Services

Speech is how we say sounds and words.

Some children may have difficulty producing certain sounds or patterns of sounds, which can make their speech hard to understand.

It is typical for young children to say some sounds incorrectly. Some sounds may not be mastered until after 3 years old.

At AHSPS, we support children with speech sound disorders through evidence-based assessment and therapy, using engaging, child-centered approaches to help them develop clear, confident speech.

Language is made up of the words we use to share ideas and communicate with others. Language includes listening, speaking, understanding, reading and writing.

We help children develop the language skills they need to learn, play, and communicate effectively with the people around them.

Swallowing difficulties (known as dysphagia) can make eating and drinking uncomfortable, stressful or unsafe. These difficulties may develop following a stroke, neurological condition, surgery, illness, or as part of the ageing process. Speech pathologists are trained to assess swallowing and provide practical strategies to support safer eating, drinking and improve quality of life.

At Adelaide Hills Speech Pathology Services, we provide comprehensive adult swallowing assessments in the comfort of your own home, residential aged care facility, or at our clinic.

Following your assessment, recommendations may include:

• Strategies to make eating and drinking safer and more comfortable.

• Advice regarding food and fluid textures, where appropriate.

• Education and support for family members and carers.

• Liaison with your GP and other members of your healthcare team to ensure coordinated care.

• Referral to relevant specialists or a multidisciplinary team when further medical or allied health input is required.

• Referral for an instrumental swallowing assessment, if appropriate. Instrumental assessments provide a detailed view of how you swallow and may include a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFSS) (a moving X-ray of swallowing) or a Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) (a small camera passed gently through the nose to view swallowing). These assessments help guide diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

Literacy includes the skills needed for reading and writing, such as recognising sounds in words, spelling, and understanding written language. We support children to build strong literacy foundations, helping children make sense of sounds and spelling so they can read and write with confidence.

Early intervention involves working closely with families to build their child’s pre-linguistic skills, share practical strategies for developing language, and guide parents in supporting their child’s communication every day.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) describes when someone uses something other than verbal speech to communicate. This can include tools such as key word signs, gestures, pictures, or speech-generating devices. At AHSPS, we support families to explore and choose the strategies and tools that work best for their child

Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy (OMT) involves the assessment and treatment of oral and facial muscles, addressing postural and functional disorders and oral habits that may interfere with normal growth and development.

How can it help?

OMT can have a positive impact on your child's overall well-being, including:

• Correcting tongue posture and swallowing patterns

• Supporting orthodontic treatment and stability - Helps improve treatment efficiency and reduce the risk of orthodontic relapse by addressing the muscle habits that influence tooth position.

• Promoting proper lip seal and jaw stability.

• Supporting speech and feeding skills

• Reducing oral habits that impact facial development

• Supporting healthy facial growth in children

Who can benefit from OMT?

OMT may benefit people who experience:

• Mouth Breathing or chronic open mouth posture

• Thumb sucking, prolonged dummy use, nail biting

• Tongue Thrust or improper swallowing patterns

• Chronic colds/flus or upper respiratory illness

• Sleep disordered breathing, snoring or restless sleep

• Narrow palate, crowded teeth

• Ongoing speech sound difficulties concerns related to oral muscle function

• Jaw tension, clenching or grinding

• Orthodontic relapse

• Recent ENT surgery - enlarged tonsils and/or adenoids

Using a neuroaffirming approach, we help children recognise and embrace their unique communication styles, understand their own needs, and learn strategies to be their own best advocate. Our goal is to build confidence, independence, and positive connections in everyday social situations.

Fluency refers to the smooth flow of speech. Some children experience stuttering, which may sound like repetitions (e.g. “b-b-ball”), prolonging sounds (e.g., mmmmmy drink), or getting “stuck” on words.

At AHSPS, we take an acceptance-based approach to stuttering. This means we focus on helping your child feel confident and comfortable communicating, rather than trying to make their speech “perfect.” We support children to understand their stutter, work towards reducing their frustration or anxiety, and building strong, positive communication skills.