SA Speech Services

19/06/2025

📚 Speechie Story Pick 🦁🐘

Looking for a book that boosts early language skills and keeps your little one engaged? This week’s pick is “Dear Zoo” by Rod Campbell – a firm favourite among speechies!

Here’s why we love it for speech & language development:
✅ Repetitive, predictable text – helps with word learning & participation
✅ Lift-the-flap fun – builds anticipation & turn-taking
✅ Animal names & sounds – great for expanding vocabulary
✅ Perfect for simple sentence structure like “I see a…” or “It’s too big!”

Pro tip: Pause before lifting each flap and wait to see if your child will name the animal or make a sound – every little interaction counts! 🗣️💬

Have you read this one at home? Let us know your child’s favourite animal below! ⬇️
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05/06/2025

Early intervention is key 🔑

Something we ALWAYS tell people is that it’s never too early to get assessed!

Contact South Australia Speech Services to find out how to book in and get started with Early Intervention! 🩵

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29/05/2025

Talking Tip Thursday 💬

The fewer words the better?! 🤨

Break down directions into smaller steps because children with language delays have trouble understanding long directions.

For example:
Instead of: “Ellie, could you please go up to your bedroom and get your pink shoes for Mommy?”

Say this: “Ellie, get shoes”

Instead of “Bobbie, can you find a place to sit at the dinner table? It’s time to eat”

Say this: “Bobbie, sit down”

It may sound harsh taking out all that fluff but trust me, if your child has a language delay, this will help tremendously!

Tips to make it less harsh:
💚Fun pitch/ tone of voice
💚Pointing enthusiastically at shoes etc
💚 Smiling when giving instructions

You can also break down multi-step directions by giving your child one step at a time.

For example, if you need your child to put on their shoes, get their backpack, and meet you by the door, you may want to start with just “put on shoes”. You may have to help your child with these directions at first until they understands.

Then, increase the challenge and start putting two very simple steps together, such as “First get shoes, then get backpack”.
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29/05/2025

27/05/2025

This week our speech pathologist Clara, has been loving using Pop the Pirate in some of her sessions! 🌟🏴‍☠️

Here is a list of ways Clara uses core words and Pop up Pirate in her therapy sessions;

- Turn taking

- Vocabulary expansion - for example “try again” “my turn” “your turn”

- ⁠Developing a child’s ability to explain instructions

- ⁠Reinforcer game
For example when she is targeting specific words, she encourages to keep trying, by allowing a sword every time the targeted word is said

- ⁠Concepts
For example: top, bottom, in, out, up

Try these techniques with some of your children’s toys at home! ✨

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22/05/2025

Here are some Shared Book Reading Strategies to help you at home:

👀 LOOK at the pictures of the book, follow your child’s point or eyes, and talk or label what is happening

👄 TALK about what you can see happening in the picture

🧠 THINK about the pictures or what might be there, encourage your child to do this (e.g., lift the flaps—“Oh! There’s something under the bush. I wonder what it is”)

🗣️ TELL a story or relate to the pictures. Talk about a time where they can relate (e.g., “I remember when we saw a sheep at the farm!”)

🙋🏽‍♀️ ASK a question about something they can see, know, or think about the book (e.g., “I wonder what it would sound like. Can you make a sheep sound?”)

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20/02/2025

This week our speech pathologist Kellita, has been focusing on the power of Proloquo2Go in some of her specialised sessions! 🌟

This app is an incredible tool for people who need augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

It helps express thoughts, needs, and ideas in a way that’s engaging and user-friendly. Whether it’s through pictures, symbols, or text-to-speech, Proloquo2Go makes communication more accessible for everyone!
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01/10/2024

Touchy-feely books are perfect for little hands! 📚✨🦁

This type of book style, helps to enhance language development in kids by interaction through tactile experiences!

As children explore textures, they often engage in descriptive language, which helps build vocabulary.

Additionally, these books promote discussions about what they feel and see, fostering both verbal skills and comprehension!

18/09/2024

What Counts as a Word?

Have you ever wondered what counts as a word when it comes to your child’s language skills?

We have created this for you for you to gain a clear understanding of what really counts as words your child is able to say. 🗣

Please keep this in mind:
‘mu’ counts as multiple words, even though it’s the same sound.
‘mu’ could mean more, mumma, milk, moon etc.

The same as ‘ba’ for ball, baba, bottle, basket etc.

As long as each word is constantly used in the right context, you can count it as a word.

Tip - It’s always good to keep a record of what words your child is able to say and around what age, this way if their progress slows down or your child even stops saying particular words, you’re able to have all the information you need ready for your appointment with the Speech Pathologist!

If you have any questions, would like clarification or would like to book in an appointment to chat over a few things we’re here to help!

Leave a comment below or DM us and we’ll be in contact with you! 🌟