Mid Ulster Private Speech Therapy

28/04/2026

A really interesting study done in 2024 confirming what we have been believing for years. Overuse of Mobile devices (iPads and phones) have a statistically significant negative impact on the language skills of pre school children

Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38622610/

21/04/2026

I had the pleasure of giving this talk at the your baby NI show on Saturday. I talked about how screen time can impact children’s language development. I see it most when screens replace simple, everyday interactions like chatting, reading, and playing together. I recommend keeping screens limited, talking through daily routines, and making time for face-to-face play. Small, consistent moments really support how children learn to communicate.
They’re absolutely not the enemy and there are so many “exceptions to the rule” but if you find it’s having a negative impact on behaviour, delayed language skills and impacting family time, it’s never to late to make a change

14/04/2026

Do I think you need to be a parent to be a really good speech therapist? Absolutely not!

But for me I get the bigger picture, the sleep deprivation, the juggle as a working parent, trying to sustain friendships, finding time to exercise, not knowing what ‘me’ time even looks like anymore!

I’ll not be in this stage forever but right now, I totally and utterly get you 💕

07/04/2026

Come and join me at my free webinar this Sunday! Recording will be emailed if you cannot attend on the day. Link in bio

26/03/2026

I mean I could have filled 10 posts about one week but no one wants to read that 😂

A little snap shot into my week as a self employed speech and language therapist and mummy of two who is also trying to buy and sell a house, plan my sisters hen and in need of a spa day with champagne 😂

12/03/2026

Giving small amounts, pausing during play, or putting a favourite toy slightly out of reach can encourage your child to look, gesture, make a sound, or use a word.

Keep it simple, follow their lead, and respond warmly to any attempt to communicate.

Small everyday moments create the best opportunities to connect (speaking from lived experience!)

03/03/2026

Stammering clinic for children 21st March
Kathryn our senior fluency specialist is running a stammer clinic with assessment and therapy support using the Lidcombe programme, a bespoke fluency intervention
NHS therapists in NI aren’t routinely trained in this so we are very lucky to have her.
DM for more information

17/02/2026

This image from Chat GPT is almost like a photo of me waking up Church Street this day three years ago 😂

Four weeks postpartum in 2023, I set myself a goal: walk into town and get pancakes. That was it. I just had to get dressed, put some makeup on, and leave the house.

I cried getting ready.
I cried doing my makeup.
I cried most of the walk there.

But I was determined to feel some small sense of normality again.

It was the first time many people had seen me since he was born. I remember the “oh my god, you look great!” and smiling politely, while inside I was thinking, I haven’t showered in three days and I’m finding this so so hard.

I got the pancakes. I walked home. I felt proud in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve been in the thick of early motherhood.

Looking back now, it seems like such a small thing. But at the time, it was enormous. It was proof to myself that I could still show up, even when everything felt overwhelming.

And the Nutella pancakes really really helped.

16/02/2026

Thank you for sharing this incredibly powerful visual. I’ve seen this a lot. Parents unaware/ not recognising autistic traits in their second child because they are so different to their first diagnosed child. It can be a hard thing to chat through, especially if there were challenges getting the right support for the first child. My view stands the same “ I have a duty of care to your child to talk to you about my observations and give you recommendations but ultimately you know your child best and will know what is right for them moving forward” ❤️

26/01/2026

Maybe being a bit too honest here? Haha

The sleep thing is very up and down like last night was good but who knows what tonight will bring 😴

23/01/2026

Anybody else’s house like this or just mine? 😂😂

22/01/2026

I’m so excited to be involved with this initiative! Come and get an opportunity to ask us anything !

💜🧡𝙈𝒐𝙧𝒆 𝒊𝙣𝒇𝙤𝒓𝙢𝒂𝙩𝒊𝙤𝒏 𝒄𝙤𝒎𝙞𝒏𝙜 𝙨𝒐𝙤𝒏🧡💜

The Sensory Submarine Mid Ulster Private Speech Therapy SperrinSoul Smartphone Free Childhood - Northern Ireland