Smooth Talking Speech Pathology

16/06/2024

We have been voted Best Speech Pathologist in the City of Vincent for 2024! 🥇🙌🏼

16/10/2023

I am so lucky to work with such a diverse range of thinkers and individuals. It’s so important to recognise strength in difference sometimes.

Here are some examples of ways that classrooms can be neurodiversity affirming.

This is obviously not an exhaustive list. There are a ton of other, very important things (for another day).

The main thing I hear when I suggest accommodations and flexible expectations in the classroom is ‘but what about all the other students?’ ’we can’t just let this kid be out of their seat’, ‘it would be too distracting’, etc.

My opinion of this is: very few kids show up to kindergarten being naturally inclined to sit perfectly still or silently. I don’t believe that kids naturally need either of those things to work, learn, or focus.

I think that kids are trained to do those things to meet classroom rules and teacher expectations. When a neurodivergent kid then moves around during learning, or hums quietly during spelling- the teacher often highlights this as a problem. And the rest of the kids see that. They know what the rules are, they know that student isn’t following them like they should be. They learn to know that student as ‘naughty’ or bad at school.

I think that is a conditioned response.

Early primary teachers could just as easily explain to their young students that everyone’s brains and bodies need different things. Learning doesn’t look the same for everyone. Focusing doesn’t look the same for everyone. That student who is rocking in their chair is doing what their body needs. That student who has headphones on while writing is listening to their sensory needs- awesome. Teachers can either model acceptance and celebrate difference, or they can respond to our kids with annoyance - teaching the rest of the kids to do the same.

Kids who really need silence to work- let’s get them some headphones for when they want them. I bet the majority of the class get work quite happily in a not-silent room. Let’s get some quiet music playing in the background. Why not? Where in the real world is silent? My house literally never is.

Kids are far more flexible than adults in being able to adjust to stuff like this. Teachers have such an opportunity to make massive change.

Note: I’m not in any way suggesting that screaming, roaring noise should be accepted in the classroom. I’m saying that I don’t think silence is essential.

I have a lot more to say about this but it’s a pretty long caption already.

What other things makes a classroom neurodiversity-affirming?

Em 🌈

23/08/2023

Happy Speech Pathology week! Happy to say that Smooth Talking Speech Pathology is now supporting people of all ages to communicate with confidence in the Perth metro area and via Telehealth.

Communicating for Life!

Today is the start of Speech Pathology Week (20-26 August) A week-long celebration of the speech pathology profession and our dedicated certified speech pathologists.

Did you know that 1 in 7 Australians will experience a communication difficulty at some stage in their life?

From children to older Australians there are millions of Aussies who will need the support of a certified speech pathologist.

https://www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au/Life

26/05/2022

Hot off the press!

Australian Stuttering Research Centre and Thompson Institute

10/11/2021

13/08/2021

Speech pathologists can help with accent modification for people who find it difficult to be understood. But it’s important to always remember this too!

12/01/2021

Insightful interview with an adult who stutters (and great cartoon at the end!)

Interesting to see that many people all over the world have a similar lived experience of stuttering and the social complexities that come with it.

As speech pathologists, we are still trying to get the balance right between helping people achieve fluency but also achieving confidence and acceptance around stuttering. We also know that stuttering is very treatable when children are very young (preschool age). Although Willemijn mentions letting a child make the choice, what is the right choice for a very young child with a stutter that is very much treatable? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts!

24/08/2020

Happy Speech Pathology week! Speech pathology isn’t just about lisps and stutters, it’s about helping people to find their voice

22/10/2019

It is International Stuttering Awareness Day today. Many think that people stutter because they are nervous or shy, but stuttering is a physical, hereditary condition which affects nothing other than speech. People who stutter may be anxious about stuttering, not because of stuttering itself but because of how others may react. Many of the kids and adults I have worked with are amazing individuals with lots to say if we let them!

21/10/2018

Today is International Stuttering Awareness day. Unfortunately, too many children still get teased about stuttering (also known as stammering) due to lack of understanding, and this can stay with them their entire lives. Watch actor Michael Palin and these kids as they share their heartwarming and heart breaking experiences

The Michael Palin Centre for Stammering Children is running a Stammering Information Programme whose aim is to raise awareness within the education system in...

18/08/2018

Could we count talking as a workout? ;)

As a parent who has learned a lot but never studied the anatomy of speech, I find this fascinating!

A great share by the Pediatric Communication Center

03/07/2018

Have you ever wondered about your child’s developmental milestones compared with others their age? Every child is different, but this comprehensive checklist covers all areas of development from 0-5 years. Early intervention is best, so if you think your child might be behind, don’t wait too long, seek help early.

07/05/2018

Stuttering is a mysterious condition that can affect every aspect of a person’s life- but it doesn’t have to. Warning: if you haven’t seen this one already, you’ll need tissues

28/03/2018

Wishing you and your families a very happy Easter season from Smooth Talking Speech Pathology! This was a small token of appreciation from a happy client who has made leaps and bounds with their sounds and now speaks much more clearly.
If you have concerns about you or your child’s communication, contact us 📞🖥