Developmental delays can affect a child’s behaviour, speech, language and learning. They can cause children to struggle in school and socially with their peers.
A Speech Pathology assessment can help you determine why your child may be struggling with these areas. A Speech Pathology program will be developed in consultation with you. For more information about the developmental delays speech therapy Adelaide, click here.
Assessment
Children develop at different rates, but if your child is not achieving the expected language milestones, discussing these with your GP or health professional is essential. They can advise you about what is typical for your child’s age or refer you for a speech pathology assessment.
A speech pathologist can thoroughly evaluate your child’s speech and language skills. It will include looking in depth at your child’s communication abilities, and considering your family and child’s goals. Your therapist will be able to identify any problems and determine whether these are a result of a developmental delay or more severe difficulties such as hearing loss, deafness, autism or intellectual disability.
A delay is a significant deficit relative to expectations for the child’s age, resulting in difficulties with spoken language and understanding spoken language. Speech and language therapy may take place in the clinical setting, your home, school or via telehealth (depending on your child’s needs). Children who require intensive intervention may need to attend more than one location.
Therapy
Children should be saying their first words by their first birthday and about ten words by 18 months (including two-word combinations). If they are not, you may want to talk to your GP or health professional about getting an assessment with a Speech Pathologist. For more information about the developmental delays speech therapy Adelaide, click here.
A speech pathologist can treat various problems related to stuttering, articulation and voice. They can also help with difficulty understanding and using language, swallowing difficulties, cleft palate and other conditions like Down Syndrome, autism and deafness/hearing loss.
Therapy sessions are often fun and game-based and can involve the whole family. They can also be an excellent opportunity to learn how to help your child outside of sessions.
Better Start Education Services provides a mobile Speech Pathology service for toddlers and their families across Adelaide and surrounding suburbs. It includes NDIS-funded clients. Fees are charged per hour and for kilometers travelled at 96c/km. Please get in touch with us for more information.
Homework
Providing families with strategies that can be implemented within daily activities and routines to help the child build communication skills. Liaising with education staff to ensure they understand the student’s communication needs and how they relate to their academic performance.
Children who have difficulties with understanding and using spoken language may experience a delay in their overall development. It may also cause them to feel frustrated and upset. In some cases, they might avoid social interaction altogether. If you notice these signs in your child, you must talk to your GP or a health professional about the issue.
Follow up
While children reach communication developmental milestones at different times, it’s important not to compare a child to their peers. It can lead to frustration and even behavioural problems, especially if a child is having difficulty communicating their needs and wants to others.
A delay or disorder can affect a person’s ability to understand and use language and hurt their social life. Some people may have difficulties with their speech clarity, stuttering and swallowing. Speech pathologists can provide treatment and strategies to help with these difficulties.
Providing families with strategies they can utilise at home within daily activities to help develop their child’s communication skills. It includes incorporating visual information through pictures and symbols, liaising with educational staff about the child’s communication skills, and implementing strategies in the classroom where appropriate. One-to-one therapy sessions with a Speech Pathologist. They are developing a plan and setting step-by-step goals. For more information about the developmental delays speech therapy Adelaide, click here.