Speech pathologists for your child

Babies usually babble at around 4 to 8 months and say a real word or two by their first birthday. If your baby is quiet by 9 to 12 months, or has fewer than 6 to 20 words at 18 months, a chat with a speech pathologist can help. We are also happy to talk it through by phone to see whether an assessment would help.

Some sounds take years to master, and parents often understand more than other adults do. By three years old, unfamiliar listeners should understand about 90 percent of what a child says. If your child is much harder to understand than their peers, or is getting frustrated, we can check what is expected for their age.

Some children use a lisp until about four and a half years, and that can be a normal part of development. Lateral and palatal lisps are not, and are worth assessing without delay. The longer a lisp is practised, the more of a habit it becomes.

Trouble attaching, poor weight gain, noisy feeding or coughing at feeds should be followed up with a feeding assessment soon. For fussy eating we look at textures, chewing skills (such as rotational chewing) and helping your child feel safe trying new foods.

Most children repeat words at some point. If it is increasing, or more than their peers, stay calm and seek support. Most stutters can be treated well. It helps to bring a short phone video of the stutter to the appointment.

Speech pathologists support communication, language and social skills. A diagnosis is made by a team that includes a paediatrician, psychologist and speech pathologist. Start with your GP for a paediatrician referral. Our Director, Jaimi-Lee Jefferies, holds a Certificate in Autism Diagnosis from UWA.

Call the clinic and we will talk through your concerns, with no obligation.