Our Story
Brisbane Child Speech Pathologists providing speech therapy to babies, toddlers, prep, school & high school children. Feeding, Speech development, language, reading, spelling and more. SpeechNet: Child Speech Therapists linked with schools, clinics, mobile & Skype. From late talkers to Autism, Down;s syndrome and NDIS providers. We see the family as part of the team as we work together to help your child be the very best they can be. We work closely as a team on the same clinic site with Occupational Therapists and Child Psychologists.
SpeechNet's Professional & Friendly approach ensures you know get all the right information and learn skills so you can continue to help them at home and at school/ child care. We provide Flexible Programs for busy Parents: Assessment, Treatment, Skype sessions, Online Parent Training & Group services for all communication & Feeding Concerns, Screenings, diagnosis and treatment of all communication difficulties. As we are child specialists we provide speciality services for:
SPEECH
- poorly spoken sounds such as lisps or sound substitutions like "dat" for "cat"
- helping children that can speak but it is sounds like a younger child or their speech is unclear or they really are hard to understand
LANGUAGE
- receptive language (understanding language e.g. following directions, understanding concepts, following conversations or teacher instructions)
- expressive language (They might be talking a lot but their sentences are short so they sound immature or their the words are mixed in the sentence so it is hard to follow what they are talking about or they might be using the wrong words for what they want to say or the wrong grammar e.g., "He is running" for "she was running".
LATE TALKERS Is one of our main areas - not all speech pathologists focus on the very young - we will see children from 16 to 36 months that:
- are saying using few or no words - often they might say a word once or twice and then you don't hear them again!
- expanding children's early language development so they understand words so they can learn to say words
- particular support for children at 24 months that are not saying at least 50 words and not staring to use little sentences.
We also have a HUGE range of online courses for parents to learn How to Teach Baby & Toddlers to Talk. We have online checklists, online interactive children books & Apps, Downloadable handouts for parents, teacher & Carers to show you how you can use common books and toys to boost speech and language in Toddlers.
LITERACY
- phonological awareness
- reading
- spelling
- ability to tell a story or recount what happened when you were not with them.
FLUENCY/STUTTERING
- children who have difficulties using fluent speech
- children who repeat sounds/words/phrases
- children who get stuck on getting their words out
VOICE
- children who have a hoarse voice
- difficulties using a soft and/or loud voice
TONGUE THRUST
- children with an immature swallow
- difficulties swallowing correctly
- children with tongue protrusion during eating/drinking and often during speech as well
FUSSY EATERS:
- food refusal of bottle, solids or meals
- narrow range of foods they accept
-poor weight gain
- stressful meal times
Pop & Top™ Language and Social Skills Groups
We are the home of Pop & Top™ Language and Social Skills Groups, a unique
acceleration program specialising in optimising school readiness for children from
4 months to early primary school age.
Our goal at Pop & Top™ is to accelerate the acquisition of early skills to maximise
children’s learning potential. Pop & Top Language and Social Skills groups are
focused on enhancing and optimising key areas of communication, social and
developmental skills for all children.
The Pop & Top™ program embraces the philosophy that children learn with fun
and play. Pop, a zany character and his magical top bring learning to the children
in fun and exciting ways.
We work with all communication difficulties experienced by children and adolescents
including:
•Late Talkers: From 12 – 18 months – No matter what people might tell you, if you
have questions about your child’s early speech or language development, it is
NEVER too early to seek advice or assessment. A few ideas and techniques taught
to you may prevent longer term problems down the track!!!! Families with young
late talkers often attend an initial assessment to investigate factors that may be
impacting on their child’s development and then attend 4 – 6 treatment sessions
to obtain ideas and techniques specific to their child to boost their communication
development. Also see our Pop & Top Late Talker Groups. These are small, fun play
groups (max 8 – 10 children) aimed for children 18 months to 3 years that are
using less than 50 words or not developing little phrases and sentences.
•Medical Related Difficulties – Our staff are experienced with communication
difficulties associated with many syndromes, head injuries and other medical
based problems.
•Multiple Birth Children – The Director of SpeechNet, Sandra, conducted her PhD
in relation to the early communication development of twins, triplets and higher
multiple birth children as well as later reading and spelling difficulties associated
with multiple birth children. In addition, one of our Speech Pathologists has twins
of her own and active in the multiple birth association.
•Primary School Children – The early years at school are extremely important.
SpeechNet therapists are experienced in working with this age group in relation to:
speech and language difficulties, phonological awareness, early reading and
spelling development, auditory processing and memory skills – all the necessary
components for successful academic achievement. We can help with development
of these skills and assist in the liaison with your child’s school to ensure optimum
support for your child.
•High School Children – Whether difficulties are continuing from earlier years or
if new problems have arisen due to the different and increased demands of high
school – we can help. We have a particular interest in working with this age group
taking, into account their changing perceptions of themselves and their approaches
to learning. We can address the general aspects of speech and language
difficulties, phonological awareness, reading and spelling development, auditory
processing and memory as well as specific difficulties such as voice issues, problem
solving and planning difficulties as well as social skill issues.
•Voice and fluency/stuttering issues are also areas that SpeechNet Speech
Pathologists can assist you with. It is never too early or too late to discuss your
concerns regarding these areas.
•AUTISM and ASPERGERS: SpeechNet and Pop & Top are Autism Panel Providers
so that families eligible for the FaHCSIA autism money can access Speech
Pathology services with this funding. We are part of a consortium with
Occupational Therapists and Psychologists. All our speech pathologist also have
Medicare provider numbers and hence can provide services via the Medicare
Autism Plans.
•Children with Down’s Syndrome, Hearing Impairment and Cerebral Palsy:
SpeechNet and Pop & top are Better Start providers and hence families eligible
for FaHCSIA are welcome.
