KEY WORD SIGNING
KEY WORD SIGNING What is Key Word Sign?Key Word Sign (KWS) is the use of manual gesture and natural sign to support communication. KWS uses a core vocabulary of signs from Auslan (the sign language used by the Australia Deaf community), accompanied by facial expression, body language and natural gesture. When using KWS the speaker […]
I’M PDA- DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO
I’M PDA- DON’T TELL ME WHAT TO DO What is PDA?PDA is an acronym which stands for Pathological Demand Avoidance. But anyone with PDA will tell you this does not encompass the true experience of PDA. Persistent Drive for Autonomy is closer to it. PDA is considered to be a profile of Autism and is […]
HELP! MY CHILD IS STUTTERING
HELP! MY CHILD IS STUTTERING You may have been talking to your child recently when they started repeating the sounds at the start of the word (like th-th-th-this), or perhaps the whole word (like like like like this). Maybe they were excitedly telling you about something from their favourite TV show or something that happened at day […]
SO YOU FIX STUTTERS AND LISPS RIGHT?
SO YOU FIX STUTTERS AND LISPS RIGHT? So you fix stutters and lisps right? As a speech pathologist, I get asked this question a lot. So what does a speech pathologist actually do? According to our national body Speech Pathology Australia the scope of practice ranges from working with newborns through to geriatrics with individuals […]
HAS YOUR CHILD HAD THEIR TONSILS OR ADENOIDS REMOVED?
HAS YOUR CHILD HAD THEIR TONSILS OR ADENOIDS REMOVED? You might be wondering, why do we ask this and what does it have to do with Speech Pathology?First let’s take a dive into the anatomy of the upper respiratory tract èAs Speech Pathologists, we are tertiary trained professionals who work with individuals in the areas […]
CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH (CAS)
CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH (CAS) What is CAS?CAS is a type of speech sound disorder where there is difficulty planning and programming the correct movements needed to speak. CAS is a neurological motor speech disorder.Speech is the most complex motor task we do; requiring the use of over 100 different muscles and body parts. Our brain needs […]
DO DUMMIES REALLY SUCK?
DO DUMMIES REALLY SUCK? There are a lot of misconceptions about dummies (also known as pacifiers) leaving parents feeling guilty and unsure about using them. Parenting is really hard- especially a child with additional needs. Young babies cry a lot. They have no way of self-settling. A dummy can offer comfort to a baby that […]
WHY IS MY CHILD STUTTERING?
WHY IS MY CHILD STUTTERING? Last time we shared that stuttering is NOT caused by parents. It can be influenced by the home environment, however this is not the primary cause. The fact is, stuttering is influenced by a number of factors that are within the child. Stuttering is a neurological dysfunction involving: Genetic factors Temperament (e.g., when the […]
WHAT IS DLD?
WHAT IS DLD? Developmental language disorder*, or DLD, is a difficulty understanding and using spoken language. DLD is a lifelong condition that emerges in childhood.DLD is more common than you might think! Studies show that 1 in 14 children may have DLD – this equates to almost 2 children in every classroom. What does DLD […]
UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF CVI
UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF CVI Cortical vision impairment or CVI is an umbrella term for vision impairments that are caused by a disorder in the visual areas of the brain. Recent research has found it’s not just the visual cortex or occipital lobe responsible for vision but the white matter and ventricles of several other […]
