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Speech Pathology

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Speech Pathology is concerned with a child’s ability to communicate and interact with the people and world around them. At Kickstart Kids Therapy, we look at your child’s ability to follow instructions, speak clearly and effectively, to play and form friendships, and to read, write and learn at school. Speech Pathologists also look at aspects of a child’s feeding skills.

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At Kickstart Kids Therapy, our speech pathologists assess and treat children whose communication is impacted by language, articulation, voice, fluency, social and/or feeding difficulties.


At Kickstart Kids Therapy, the speech pathologist will consider all of the presenting factors as well as the underlying factors that may be affecting a child’s communication, interaction and learning skills. This allows therapy to be more effective.

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Our speech pathologists have training in a number of programs including DIR/Floortime, PROMPT, the Lidcombe Program for Stuttering, Hanen-It Takes Two To Talk, Hanen-More Than Words, Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) and Key Word Sign (formerly known as Makaton).

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Where needed, our clinicians use a range of visual systems for communication to help children learn language skills, and it is particularly successful with the autism population.

​​Speech Pathology sessions are less formal in approach and often involve a play-based approach.

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All of our therapists are registered with Speech Pathology Australia and are recognised as Certified Practicing Speech Pathologists (CPSP). 

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​​Our team of speech pathologists are experienced  working with a diverse range of children including preschool aged, school aged, complex disorders including autism spectrum disorder, Down’s syndrome, Global Developmental Delay and other children who are late to develop.

 

​You do not need a referral to see a speech pathologist. We are NDIS registered providers. Some Private Health Funds ​may pay a rebate for services, so please check ​​eligibility with your Private Health Fund. Medicare rebates may be available for eligible individuals under the Chronic Disease Management Plan. Individuals must obtain a referral from their local GP.

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For more information, please visit the Speech Pathology Australia Website.

How We Help

Our team of speech pathologists can assess and treat children from 2 years through to adulthood in the following areas:

 

  • Receptive and expressive language skills

  • Mild articulation difficulties (e.g. a lisp) 

  • Complex speech impairments (e.g. childhood apraxia of speech)

  • Language difficulties and disorders

  • Pragmatics (social skills and social rules)

  • Stuttering

  • Literacy skills

  • Comprehension skills

  • Voice disorders

  • Feeding skills

  • Early intervention (late talkers)

  • Non verbal communication 

Does your child:

  • Have difficulty saying certain sounds?

  • Have a lisp?

  • Point or use gestures more than words?

  • Use the same sound for a number of words?

  • Have no/minimal clear words?

  • Need to repeat themselves or change their words in order to be understood?

  • Become frustrated when they are not understood?

  • Drop sounds at the beginning, middle or end of words? E.g. Elephant said as ‘ephant’, or ‘red’ said as ‘re’

  • Have a history of hearing problems, ear infections, cleft palate or dribbling?

  • Rushed, slow or robotic sounding speech?

  • Have a stutter?

  • Have difficulty with literacy or spelling?

  • Have difficulty with reading comprehension?

  • Have trouble with social skills?

  • Have feeding difficulties?

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