Time 4 Speech
Speech Pathology for Children
FAQ's
Q: What’s the youngest age I should seek a speech therapist?
A: Any time you, your child's carer or your Doctor are concerned with your child's speech / language development. Generally, the youngest age children are referred is around 2 years of age when little or no language development has occurred or atypical socialisation is noted (that is, the child is not interacting with others in play or social situations as expected) . This is a concern for future language and social development.
Q: How much follow-up work / practise should I expect to do with my child?
A: Home practice varies according to the severity of the condition, but generally 3 -4 home practice sessions per week (about 10-15 minutes per session) is recommended to achieve optimal progress through the speech therapy program. The more you practise, the quicker your child runs through the speech therapy program. This should be discussed with your Speech Pathologist for each individual child.
Q: How long does each session last?
A: 1 to 1.5 hours for an initial assessment, depending on the age of the child and 30 minutes for each Speech Therapy session with the Speech Pathologist / Speech Therapist.
Q: What information will be provided after the initial assessment?
A: The assessment will give the Speech Pathologist / Speech Therapist an overall picture of the child's communication skills and also his / her strengths and weaknesses. A report will be written detailing this information and also the ongoing Speech Therapy goals if Speech Therapy is recommended.
Q: Is a Speech Pathologist the same as a Speech Therapist?
A: Yes. These terms are used interchangeably.
Q: Will I need to remain in the room with my child throughout the session?
A: Parents are encouraged to attend the assessment and initial therapy sessions to give the parents a clear understanding of how to achieve the goals of the speech therapy program. It is not absolutely necessary for the parents to attend every session once they have an idea of how to run a session at home. Basically the Speech Pathologist / Speech Therapist is training the parent to become the Speech Pathologist at home and complete the therapy tasks each day or every second day at home.
Q: How long does remedial therapy generally take?
A: This depends on the severity of the condition, the natural abilities of the child, and the home practice completed each week. Generally if the child has only speech sound substitutions, 6 - 10 sessions is recommended for each sound that you work on in speech therapy. Language issues can be more complex and intermittent blocks of speech therapy may be recommended through the course of early primary school.
Q: What is the payment process?
A: We text out an invoice the day prior to each session and settlement by bank transfer can be completed, or cash / cheque can be exchanged on the day of the session.
Q: What happens if I can’t make an appointment?
A: Please notify the Speech Pathologist as soon as possible via text on your mobile phone