Child's Talk

Child's Talk CORU registered SLT in Ireland. Helping you to support your child's speech and language development

What would you say if someone told you that they or their child were autistic?Avoid negative or dismissive comments like...
17/04/2026

What would you say if someone told you that they or their child were autistic?

Avoid negative or dismissive comments like:
❌ She doesn’t look autistic.
❌ I'm sorry to hear that. 
❌ We're all a bit on the spectrum, aren't we? 
❌ That must be so hard. 
❌ They're really over-diagnosing everything these days.

Instead be supportive and appreciative:
✅ Thank you for telling me.
✅ That's helpful for me to know. 
✅ Let me know if there's anything that helps him feel comfortable. 
✅ She is lucky to have you learning about her needs. 

Ask supportive questions to find out more and help your understanding: 
✅ Are there any supports or accomodations that work well for her? 
✅ What does he enjoy? 
✅ Is there anything I can do to support you?

Save this for future use ⭐

Let's talk about how to support siblings of autistic children today on Siblings Day. Siblings of autistic children often...
10/04/2026

Let's talk about how to support siblings of autistic children today on Siblings Day.

Siblings of autistic children often grow up kind and resilient, but they can also feel confused, left out, or under pressure.

Here’s how to support them:
🧡 Normalise mixed feelings (love and frustration can coexist)
🧡 Have regular special 1:1 time
🧡 Explain autism in positive, age-appropriate ways
🧡 Keep them a sibling, not a second parent
Small, consistent support makes a big difference.

🌷🐣 Easter is full of social moments - greetings, giving and accepting gifts, sharing, group games, egg hunts.For many ne...
04/04/2026

🌷🐣 Easter is full of social moments - greetings, giving and accepting gifts, sharing, group games, egg hunts.
For many neurodivergent children, these expectations can feel unclear or exhausting.

Try these to support neurodivergent children:

🌷 Model language without forcing performance
🌷 Accept all forms of communication (speech, AAC, gesture, movement)
🌷 Reduce pressure to say thank you on demand
🌷 Prioritise connection over compliance

Participation doesn’t have to look typical to be meaningful.
This Easter, let’s make space for authentic communication, however it shows up. 🧡

Save for the holidays 👍

Things you won't hear a neuroaffirming SLT say:❌ “Say it properly.”❌ “Use your words.”❌ “Quiet hands.”Communication isn’...
27/03/2026

Things you won't hear a neuroaffirming SLT say:

❌ “Say it properly.”
❌ “Use your words.”
❌ “Quiet hands.”

Communication isn’t earned. It’s supported.

If a strategy relies on control, pressure, preventing regulation, or withholding joy, then it is not neuroaffirming.

We can support communication without demanding performance.

🧡 When we know better, we can do better. 🧡

Phonological processes aren’t 'bad habits'.They are part of how children learn sound systems.Neuroaffirming phonology in...
17/03/2026

Phonological processes aren’t 'bad habits'.

They are part of how children learn sound systems.

Neuroaffirming phonology intervention respects both development and the child.

Not every sound difference is a problem.

Phonology becomes a goal when
🍀 communication breaks down
🍀 the child is frustrated
🍀 support improves participation

not because a child sounds “different”.

Gestalt Language Processing isn’t 'just' scripting from TV shows. Gestalts are meaningful chunks of language, not random...
13/03/2026

Gestalt Language Processing isn’t 'just' scripting from TV shows. Gestalts are meaningful chunks of language, not random repetition.

🌟 “Let it gooo!”
🌟 “Are you okay?”
🌟 "To infinity and beyond!"

These are communication.

Gestalt language processors aren’t behind. They’re processing language differently.

Our role isn’t to interrupt that process.

It’s to support it with natural language models and connection, not correction. 

❓What examples of gestalts have you heard?

👂 In Speech and Language Therapy, we don’t listen for pronunciation 'errors' or 'mistakes'. We listen for patterns in sp...
27/02/2026

👂 In Speech and Language Therapy, we don’t listen for pronunciation 'errors' or 'mistakes'. We listen for patterns in speech.

⭐ Patterns tell us how a speech system is working right now.

⭐ Understanding patterns helps us to support speech in ways that feel respectful, fun, and achievable.

❌ No pressure.
❌ No forced drills.
❌ No shame or correction.

Let me know below if you want to learn more about phonological patterns! 👇

🌲 It's December! 🌲
01/12/2025

🌲 It's December! 🌲

🍂 A little late for the start of November...better late than never! The excitement of Halloween and getting ready for ba...
02/11/2025

🍂 A little late for the start of November...better late than never! The excitement of Halloween and getting ready for back to school tomorrow meant that it was all go! I hope everyone had a nice break.

Some general tips for supporting language development this month. What would you add? 🍂

🍂 It's September! 🍁🍂Back to school is well underway. This month's tips are all about supporting neurodiversity affirming...
01/09/2025

🍂 It's September! 🍁🍂

Back to school is well underway. This month's tips are all about supporting neurodiversity affirming approaches.

💻 My webinar contains lots more information on supporting neurodiversity affirming approaches in education. Learn practical strategies to create inclusive, supportive classrooms where every student can thrive — just in time for the start of the new school year! 🍎📚

✅ Perfect for teachers and support staff.

🌟 Special give away for September - I will give free access to the first 3 DMs from teachers / classroom workers! Please share this post with any of your friends who work in schools 😊

Why not make this school year in your classroom more inclusive? 💛

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Neurodiversity-Affirming-Approaches-in-the-Classroom-An-Introduction-13504301

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