Newcastle Speech Pathology

25/05/2026

This Wednesday at 12pm, over two million children across Australia will be reading the very same story together for National Simultaneous Storytime 📚💙

This year’s featured book is *Luna Roo* by Adam Wallace and Christopher Nielsen, a heartwarming story about courage, friendship, and finding your place in the world. National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual event by the Australian Library and Information Association that celebrates the joy of reading and supports early literacy for children nationwide.

Three little things to try when you read aloud this week 🐨
• Pause and wonder out loud together
• Let your child help turn the pages
• Talk about the surprises in the story

Reading aloud is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support your child’s speech, language, and connection.

You can find a copy through your local library, school, or bookshop, and join the nationwide reading event on Wednesday 27 May at 12pm.

We’ll be reading at Cooks Hill, tag us if you’re joining in, we’d love to see your storytime crew 📖

21/05/2026

Reading doesn't always start with words on a page.

For autistic kids, literacy often grows through connection, curiosity, and the everyday moments you're already making space for.

Three simple ways to support reading at home:
✔️ Turn reading into a conversation, not just reading the words
✔️ Use everyday print around the house — magazines, catalogues, fridge magnets, the back of the cereal box
✔️ Choose books based on what your child is actually interested in, not what you think they should read

Engagement comes first. The skills follow.

At Newcastle Speech Pathology, we work alongside families across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and the Hunter Valley to support autistic kids with reading, communication, and confidence.
Our director Alison has been a speechie for over 32 years and is also mum to an autistic daughter who's thriving. That lived experience shapes how our whole team works with every family.

Newcastle's Best Speech Pathology Practice. 2023, 2024, 2025.
Comment READING below and we'll DM you our communication checklist.

18/05/2026

Sometimes parents wait because everyone around them says,

“They’ll grow out of it.”
“Every child develops differently.”
“Give it more time.”

And sometimes that’s true.

But if something has been sitting in the back of your mind for a while now, this is your reminder that you’re allowed to ask questions sooner.

These signs don’t automatically mean something is wrong. But they are worth paying attention to.

Early support can make a real difference, and often, parents tell us they wish they’d acted earlier instead of spending months or years wondering.

Save this for later, or send it to someone who may need to hear it today.

And if you’d like to talk to a speech pathologist, the details are below.

📞 (02) 4948 9800

📧 info@nsp.com.au

15/05/2026

Think speaking two languages confuses children? These 5 myths might surprise you.

Is speaking more than one language confusing for your child? We explore five common myths about bilingual development and share what research tells us.

14/05/2026

Try this 👇

Say “juicy cantaloupe” backwards.

Tricky? Now imagine needing that much effort just to speak every day.

For people with Apraxia of Speech, coordinating the muscles for speech can feel this challenging, even when they know exactly what they want to say. 💙

Today is World Apraxia Awareness Day, helping raise awareness and understanding for individuals and families living with apraxia.

14/05/2026

One of the most common questions we hear is:

“Will speaking two languages affect my child’s speech?”

Current evidence shows that bilingualism does not cause speech delay.

Children learning more than one language may:

👉 use words from both languages

👉 mix languages within sentences

👉 show vocabulary across different contexts

These are all typical parts of bilingual development.

What matters most is how communication is developing overall, across understanding, expression, and interaction.

If you’re noticing differences in both languages over time, it can be helpful to take a closer look

🔖 Save this as a guide to come back to
📩 DM us for our free Communication Checklist (4–5 years)

12/05/2026

A lot of parents spend months, sometimes years, trying to convince themselves that…

Everything is “probably fine.”

And sometimes it is.

But one of the most important things we look at isn’t whether a child is talking the way you’d expect for their age. It’s whether they’re still making progress.

Are new words still being added? Even slowly?
Or have things completely plateaued?

Those are two very different conversations.

Tonight, try this: write down 10 words your child used this week… then think back to the words they were using 6 months ago.

Has the list grown?

If not, that’s worth a closer look.

📍Newcastle · Lake Macquarie · Hunter Valley

👇Comment your child’s age below and we’ll DM you the right guide — toddler or preschool.

10/05/2026

To the mum who notices every new word. The one who celebrates the small wins. Who does the quiet work no one else sees.

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at NSP. 💛

If you've been wondering whether your child might benefit from a speechie in their corner, we're here. Book a free 10-minute call.

No pressure. Just a chat.

📍 Newcastle + Hunter Region

07/05/2026

Most people aren’t sure what actually happens in speech pathology, and that uncertainty can make it harder to take the first step

Speech pathology looks at communication as a whole, not just speech, but how language is understood, expressed, and used in everyday situations.

That might include:

✅supporting early communication development

✅helping with speech clarity or language skills

✅working with adults who are finding communication harder than it used to be

Support is always individualised and based on what’s most meaningful in daily life.

If you’ve been wondering whether speech pathology might be helpful,
it’s okay not to have all the answers yet.

🔖 Save this to come back to and have an idea of what happens in a speech pathology session
📞 You can book a free 10-minute call to talk it through with one of our Speech Pathologists

29/04/2026

Welcome to the team, Abbie 💛

We’re so excited to introduce our newest Speechie, Abbie!

Abbie brings a beautiful mix of warmth, experience, and genuine care to her work, supporting both children and adults across their communication journeys. With a strong background working with children in various roles, she understands how to meet each client where they’re at and create a space where they feel supported and heard.

Outside the clinic, you’ll likely find Abbie baking something delicious, enjoying a good book, or singing with her choir 🎶

Abbie is looking forward to meeting the wonderful clients and families of NSP, and her diary is now open, welcoming new clients.

If you’d like to book in with Abbie, we’d love to hear from you.