Paediatric speech therapy
Speech
Speech sound disorders is a broad term used to describe difficulties in production, perception, or phonological representation of speech sounds. It is perceived as a disruption in the quality and clarity of speech and may have a functional or organic cause. Refer to our blog for more information on the different speech disorders.
Language
Language is divided into receptive and expressive language. Receptive language refers to the language a child understands while expressive language refers to the language a child uses.
Literacy
Literacy skills stretch beyond just reading and writing and start developing at a young age. Early literacy skills start with sound awareness and book awareness.
Catch it early: Warning signs that may be indicative of later reading and writing difficulties include persistent baby talk, reduced interest in nursery rhymes or story time, and difficulty following instructions.
Stuttering
We refer to stuttering as Disfluency as it involves a disruption in the natural flow of speech. Disfluency is typically characterised by repetitions, sound prolongations, and unnatural pauses when speaking.
Feeding
Feeding and swallowing disorders may include problems with breast and bottle feeding, fussy eaters, difficulty eating with utensils or even problems with chewing and cup drinking. Frequent choking or coughing when eating/drinking may be signs of swallowing difficulty.
Special populations
Speech Therapists are trained in the treatment of feeding and communication difficulties in children with specific needs such as children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Pierre Robin Sequence, Cleft Lip/Palate, ADD/ADHD and many others.