How do I know if my child needs to see a Speech Language Therapist?

This is a common question and can easily be answered by an assessment appointment.  Moira believes that if you are asking the question, then you probably know that your child needs an assessment and/or some extra help to move to the next stage. Sometimes a quick assessment and a chat can put your mind at ease. She is an expert in children's speech development and can provide the information you require.

In general, Just Talking recommend you seek a Speech Therapy assessment if your child seems behind their peers or

• Has little or no spoken words at 2 years
• Is speaking, but is hard to understand
• Is becoming frustrated when talking
• Has trouble focusing on a task or is not listening well 
• Often appears lost for words
• Has muddled word order in sentences or is having difficulty following instructions and knowing how to respond
• Doesn't know how to answer questions or can't follow your instructions
• Is not playing well with other children or has problems interacting with others
• Is finding learning to read and write a considerable challenge

Is it too early to get help for my child when they are aged one or two?

No! It is never too early to help your child access the wonderful world of speech, language and friendships. Learning is based on talking and listening, so Moira is happy to coach you to help your child develop their talking as early and clearly as possible. Even if you think your child is too young for one-on-one therapy, it is important to know that at this stage, Speech Therapists coach parents and teachers on how to improve speech and language skills indirectly. Early access to therapy will improve you and your child's interactions.

If my child is seeing another Speech Therapist through school and I think they need more, can I use Just Talking?

Absolutely! Just Talking recognise that all families are different and each child's needs are different. Moira is more than happy to work with the school Speech Therapist to maximise your child's speech and language development. The more therapy a child receives, the faster their improvement.

My child's teacher says he is not reading because he has not developed his language skills, what does this mean?

We now understand that listening and talking skills are the 'building blocks' for written language (spelling, reading and writing).  It is not uncommon for a child to struggle with learning at school because they have not developed their listening skills, vocabulary and/or talking skills.  Speech Language Therapists are the specialists who accurately assess and diagnose auditory processing and language disorders. They can then support teachers and parents to maximise the child's learning potential. Children's speech and language development can be affected by a number of factors.