Speech Therapy FAQs for Parents | Speak Wonders Westmead

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About
Children’s Speech Therapy

Everything parents need to know about speech pathology for kids from spotting the signs early to navigating NDIS funding and what to expect at your child’s first session

FAQ

Get in touch

Around 1 in 5 children start school with some level of speech or language difficulty in Australia. Your child may benefit from an assessment if they:

Are hard to understand by familiar people at age 2, or strangers at age 3

Are not putting two words together by 24 months

Are not using single words by 12–18 months

Struggle to follow simple one-step instructions

Leave sounds off the beginnings, middles, or ends of words

If you are unsure, a free phone consultation can help you decide whether an assessment or therapy is the right next step.
Speech Pathology Australia provides communication milestone guidelines for typical development:

12 months: 1–2 words, points to objects, understands “no”

18 months: 6–20 words, follows simple instructions

2 years: Combines 2 words, 50+ word vocabulary, familiar adults understand most speech

3 years: 3–4 word sentences, strangers understand ~75% of speech

4 years: Tells short stories, uses most sounds (except r, l, s, z, th)

5 years: Fully understood by unfamiliar adults, uses complete sentences

Every child develops differently. A speech pathologist can assess whether your child’s development is within the expected range for their age.
Speech refers to the physical production of sounds, the clarity and accuracy of how your child pronounces words. A speech delay means they are developing sounds later than expected.

Language refers to understanding and using words to communicate. A language disorder means difficulty with vocabulary, grammar, or meaningm either in understanding what is said (receptive language) or expressing ideas (expressive language). Many children have both. A speech pathology assessment identifies which areas are affected.
Some late talkers do catch up on their own, but research shows that early intervention produces the best outcomes. A “wait and see” approach can mean a child falls further behind in language, literacy, and social skills before receiving support.

Getting an assessment does not commit you to ongoing therapy, it gives you the information needed to make a decision. A speech pathologist can advise whether watchful waiting is appropriate or whether therapy should start now.
Speech therapy can begin as early as 12 months of age. Early intervention takes advantage of the brain’s rapid development during the first five years. There is no upper age limit, we also work with school-aged children with ongoing communication needs.
Speech therapy can begin as early as 12 months of age. Early intervention takes advantage of the brain’s rapid development during the first five years. There is no upper age limit, we also work with school-aged children with ongoing communication needs.
Communication-related red flags include:

No babbling by 12 months

No pointing or waving by 12 months

No single words by 16 months

No two-word phrases by 24 months

Regression, loss of any language or social skills at any age

Difficulty making or maintaining eye contact

Limited interest in other children or play

If you notice any of these signs, contact us or speak to your GP or paediatrician promptly. Early assessment and intervention make a significant difference for children with autism.

Yes. Speech pathology is funded under the NDIS Capacity Building Supports category; typically Improved Daily Living Skills. Funding is approved when the support is deemed reasonable and necessary and directly related to the participant’s disability goals.

We accept self-managed and plan-managed NDIS clients. NDIS speech pathology services can include assessments and reports, individual therapy sessions, group sessions, and parent/carer training.
If your child has a chronic condition or complex care needs, they may be eligible for up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health sessions per calendar year through a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan or 20 Medicare-subsidised allied health sessions and assessments through the M10 plan.

A GP referral is required. We use HICAPS so Medicare rebates are processed on the day of the appointment, you only pay the gap.

Learn More About Medicare Rebates
Yes, if speech pathology is included in your extras (ancillary) cover. Rebate amounts vary by fund and policy level, check with your insurer before booking.

We have a HICAPS terminal on-site so your private health rebate is claimed instantly, you pay only the out-of-pocket gap at your appointment.
Private speech therapy fees vary by provider and session type. At Speak Wonders we price transparently, view our current fee schedule.

We always discuss costs upfront and help families identify funding options, many are eligible for subsidies they don’t know about.
We currently accept self-managed and plan-managed NDIS clients. For agency-managed enquiries, please contact us directly to discuss availability as we are in the midst of registration. We are happy to work with your plan manager to make the process as smooth as possible.

The first session is an assessment involving three parts:

Parent interview: Your concerns, developmental history, languages spoken at home, medical history, and family goals

Child observation: The speech pathologist interacts with your child through play to observe communication, play skills, and social interaction naturally

Formal assessment: Standardised tests to measure specific speech and language skills

Assessment may take 1–3 sessions. You then receive a written report with diagnosis, recommendations, and a therapy plan.
Speech sound errors (lisps, difficulty with specific sounds): often resolve over a defined number of sessions with home practice

Stuttering: structured programs with clear timelines, especially when caught early

Language delays or disorders: longer-term support, particularly for children with autism, cerebral palsy, or Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

We review goals regularly and every plan has clear, measurable outcomes, therapy is never open-ended.
Play is the primary vehicle for learning in young children and is deeply evidence-based in speech pathology. During play, the clinician is:

Modelling target sounds, words, or sentence structures in meaningful, natural contexts

Building the communication relationship and trust needed for therapy to work

Creating low-pressure opportunities for the child to practise goals

Observing spontaneous communication the most accurate picture of real-world skills

Every activity has a therapeutic purpose. Ask your speech pathologist what goal is being targeted in each session, we love explaining it.
Your speech pathologist sets clear, measurable goals from the start. Signs that therapy is working include:

Your child is using new words, sounds, or sentences they weren’t using before

Improvement in how well they can be understood

More confident communication at home, kindergarten, or school

Progress data from sessions showing consistent improvement

If you have concerns, ask for a progress review. Your input is essential to guiding effective therapy.
Weekly sessions: most common for children with moderate to significant needs

Fortnightly: often combined with a strong home practice program; suits mild difficulties or maintenance phases

Intensive blocks: frequent sessions in short bursts followed by a break; effective for certain speech sound programs

Your speech pathologist will recommend the most effective frequency based on assessment findings and your family’s capacity for home practice.
In Australia, both terms describe the same profession. The title changed to “speech pathologist” to reflect that practitioners diagnose as well as treat communication difficulties.

