Speech Communication Linx - Paediatric Information

Paediatrics

Angela sees children with a wide variety of speech and language disorders from 2 years of age to early adolescents.

A doctor’s or specialist’s referral is not required for a consultation with Angela however these professionals often refer their patients for an assessment and recommendations following some concern for the child’s speech and language development.

Parents can call directly or referrals can come from schools, kindergartens, crèches and Maternal and Child Health Nurses in the community.

Communication Disorders

Children are seen with a variety of speech, language and communication disorders. Examples of these are:

Receptive and expressive language delay;
Global developmental delays;
Developmental dyspraxia;
Stuttering;
Genetic syndromes;
Autism;
Paediatric feeding and swallowing difficulties;
Augmentative communication;

Makaton

Makaton is complete language program based on gesture and sign. Makaton provides basic communication to those who cannot use verbal communication or who are developing their verbal communication. Makaton is made up of approximately 350 language concepts and the emphasis is on essential and useful vocabulary to those wishing to communicate with others. Makaton is used with both adults and children

Therapy Programs

Therapy programs are usually one to one, with parents/caregivers usually present during the session.
The initial session usually involves a registration process. This involves:

Why the child was referred;
Medical, social and, where appropriate, educational history;
Screening assessments, where appropriate;
Goals discussed realistic goals are set in consultation with the child’s parent/s or caregiver/s. Progress in therapy is reviewed regularly with consequent changes to goals;
Plan for therapy (that is, how often we agree that the child will come);
Next appointment made (if appropriate).

Many parents are sometimes unsure as to when to contact a Speech Pathologist so discussing any issues with a registered Speech Pathologist, your General Practitioner or Maternal Child Health Nurse will assist you in making this decision.

Warning Signs

Warning signs that may help you to make the decision about contacting a Speech Pathologist include:

Children who have very limited speech (less than 50 – 100 words by 2 years of age;)
Children, who by 2 years of age are still using single words and have not yet started to combine these words into 2 or more word phrases;
Children who can obviously hear sounds but do not follow simple instructions consistently;
Children who are frustrated due to their limited communication and are displaying negative behaviours.

Language Delay

Prior to 12 months of age children should be displaying a range of different babbling sounds as they practise the sounds they hear around them. Some of these become consistent sounds used to protest, call out or simply get your attention. These babbling sounds are the precursor to the real words they soon will be saying. If your child has not babbled or has difficulty with this a suggestion is to have his or her hearing checked with an audiologist. Checking with a Paediatrician may also be of benefit.
By 18 months, children should have started saying one word, generally “mum/ma”, “dada/da” “diddy”. Some children by this age already have a good repertoire of single words and use facial expression, gesture (such as pointing, nodding etc) and generally single words to communicate. Some children are ‘late starters’ but by 18 months there should be some ‘real’ words emerging.
By the age of three it becomes clearer as to what difficulties your child may have (if any at all). Some have difficulty understanding your message or instruction and these children have a receptive language delay. Some children understand perfectly well and complete non verbal tasks with great efficiency and accuracy but have great difficulty finding the words to give a clear message. These children have an expressive language delay. Some children have both a receptive and expressive language delay.

Stuttering

Many children stutter when they are very young and for most their stutter is merely a phase. Both males and females can be affected however statistics show that males are more likely to stutter than females. For either gender it is important to seek advice from a Speech Pathologist as ignoring the stutter or becoming too negative about it can make it worse.

Non Congenital Neurological Disorders-

Some children have been known to suffer from cerebral vascular accidents (CVA’s) and this is devastating and shocking for many parents/caregivers. These children often present with the devastating effects of strokes, as seen in adults, and their speech, language development and swallowing is lost or affected. Other children have been involved in road accidents and have sustained severe head injuries, often affecting their speech, voice, language development, memory and swallowing.
Angela works with children in rehabilitation from CVA’s and road accidents (and consequently with the Transport Accident Commission – TAC) to assist in their step by step progression towards regaining their speech, language development and swallowing skills (post tracheotomy and PEG).

Genetic Syndromes

Symptoms from many genetic syndromes include swallowing and communication problems. Angela has worked with children with Prader Willi Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Williams Syndrome & Fragile X. Effective and functional communication strategies (including augmentative and alternative communication devices) are put in place for the child and family to improve overall communication.

Autism

Autistic children present with a range of communication difficulties, from severe global language delay to very mild pragmatic difficulties. In all cases, clients are assessed and their needs analysed. Parents/caregivers contribute to goal setting for their child with Angela. Verbal stimulation and encouragement is the main aim but alternative and augmentative communication strategies, such as signing (Makaton) & PECS are also considered and put into practice if the parents/caregivers agree.

Developmental Dyspraxia

Some children present with the ability to communicate very well non- verbally by using pointing, nodding or shaking of head etc, but have the utmost difficulty making sounds, copying sounds and putting sounds together. They probably didn’t display the usual babbling sounds that babies make or there may have been a neurological event (accident, stroke) that impeded the neurological pathway from input (eyes then brain) to output (brain to tongue/teeth/lips/voice).
Developmental dyspraxia can be assisted and children can be taught to speak.
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