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A Speech and Language Pathologist tests your speech right?

Girls Talking

Yes… but we do so much more! Communicating and swallowing is something that we all do every day and is integral to our lives. Children communicate for many reasons – to tell family about their day, to engage in play, to connect with friends, to ask a question in class, when waving hello to a friend from across the street… the list is endless. Communication skills are key in helping children form connections and build identity, allowing them to fully engage with their community.

Speech Language Pathologists help children with all aspects of their communication and swallowing skills. We help children and young adults who might have challenges with communication - in how they receive a message, understand a message, or give a message. We work collaboratively with parents and teachers in supporting the child in different environments, to ensure they reach their full potential. 

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As Speech Language Pathologists are concerned with everyday communication and swallowing skills, we work with children and young adults of all ages and abilities. This includes Neurotypical and Neurodivergent children and young adults with: 

  • Acquired brain injuries 

  • Autism 

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 

  • Cerebral Palsy 

  • Childhood Apraxia of Speech 

  • Down Syndrome and developmental disabilities 

  • Feeding difficulties/picky eaters 

  • Gender-affirming voice goals 

  • Global developmental delay 

  • Intellectual Disabilities 

  • Literacy difficulties and Dyslexia 

  • Selective Mutism 

  • Speech Sound Disorders 

  • Stuttering 

  • Swallowing disorders 

  • Voice disorders​

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At Leapfrog Therapy, we believe in celebrating the incredible diversity in how our brains function! We use neurodiverse affirming approaches which recognise that every brain has the ability to contribute uniquely, and that all communication is valid.

What do Speech Pathologists help with?

Language Skills

  • Language skills 

  • Understanding what is said (including understanding stories, situations and instructions) 

  • Understanding and responding to questions 

  • Using appropriate vocabulary to communicate a message 

  • Using words in the correct order within sentences 

  • Telling stories about experiences 

Literacy Skills

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  • Phonological awareness skills (including identifying individual sounds in words, syllables and rhyme) 

  • Reading fluency and reading comprehension 

  • Spelling and writing skills 

Fluency skills

Improving fluency of speech or reducing stuttering 

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Play and Social Skills

  • ​Connecting and interacting with others through play and conversation 

  • Perspective-taking and inferencing skills 

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Feeding and Swallowing Skills

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  • Increasing the range of foods a child will eat, to help them eat well for their development and health 

  • Improving oral motor skills for swallowing 

  • Strategies for mealtimes 

Speech
Skills

  • Production of speech sounds 

  • Planning movements for speech 

Alternative and Augmentative communication 

  • Finding other ways to communicate using their bodies, not their words e.g. sign language, gestures and facial expressions 

  • Using aided communication e.g. visuals on boards or in books, computers, handheld devices or tablet devices that generate speech 

Voice Skills

  • Improving the quality of voice and preventing damage to vocal folds in our larynx 

  • Changing the way your voice sounds so that it matches your identity 

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