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The Speech Practice We assess, diagnose, provide therapy, and help to prevent disorders in feeding and communication.

Strained voice? Try this 10-second reset 👇The yawn–sigh is a simple exercise that helps lift your soft palate and releas...
22/08/2025

Strained voice? Try this 10-second reset 👇

The yawn–sigh is a simple exercise that helps lift your soft palate and releases tension in your throat.

✨ How to do it:
1️⃣ Pretend you’re about to yawn — open wide and feel the gentle stretch at the back of your throat.
2️⃣ Notice how the back of your mouth/ throat feels more open and spacious.
3️⃣ Let out a soft “ahhh” sigh. This encourages a relaxed easy phonation without strain.

Why it helps:
Many people with voice tension or resonance issues can’t consciously “elevate their palate” on command. But a yawn is something the body already knows how to do! It’s an easy, natural way to trigger that palate lift.

🌿 Great for anyone who talks a lot during the day, feels vocal tension, or wants a clearer, more resonant voice.

💡 Try this now and save this post for a quick daily vocal reset! ❤️

✨ What Counts as a Gestalt? ✨After a little tumble, a parent stated that her child quietly said, “Five little monkeys ju...
07/08/2025

✨ What Counts as a Gestalt? ✨

After a little tumble, a parent stated that her child quietly said, “Five little monkeys jumping on the bed…” That’s a gestalt moment.

💬 A gestalt is any chunk of language a child has heard and found meaningful. It’s:

💗Spontaneously used
💗Intonation rich: kids often say it just like they heard it, matching the melody (tune) 🎶and feel.

💗Sometimes jumbled or unintelligible, but rich in rhythm and 🎶 intonation !
💗Gestalts can be short or long. It might be just one word like “car!”used every time the child sees a car, plays with toy cars or even when they want to go somewhere! For the child, “car” holds a bigger meaning than just the object, it’s connected to experiences, ahd feelings.

Examples of gestalts:

💡From songs or rhymes: “Do you wanna build a snowman? Come on, let’s go and play ☃️ “
💡From shows: “To infinity and beyond!”
💡From books: “I will huff, I will puff, I will blow the house down”
💡From parents: “Time for dinner!”
💡From peers: “Time to go”

🔹What you can do:
Model language that can become a meaningful gestalt for them.
We tune in to their interests, what they might be trying to say, and choose words that feel natural in the moment.

Ever heard a little one say “Mama called the doctor and the doctor said…” when they’re hurt? 🐒📞Or recite lines from cart...
01/08/2025

Ever heard a little one say “Mama called the doctor and the doctor said…” when they’re hurt? 🐒📞
Or recite lines from cartoons or books instead of saying what they mean in their own words?

That might be a sign of gestalt language processing - a beautiful and valid way some children learn to communicate. Instead of starting with single words, they learn language in big, meaningful chunks (like lines from songs or routines), and slowly learn to break them down and make them their own 💬

Every step is meaningful. Every script has purpose. It’s not “just copying”- it’s connection, comfort, and communication in the way their brain is wired to learn.
And yes, there’s a path forward. One step at a time. ✨

Explore the stages of Gestalt Language Development and how we can support our little script-reciters as they grow into confident communicators. ❤️

SAVE and SHARE with someone!


This was inspired by a bright 10-year-old, where a lisp and tongue thrust swallow (reverse swallow) were both linked to ...
13/07/2025

This was inspired by a bright 10-year-old, where a lisp and tongue thrust swallow (reverse swallow) were both linked to tongue posture.

That cute little lisp?
It might not just be about saying /s/ or /z/.
It could be linked to how the tongue rests and how your child swallows.

When the tongue sits too far forward or low in the mouth, it can quietly shape more than just speech.