All practicing speech pathologists must be a member of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA) or hold equivalent accreditation.
Yes. We offer telehealth (online) speech therapy sessions for families who cannot access the clinic in person. Telehealth is particularly effective for school-aged children and parent coaching sessions. For very young children (under 3), in-person sessions are generally recommended where possible. Contact us to discuss whether telehealth suits your child’s specific needs.

No referral is required to book a private appointment. Families, carers, teachers, and other healthcare providers can contact us directly. A GP referral is only needed if you wish to use Medicare Rebates such as the CDM (Chronic Disease Management) funding.
Online: Use our online booking form (link in the navigation above)

Phone: Call us directly during business hours

Email: Message us and we will respond promptly

At booking, please include your child’s age, your main concerns, and any existing diagnoses or reports. This helps us match your child with the right speech pathologist and allocate the correct session length.
Any previous reports (audiology, paediatric, OT, school reports)

Your NDIS plan or Medicare referral (if applicable)

Private health insurance card (HICAPS on-site)

Completed new client intake forms (we send this before the appointment)

A favourite toy or book your child is comfortable with, this can help them settle
Wait times change regularly. Contact us directly for current availability, we always give you an honest answer about wait times and offer interim strategies while you wait. If your child’s needs are urgent, please let us know and we will do our best to prioritise accordingly.

Speech sound disorders: articulation disorders, phonological disorders, lisps

Language delays and disorders: including Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)

Stuttering (fluency disorders)

Social communication / pragmatic difficulties: common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Voice disorders

Literacy difficulties: reading, spelling, phonological awareness

Feeding and swallowing difficulties (paediatric dysphagia)

AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication): supporting non-verbal or minimally verbal children
Yes. Speech pathologists play a central role in supporting children with autism. We work on:

Building functional communication; verbal, non-verbal, or via AAC

Social communication and pragmatic language (initiating, turn-taking, non-literal language)

Play-based communication development

Parent and carer coaching to support communication throughout the day

NDIS funding often covers significant therapy hours for children with autism. We can help guide you through the funding process.
Yes. Stuttering affects approximately 1 in 12 children at some point in early childhood. Most recover naturally, but around 1 in 5 will continue to stutter into adulthood without treatment.

Early intervention is strongly recommended. The Lidcombe Program is a highly effective, evidence-based treatment for children under 6. We offer stuttering assessment and evidence-based treatment for children of all ages.
Yes. Speech pathologists are trained in literacy and phonological awareness, the foundational skills required for reading and spelling. Children with speech or language difficulties are at higher risk of literacy challenges, and early support prevents these from becoming entrenched. We use structured literacy approaches grounded in the Science of Reading.
AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) includes picture systems (PECS), communication apps (Proloquo2Go), speech-generating devices, and key word sign (Makaton).

A common myth is that AAC will stop a child from speaking. Research shows the opposite — AAC supports the development of speech. If your child is minimally verbal or non-verbal, contact us for an AAC assessment. Every child deserves a way to communicate.

For children under 4, we strongly encourage parents to be actively present. Parent involvement is a core part of therapy for young children, you learn strategies to use throughout the day at home, which is where the most learning happens.

For older children, some prefer parents present while others work better independently. Your speech pathologist will guide you on what works best for your child, and you are always welcome to observe.
Talk during daily routines: narrate bath time, mealtimes, getting dressed

Read together every day: books build vocabulary, phonological awareness, and comprehension

Follow your child’s lead in play: comment on what they are doing rather than directing and questioning

Expand their utterances: if your child says “ball”, model back “yes, a big round ball!”

Reduce passive screen time: face-to-face interaction builds language far more effectively

Your speech pathologist will create a specific home program for your child’s goals at each stage of therapy.
Direct correction is generally not recommended, it can make children self-conscious and reduce their motivation to communicate. Instead, use recasting: repeat what your child said back to them correctly, naturally, without drawing attention to the error.

For example, if your child says “I want dat wabbit”, respond with “Oh, you want that rabbit! Here’s the rabbit.” You model the correct form without making them feel corrected. Your speech pathologist will teach you the best approach for your child’s specific targets.
Teachers and educators observe children in a communication-rich environment with peers, they are often the first to notice concerns. Take their observations seriously and act promptly.

Book a speech pathology assessment as a starting point. Bring any written notes or reports from the kindergarten or school. With your consent, we can also liaise directly with your child’s teachers to coordinate support across home and school settings.

If you’re wondering whether Speak Wonders is the right fit for your child, we’d love to have a conversation.

Meet The Team

Meet our dedicated team of passionate speech pathologists at Speak Wonders. With expertise in pediatric speech, language, and literacy development, we bring years of experience and a family-centered approach to help every child thrive.

Get To Know Us

Admin@speakwonders.com.au

0451 742 540

FAQ

FAQ

If you’re wondering whether Speak Wonders is the right fit for your child, we’d love to have a conversation.

Meet The Team

Our Services

Our Approach