Communication skills are a vital part of a child’s development, especially in the early years when they are learning to express themselves, understand others, and connect with the world around them. But if they are struggling to meet the expected communication milestones, it may be time for a paediatric speech pathologist to step in.
With early intervention and the right guidance, children can make meaningful progress in their speech and language skills. Read on for our guide and learn how speech pathologists at Brighter Futures Allied Health can support your child’s development and work with your community to build confidence and set your child up for success in school and everyday life.
A paediatric speech pathologist, also known as a paediatric speech-language pathologist or paediatric speech therapist, is a health professional trained to help children facing communication difficulties. These challenges may include:
Paediatric speech pathologists support children by helping them find the most effective ways to communicate, from improving how clearly or fluently they speak to using alternative methods like gestures, signs, or visual aids (known as augmentative and alternative communication or AAC). They may also assist those with feeding difficulties and swallowing problems.
Paediatric speech therapists also specialise in supporting neurodivergent individuals. This can include children diagnosed with autism, and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
These health professionals are not limited to clinic-based services and can work in a wide range of settings. At Brighter Future Allied Health, our paediatric speech pathologists provide services to preschools, schools, day programs, nursing homes, and client homes, aside from our clinics in South West Sydney.
Communication plays a big role in a child’s life, from their ability to express themselves and understand others, to how they learn in school and build friendship and confidence. It can even affect their mental health and how they connect socially with others. As it’s such a crucial skill, it’s important for parents and caregivers to pay close attention to how their child communicates, including what they are doing well and where they are having trouble. While some speech disorders improve as children grow older, taking a “wait and see” approach is not always beneficial. In some cases, it can mean missing the window for early support. The longer a child continues with improper speech and speech patterns, the longer they can take to correct, and the more these issues can impact their daily life.
If you’ve noticed your child struggling to communicate or if their speech is affecting how they interact, play or learn, it’s a good idea to book a comprehensive assessment with a certified paediatric speech pathologist. These specialists can help you understand what’s going on and recommend whether your child would benefit from therapy immediately or in the near future.
At Brighter Futures Allied Health, our accredited paediatric speech therapists specialise in:
In addition, areas that we regularly address in our clinic include:
You do not need a referral to see a paediatric speech pathologist. However, you might need a referral from a doctor or paediatrician if you are eligible to access funding sources (e.g. Medicare Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program).
Ensure you’re setting an appointment with a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist (CPSP) registered with Speech Pathology Australia. Our speech pathologists at Brighter Futures Allied Health are all certified speech pathologists providing specialised programs for infants, children, and young adults experiencing delays in language development.
During your appointment, the paediatric speech pathologist will assess your child’s strengths and areas of difficulty to create a personalised plan that will develop their ability to communicate more clearly and confidently. They might use some special tests to check how well your kid understands instructions and questions or ask your child to complete simple tasks so they can listen and evaluate your kid’s speech and language skills.
After the assessment, the paediatric speech therapist may discuss their evaluation with you, including a report on your child’s communication abilities and needs. They may also share their therapy plan for your child. Our speech pathologists can then work with your child in one-on-one or group sessions, providing personalised support tailored to their unique needs and goals.
There is no set age at which your child should see a paediatric speech pathologist. Every kid achieves developmental milestones at their own pace, but if you notice speech and language red flags in your child, it might be an indication that they may need to be professionally assessed by a paediatric speech therapist. These red flags include:
Speech therapy is a proven and effective approach that has helped millions strengthen their language and communication skills. Success looks different for everyone, and your speech therapist can work with you to set goals for your individual needs, abilities, and what matters most to you.
As your child attends tailored speech therapy sessions, you can collaborate with their speech pathologist for at-home activities supporting their therapy goals. At Brighter Futures Allied Health, we work closely with families and provide family training so children can continue building their communication skills beyond our centres and make steady progress while feeling safe and supported.
BFAH can also conduct home or school visits (with a minimal travel fee) to provide therapy based on your child’s needs and goals. Continuing speech therapy for kids at home or in school allows children to learn and apply skills in a naturalistic and functional setting, while modelling to families how to use resources they already have at their disposal to support their child.
Speak with us today to schedule an appointment with our accredited speech therapists and get started on speech therapy for adults and kids. You may request an appointment via phone or the contact form on our website.