Over time, it may contribute to:

👅 Lisp or unclear speech (eg: sun as “thun”) .
💬 A tongue thrust swallow -where the tongue pushes forward instead of up.
🦷 Misaligned teeth
🍽 Messy or effortful chewing
👄 Open-mouth posture

✅ What we want:
• Tongue tip tucked just behind the top teeth (on the bumpy ridge)

• The rest of the tongue gently suctioned to the roof of the mouth.

• Lips closed, breathing through the nose.
#• A mature swallow where the tongue elevates (moves up), not out.

Start by watching your child when they’re relaxed or when sleeping:

👀 Can you see their tongue? Are their lips closed?

📌 Save this as a reminder!:
Where the tongue rests can shape how your child eats, speaks, and grows.

🫶 Want to support your child’s speech and swallow at home?
Start by checking their resting tongue posture!





Is your baby ready to start cup or straw drinking? 🍼It’s not just about age, it’s about signs of readiness!Look out for ...
06/07/2025

Is your baby ready to start cup or straw drinking? 🍼
It’s not just about age, it’s about signs of readiness!

Look out for additional cues like:

✔️Steady eye gaze when tracking food, cups, or your movements
✔️ Reaches for your cup or spoon during mealtimes
✔️ Explores objects with the mouth (mouthing is a precursor to oral exploration of cups)
✔️ Shows excitement or vocalises when seeing food or drinks.
✔️ Around 6 months (but every baby is different depending on their development!)

These signs mean your baby is ready to start building the oral motor skills that support not just feeding , but speech development too 💗

✨ Your baby doesn’t need to be perfect at sipping right away — it’s all part of learning!

Around 6 months, babies begin transitioning from reflexive suckling to more intentional, voluntary sucking — a key windo...
04/07/2025

Around 6 months, babies begin transitioning from reflexive suckling to more intentional, voluntary sucking — a key window for developing the oral skills needed for drinking, eating, and speaking.

Why Start Straw Drinking at 6months? 🧃

Starting straw drinking around 6 months supports key oral motor skills your baby will need for speech, feeding, and independence.

Transitioning to straw drinking:

✅ Makes use of baby’s natural sucking pattern as they shift from reflexive suckling to intentional sucking
✅ supports lip closure, tongue control, and jaw stability — all essential for speech and feeding
✅ Encourages independent drinking early on

✅ Supports the development of a mature swallow pattern and helps prevent habits like tongue thrust

✅ Reduces reliance on bottles, which can impact oral development if used too long.

✅ Helps babies develop proper swallowing patterns and avoid habits like tongue thrust

🧃 Your baby doesn’t have to be perfect at sipping right away.

Learning to drink from a straw is a process.

✅ Some may take to it quickly
✅ Others might need time, thicker liquids, or extra support
✅ All babies benefit from the opportunity to explore and build oral motor skills

✨ What matters most is starting the experience. Every attempt builds strength, control, and independence ❤️

Toddlers and preschoolers LOVE to move, play, and giggle! And that’s exactly how we practice speech sounds! 🐸🎈In our Spe...
29/05/2025

Toddlers and preschoolers LOVE to move, play, and giggle! And that’s exactly how we practice speech sounds! 🐸🎈

In our Speech Clarity June Camp,, your child will enjoy playful games and guided activities that build clearer speech in a supportive, pressure-free environment.

✨We have lined up :
✔️ Animal sound challenges
✔️ Musical games
✔️ Interactive songs & stories

📩 Link in Bio!
🔗FAQ: https://www.thespeechpractice.com/content/articulation-holiday-camp-speak-clearly-shine-confidently
🔗Sign up: https://forms.gle/3xVQUPkdNrjFyZmH9 💗


Does your child say "wabbit” (for rabbit) or “pane” (for “plane”)? Don’t let unclear speech hold them back.We love when ...
29/05/2025

Does your child say "wabbit” (for rabbit) or “pane” (for “plane”)? Don’t let unclear speech hold them back.

We love when kids are bursting to share their ideas and we love helping them do it with clear, confident speech.

