write, which is used at our clinic.
Depending on your child's needs, you could work with our literacy tutor, or our speech pathologist to target literacy.
Is my child too young to see a speech pathologist?
The research base shows us that early intervention is really effective. If you have concerns about how your child's talking is developing, it's important to seek help, rather than to wait and see. In the early years, we may take a parent coaching model. This means we focus on working with you, so you can best support your child at home, where they spend most of their time!
Do I need a referral?
No, you do not need a referral to see a speech pathologist. Call us today and we can help you get started.
Are their rebates available for speech pathology?
Some children are eligible for a small number of Medicare rebates for allied health professionals per calendar year, under a 'Care Plan'. Talk to your doctor about whether your child is eligible, and to obtain a referral/plan.
Speech Pathology is covered under the extras plan of some private health insurers. Please check with your own insurer to make sure! We can then provide you with an invoice for making a claim. We do no have instant rebates onsite at this time.
I have NDIS funding. Can I use this for speech pathology?
Yes. We are able to work with NDIS participants who are self managed or plan managed. For all things NDIS, visit the NDIS website.
What is an Allied Health Assistant? Is their support appropriate for my child?
An Allied Health Assistant or AHA, is a para-professional who provides delegated care. In our team, AHAs are either:
- a teacher
- studying to be a speech pathologist or another allied health profession (e.g. an Occupational Therapist)
- completing or completed a Certificate IV in Allied Health Assisting
They can help to implement therapy that is planned and supervised by your speech pathologist. They may also help to practice skills learned with the speech pathologist, or prepare resources for you. Your speech pathologist can advise if this is an appropriate option for your support.
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