Mid Ulster Private Speech Therapy

07/11/2025

This morning, my 2-year-old was lining up cars while I made breakfast.

I knew he wouldn’t want to come sit at the table so
Instead, I knelt beside him and said,
“Drive the blue car to the spoon!”

He listened, and laughed as his little car “parked” beside the spoon.

That was our listening moment for the day just simple connection through play.

As a speech therapist (and mum), I know attention and listening skills don’t happen in long, quiet sessions.
They grow in short, playful bursts — during breakfast, bath time, or a quick game on the floor.

Remember: you don’t have to make your child focus — you just have to join their focus.

Swipe through the carousel to see the small, daily ways I support my toddler’s attention and listening skills.

Tell me what’s one everyday moment when your child really tunes in?

06/11/2025

I can’t be the only one who eats my dinner like this lol.

And somehow these are still the “good old days”

If you’re looking for honest and practical speech and language advice that doesn’t add to your mental load, I got you.

We’re in the mayhem of toddlerhood together 👏🏻
delay

03/11/2025

Spoiler Alert! 🚨
As a speech and language therapist, I am surprisingly NOT anti dummy!
When my eldest would just not sleep for the first 19 months of his life, I tried every dummy going to see if it would work haha but both mine just refused them..

Bottom line with dummies.. they’re not a problem until they’re a problem. Some children can have dummies until they are 4 or 5 and it won’t cause an issue with teeth or speech but for many children , over use past age 2 can cause lots of issues.

This advice is for you if:
You’re child is speaking in sentences but cannot be understood
You’ve noticed an open gap between top and bottom teeth

Christmas is always a good time to think about Santa taking dummies!

*this advice is not for children who use dummies for oral sensory seeking and further support should be sought from occupational therapy regarding this*

31/10/2025

Building sentences is a skill that does not come easily to a lot of children.
This is where speech and language support comes in. The main strategies I used for building sentences are:

Modelling
Showing
Reinforcing

It’s an evidence based system I have been using for YEARS and it WORKS

29/10/2025

28/10/2025

When you hold your newborn for the first time, your mind can’t help but wonder..

You picture their first day of school, their future job, their wedding day. All the milestones you assume will come in a straight line.

But sometimes, life takes a different turn.
You might learn that your child has additional needs or is neurodivergent, and suddenly the path you imagined begins to change.

At first, it can feel unfamiliar or overwhelming. You find yourself learning new words, new systems, and new ways of understanding the world.

But over time, you start to see the beauty in this different path.

You notice the small wins that others might overlook.
You celebrate milestones in a deeper, more meaningful way.
You meet people with empathy, patience, and resilience.
You learn to slow down, to listen more, and to see your child exactly as they are.

The path may be different, but it’s not lesser.
It’s filled with moments of joy, growth, and love, just not always the ones you expected.

27/10/2025

You’ve noticed something. Maybe it’s the way your child avoids eye contact, struggles to find words, or seems to be missing the milestones other children are reaching.

You try not to overthink it and tell yourself, “every child develops at their own pace.” But deep down, the worry is real.

Trust that feeling.

You know your child better than anyone else. When you share your concerns about your child’s development, they are heard, valued, and respected.

Asking for support doesn’t mean something’s “wrong.” It means you care enough to ask the questions that can make a difference.

We are here to listen, to guide, and to work alongside you every step of the way.

16/10/2025

This week I stepped massively out of my comfort zone and did a podcast with for

Since becoming a mummy I have found doing things like this even scarier than usual. I think your self esteem generally takes a hit when you become a mum as you’re thrown into the unknown abyss of motherhood

But I know they’re watching. Shouting “good luck mama” as I headed down to Belfast, faced my fear and did it anyway.

Can’t wait to share this with you. 10 years as a speech and language therapist, a mummy in the thick of toddlerhood.. I have a lot to share 😆

06/10/2025

You might look at this photo and see two parents just having a nice time but it’s so much more than that.

After a week of potty training, teething, sickness, more teething, taking time off work, and almost no sleep, it was all starting to take its toll. When we got an offer of help, I said yes straight away.

A couple of hours to ourselves on a Saturday afternoon… what to do?

For some people it’s a walk, a coffee shop, a workout. For us this time, it was a quiet drink in our local bar — the same place we met 10 years ago 🤣. We were joined by my dad, sister, brother-in-law and a few family friends. We laughed, we talked about the kids (of course), but mostly we were just Sarah and Tom again.

And the next morning ( or rather the first wake up during the night).. I felt different. I was calm, patient, and somehow reset.

Does anyone else find that getting a break can feel overwhelming? You think, “How do I use this time? What’s on my to-do list?” But maybe, just sometimes, the best thing you can do is sit down for a quiet drink in McAleers. ❤️

06/10/2025

Occupational therapy helps children regulate so they can listen, connect, and fully benefit from other therapies.

Speech grows best when a child feels calm and secure. Occupational therapy helps organise the nervous system so children are ready to listen, play, and build communication skills.

For many children, the first step toward speaking isn’t practicing words..it’s helping their body feel regulated. Occupational therapy helps to build this foundation so speech and language therapy can be more successful.

I’m so lucky to work alongside amazing OT colleagues .talksensoryni

02/10/2025

Around the age of two, many toddlers begin to:
👀 look between you and what they’re playing with,
🤝 enjoy simple back-and-forth games,
🧸 show or share things that interest them,
👋 use gestures and at least 50 words to connect

Every child develops at their own pace but it may help to seek support if your child rarely looks to you, doesn’t show or share things, often doesn’t respond to their name, or shows little interest in simple turn-taking play.

The right guidance can make connection and learning easier. If you’re unsure, speaking with your GP, a speech and language therapist, or health visitor can help you know what to do next.

30/09/2025

When Conor was three, his parents were told he needed speech and language therapy. They joined the waiting list and kept practising words at home. Months turned into a year.

By the time Conor started school, he was shy about speaking. Other children talked easily; Conor stayed quiet. His parents felt helpless, knowing early help could have made a difference.

Waiting lists aren’t just numbers.. they’re precious moments slipping by. Unfortunately this is the reality for so many children.

Early intervention makes a real difference to children’s lives and 1 appointment can change everything.