Penmack Speech Pathology for Children

21/06/2024

18/06/2024

WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

A SP is trained to assess, diagnose and treat all aspects of speech, language, literacy and swallowing. Some SPs specialise in specific areas but I have stayed a generalist as I have worked in Paediatrics for more than 40 years. I am however required to keep my knowledge current to maintain membership of Speech Pathology Australia.

At the initial consultation I take a case history which includes requesting information about your child’s birth, early development, feeding history, sleep, diet, play preferences, behaviour, educational progress and possible family history of communication issues.
While this is occurring, your child will be encouraged to play with the clinic toys. Then if your child is mature enough he /she will be invited to sit at the table while I measure skills of articulation, comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, story telling and maybe spelling and reading, using standardised tests. It is worth noting that during the testing your child will not be told specifically if they are correct or incorrect, but they are praised for effort or redirected if they are not attending.

After this I have a good idea about your child’s communication difficulties. Results are explained to the adults present and plans made to commence weekly therapy, review in a few weeks or months, or to discharge if no disorder is detected. It maybe possible to treat at day care, kindy, school or home.

Younger children are unable to respond to paper tests and hence assessment is done through play. A child’s speech errors can be noted through their verbal responses, comprehension can be gauged by their ability to follow commands and play can be assessed by watching how they use toys.

Usually a hearing test performed by an Audiologist, is recommended.

If further medical specialist advice needs to be sought, parents are advised to attend their GP for a referral. Not all professionals however require a referral to make an appointment, such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Audiology.

31/08/2023

Great conference

13/05/2023

There’s more to communication than words and sentences…….

Many babies are born each day. Over 385,000 babies are born each day. However, out of all the babies born, there is a very small chance of having twins. The odds are less than four percent. The perce…

16/04/2022

Is an adult reading you a fantastic chapter story over the holidays? Experience the magic of living in a fantasy world, imagining scenes, people and animals, perhaps many you have never seen………
It all assists in writing your own stories.

31/03/2022

Nice to be appreciated!

25/03/2022

He has said it all.

❤️

23/03/2022

Phones provide social communication, but nothing can replace face to face communication using eye contact and facial expression and yes despite masks, our upper face can register expressions that we can read. Babies are still responding favourably to my attempts at ‘masked talking’ in my clinic.

Mobiles shouldn't be allowed at recess and lunch. Keep them in bags during school hours!

16/03/2022

Today is Swallowing Awareness Day

Like breathing, swallowing is a reflex and essential to everyday life. Humans swallow at least 900
times a day: around three times an hour during sleep, once per minute while awake and even
more often during meals. We swallow food, liquids, medicine and saliva. People who have trouble swallowing are at risk of poor nutrition and dehydration, while babies and children may not take in enough nutrients to support growth and brain development.

Who can have a swallowing problem?

A swallowing problem can occur at any stage in life. Babies born prematurely, those with heart defects or damage to the brain (e.g. cerebral palsy) often have swallowing problems. Children with abnormalities in the structures of the head, neck and face such as cleft lip or palate may also have difficulty feeding.

Adults may also develop swallowing problems as a result of damage to the brain or structures of the head and neck. Almost half of everyone who has had a stroke will have a swallowing problem. People who have had a head injury, those with Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron disease, dementia, cancer of the head and neck may also have swallowing problems.

What can be done about swallowing difficulties?

Early identification is very important. If you notice any of the signs or symptoms below see your doctor and/or refer yourself directly to a speech pathologist via the PSPAWA website.

- Your baby has difficulty sucking
during breast or bottle feeding
- A feeling that food or drink gets stuck in the throat
- A feeling that food or drink is going the wrong way
- Long meal times or eating slowly (it takes more than 30 minutes to finish a meal)
- Coughing, choking or frequent throat clearing during or after eating and drinking
- Becoming short of breath or your breathing changes when eating and drinking
- Avoiding certain foods because they are difficult to swallow
- Unplanned weight loss for adults or for children, or failing to put on weight because of avoiding foods or finding it hard to eat
- Frequent chest infections with no known cause

16/03/2022

Speech Pathology for grammar, spelling, reading, tongue protrusion, lisps, difficulty following commands…….

16/03/2022

Is your child’s speech unintelligible to others?
Does he / she not pay attention?
Are they not using a variety of toys appropriately?
Are they not talking as well as their peers?
Then seek professional advice

08/03/2021

Who can explain why this is funny?