Helping your child communicate with confidence
Is your child not talking as much as you expected? Are they hard to understand, frustrated when they cannot find the right words, or having trouble following instructions?
Perhaps your child talks easily at home but struggles to communicate at kinder or school. They may find conversations, friendships, reading or writing harder than other children their age.
It can be difficult to know whether to wait or ask for help.
At SLCN, our speech pathologists support babies, toddlers, preschoolers and school-aged children across Western Melbourne. We help children build the communication skills they need for everyday life, while giving parents practical ways to support them at home.
You do not need to know exactly what your child needs before contacting us. If you are concerned about their speech, language or communication, we can help you work out the next step.
Talk to SLCN about speech therapy
Speech therapy is about much more than helping children pronounce words clearly.
Speech pathologists support children with speech, language, communication, literacy and social communication. They can also help some children with eating, drinking and swallowing.
Your child may benefit from speech therapy if they have difficulty with:
Some children need help in one area. Others may have several communication needs.
The first step is understanding your child and how communication is affecting their everyday life.
This is one of the most common concerns parents have.
Children develop language at different rates. However, if your child is using fewer words than expected, rarely putting words together or becoming frustrated when trying to communicate, it can be helpful to ask for advice.
A speech pathologist can look at how your child understands and uses language and whether extra support may help.
Seeking advice does not mean there is something "wrong" with your child. It can simply give you a clearer picture of their development and what you can do to support them.
Children learn speech sounds over time.
When a child has ongoing difficulty producing sounds, unfamiliar people may struggle to understand what they are saying. Some children become frustrated or avoid talking because communicating feels hard.
Speech therapy can help identify which sounds your child is finding difficult and support clearer communication in a way that suits their age and needs.
Communication is not only about talking.
Children also need to understand the language they hear.
A child who finds language difficult may struggle with instructions, questions, classroom activities or conversations. Sometimes this can look like a child is not listening or paying attention when they have actually missed or misunderstood the message.
Understanding why your child is struggling can help parents and teachers change the way information is given and provide the right support.
Communication needs do not disappear when children start school.
Older children may need support with:
These challenges can affect learning, friendships and a child's confidence at school.
Our speech pathologists can work with families and, with your permission, teachers and other professionals to help support your child across different settings.
Speech therapy should be shaped around your child rather than expecting your child to fit into a standard program.
Your speech pathologist will first get to know your child, their strengths and the areas that are causing concern.
Depending on your child's needs, this may include observation, discussion with you, screening or assessment.
Therapy may then involve games, play, conversation, structured activities or strategies that can be used during everyday routines.
Parents are an important part of the process. We want you to understand what we are working on and feel confident supporting communication outside therapy sessions too.
Sometimes speech or language is the only area where a child needs extra help.
Sometimes communication difficulties are part of a bigger picture.
A child may also be finding emotional regulation, sensory experiences, learning, behaviour or everyday activities difficult.
Because SLCN provides multidisciplinary allied health care, your child can access other support when needed, including occupational therapy, behaviour support, parent coaching and coordinated care.
This means families do not have to manage several disconnected services on their own.
Children communicate in many different ways.
At SLCN, we take a neurodiversity-affirming approach. This means respecting each child's way of communicating while helping them develop skills that make everyday life easier.
Our aim is not to make children appear more "typical".
We focus on helping children communicate their thoughts, needs and choices, participate in the things that matter to them and feel understood by the people around them.
SLCN is a not-for-profit, NDIS-registered allied health provider supporting children and families across Western Melbourne.
Our approach is:
Where helpful, and with your consent, we can work with your child's kinder, school, GP, paediatrician and other professionals.
Not always. Children can have speech, language or communication needs without having a diagnosis. If you are concerned, you can ask for advice about whether speech therapy may be suitable.
Speech pathologists can support children from infancy onwards. You do not need to wait until your child starts school if you have concerns about their communication.
Children develop at different rates, and sometimes monitoring is appropriate. If you remain concerned, however, asking a speech pathologist for advice can help you decide whether your child needs support.
Speech is the way we produce sounds and words. Language is how we understand and use words and sentences to communicate. A child can have difficulty with speech, language or both.
Yes. With your permission, SLCN can work with teachers, educators and other professionals to help provide consistent support.
SLCN provides multidisciplinary support. If your child also needs occupational therapy, behaviour support or other early intervention services, we can help coordinate their care.
You do not have to decide whether your child "needs therapy" before contacting us.
If you have noticed something about your child's speech, language or communication that concerns you, start with a conversation.
We'll listen to what's happening, answer your questions and help you understand what the next step might be.
Contact SLCN about speech therapy in Western Melbourne.