🌟 Join us this June for our Speech Clarity Camp 2025 designed by Senior Speech Therapists/Pathologists to help kids:

✔️Correct tricky sounds (like R, L, S, SH, TH)
✔️Improve clarity and confidence when speaking with others

🗓️ 24–26 June (choose 1, 2, or all 3 days)| 🕒 10am–12:30pm

✨ Includes daily parent feedback, a surprise gift bag & certificate!

We’re passionate about building communication skills and confidence. If you know a child who could benefit, we’d love for them to join us.

📣 Only 5 spots per group for quality and attention💗
🔗FAQ:
https://www.thespeechpractice.com/content/articulation-holiday-camp-speak-clearly-shine-confidently
🔗Sign up: https://forms.gle/3xVQUPkdNrjFyZmH9

✨ Milestones in Infant Vocal Development ✨💡 Best First Words to Spark Your Baby’s Language Development 💡Start with simpl...
18/05/2025

✨ Milestones in Infant Vocal Development ✨

💡 Best First Words to Spark Your Baby’s Language Development 💡

Start with simple, everyday words that are easy for babies to hear and say:

👨‍👩‍👧 People: Mama, Dada, Nai Nai (nana), Ye Ye (grandpa)
🥛 Needs: Milk, Eat, More, Up
⚽ Objects: Ball, Dog, Car
👋 Social: Hi, Bye, Yes, No

🧸 Using these words during play and daily routines helps your baby associate words with meaning and encourages early communication. 💕

SAVE this and SHARE it with someone!

❤️Join our Baby Language classes Today! DM Us to Book! Link in bio

🤩Tag a friend in the comments and receive our FREE Top First Words Guide in your DM to help your baby on their language journey!

12/05/2025

Your toddler might not be saying much, but if they follow your words, that’s a powerful sign of understanding and communication!

Comprehension often comes before speaking.

It might look like:
✔ Giving you the ambulance when asked.
✔ Putting the apple on the plate
✔ Looking at Daddy when you say his name

These actions show that your child is processing language, even if they’re not saying full words yet.

Some toddlers may repeat words you say, like “apple” or “ambulance” but don’t fully understand them yet.

That’s called echolalia or rote imitation, and it’s a normal part of language development, especially around 18–30 months.

So HOW do you know your baby understands?

→ Your baby follows instructions like “Give me the apple”
→ Your baby uses the word meaningfully like: “Eat apple!” while biting an apple!❤️

❤️SAVE and SHARE with someone!

❤️Join our Baby Language classes Today! https://www.thespeechpractice.com/content/baby-language-development

🤩Tag a friend in the comments and receive our FREE Top First Words Guide in your DM to help your baby on their language journey!

Is your child saying “tat” instead of “cat” or “tar” for “star”? These are common speech patterns as little ones learn t...
23/03/2025

Is your child saying “tat” instead of “cat” or “tar” for “star”?

These are common speech patterns as little ones learn to talk and are a natural part of development, but they typically resolve by certain ages. If they persist beyond the expected timeframe, gentle guidance can help! 🎯

🔹The good news? There are simple, playful ways to guide your child toward clearer speech.

🔹 Tip 1: Repeat the correct word naturally in conversation with emphasis on the target sound!

❤️For more TIPS, get your FREE phonological processes guide and natural ways to encourage clearer speech here!

Scan the QR code or click https://www.thespeechpractice.com/content/parent-resources

23/03/2025

After years of sharing our individual videos, we decided to bring them together into one handy collection!

Our expert-led videos cover fun, practical exercises in speech and feeding development from babies to adults to help individuals and families. See link in bio or https://www.thespeechpractice.com/content/videos

We’re passionate about making these resources accessible and useful for you.

If there’s a specific topic you’d love to see more of, drop us a note! We love hearing your ideas and growing together❤️

Disclaimer: These videos represent our own views and are not intended to replace professional advice. Please consult your attending practitioner for personalized guidance.

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