Developing letter/sound knowledge is crucial in the early years for later reading and spelling skills.

In order for children to learn to read and spell they need to be able to understand:

• that letters represent sounds
• that words are made up of sounds
• writing in a particular order can make different meanings

Research has shown that getting help for literacy problems early can prevent those problems becoming more severe.

Speech Moves has helped many children over the Newcastle and Port Stephens regions to become competent readers through delivering evidence-based multi-sensory programs. At Speech Moves, we provide strategies to help your child succeed.

Contact us if your child needs help to increase their reading fluency.

What is receptive language? 

Receptive language is the ability to understand spoken, written or sign language. It involves making sense of the words we here, following directions, understanding questions, learning new vocabulary and interpreting the meaning of conversations. 

Strong receptive language skills form the foundation for communication, learning, social interaction, and literacy. Before children can use language affectively to express themselves, they first need to understand the language they hear around them. 

Why are Receptive Language skills so important? 

Children rely on receptive language skills to:

• Follow instructions at home, school and in the community
• Learn new concepts and vocabulary
• Participate in conversations
• Answer questions appropriately
• Enjoy books and stories
• Build social relationships
• Solve problems and think critically
• Understand classroom teaching
• Develop reading and writing skills

As language develops, children also learn to understand more complex questions that require reasoning and inference. 

Receptive language also includes understanding how words fit together in sentences. Children learn the meaning of grammatical markers such as: plurals, tense, pronouns, negatives, comparatives and prepositions. 

Signs a child may be experiencing receptive language difficulties 

Every child develops at their own rate, but some signs may indicate that additional support is needed.  A child with receptive language difficulties may:

• Appear not to listen
• Frequently ask for information to be repeated
• Have difficulty following directions
• Become confused when several instructions are given together
• Need visual demonstrations to understand tasks
• Answer questions incorrectly or off topic
• Have difficulty learning new concepts
• Have difficulty understanding new vocabulary
• Misunderstand classroom instructions
• Struggle to understand stories or conversations
• Become frustrated when communication breaks down
• Seem inattentive when, in fact, they have not understood what has been said

These difficulties may vary and may become more noticeable as language demands increase with age. 

Speech Pathologists work closely with families, educators, and other professionals to help children develop their receptive language skills across every day environments. 

When should I seek help? 

It may be helpful to consult a Speech Pathology if your child:

• Has difficulty understanding language compared to children of the same age
• Regularly struggles to follow instructions
• Has ongoing difficulty answering questions
• Appears to misunderstand conversations
• Is experiencing difficulties with learning that may be related to language
• Becomes frustrated because they do not understand what others are saying
• Has concerns raised by teachers, educators, or health professionals

Early intervention helps children develop the skills they need to participate confidently at home, school and in the community. 

Our Speech Pathologists provide comprehensive assessment, evidence based intervention, and practical strategies to empower children and families to build confidence and achieve their communication goals. 

So bloody girl makes me want to go there languageWe work collaboratively with parents, educators, and other professionals to ensure children receive consistent support across all environments, helping them develop the understanding and communication skills to live their best lives. 

If you have concerns about your child’s communication skills, please give us a call, we would love to chat with you.

What are Speech Sounds?

Speech sound development refers to a child’s ability to produce speech sounds accurately so that others can understand them. As children grow, they learn to pronounce sounds, combine them into words and develop clear, intelligible speech. 

While it is normal for young children to make some speech sound errors or substitutions as they learn, persistent difficulties can impact communication, learning, confidence and social interactions. 

Some children may have trouble producing certain sounds, while others may find it difficult to organise sounds into words. These challenges can make it hard for family members, teachers and peers to understand what they are saying. 

Signs a child may have speech sound difficulties:

A child me:

• Be difficult to understand
• Substitute one sound for another (e.g. saying “tat” instead of “cat”)
• Delete syllables in words (e.g. say “nana for “banana”)
• Add extra sounds to words
• Distort sounds, such as producing a lisp
• Become frustrated when others cannot understand them
• Avoid talking or answering questions
• Have difficulty learning to read and spell as they get older

If you notice these signs, an assessment by a Speech Pathologist can determine whether your child’s speech development is progressing as expected. 

If intervention is needed, an individualised plan is developed that is evidence based, engaging and tailored to your child’s age, strengths and interests. Intervention incorporates games, play-based activities and meaningful practice to keep children motivated while achieving their communication goals. 

Why early intervention matters

Clear speech helps children participate confidently at home, pre-school and in the community.

Early intervention can reduce frustration, improve communication and support literacy development. 

Addressing speech sound difficulties early leads to better long-term outcomes. 

Research has shown a clear link between speech sound disorders and slower literacy development at school. 

Whether a child has a mild speech delay or a more complex speech sound disorder, we are here to help them develop clearer speech, greater confidence and the communication skills they need to succeed. 

Give us a call today, we would love to chat with you.

What is expressive language?

Expressive language is the ability to communicate thoughts, ideas, needs and feelings using words, sentences, gestures, signs or other forms of communication. It allows children to share their experiences, ask questions, tell stories, participate in conversations and build meaningful relationships with others.

Some children experience difficulties with expressive language, even though they understand much of what is being said to them. They may know what they want to say but struggle to find the right words to put them together in a way that others can understand. These challenges can affect learning, friendships, confidence and participation at home, school and in the community. 

Signs a child may have expressive language difficulties:

A child may:

• Use fewer words than expected for their age
• Have difficulty putting words together into sentences
• Leave out important words when speaking
• Struggle to find the right words to use when talking
• Have trouble answering questions or explaining their ideas
• Find it difficult to retell events or tell stories in order
• Become frustrated when others don’t understand them
• Prefer gestures or pointing instead of speaking
• Have difficulty participating in conversations with family or friends.

Our Approach

We believe every child deserves the opportunity to communicate with confidence.

Intervention is evidence-based, family-centred and tailored to each child’s unique strengths and needs. 

We work collaboratively with families, educators and other professionals to support children in reaching their communication goals. 

If you have concerns about your child’s expressive language skills, early intervention is key.

We are here to support your child in developing their communication skills. 

Please give us a call, we’d love to chat with you about your child’s communication.

Children can become frustrated when they cannot easily communicate and will often change their behaviour to express themselves. Teaching children to use visuals and sign language can often help to replace everyday words until the child’s oral language skills develop.

Our clinicians are highly skilled in the use of visuals and AAC communication systems to help your child express themselves on a daily basis. 

Contact us if you’d like to find out how we can help your child.

Autism is a lifelong developmental continuum that affects, among other things, the way a child relates to their environment and the people around them.

A child with autism might:
– Not babble as a baby
– Not respond to their name
– Not point to objects or show interest in others
– Avoid eye contact
– Have delayed speech or language skills
– Repeat words or phrases
– Have strong reactions to smells, sounds, tastes or new situations.

Our goal is to improve the communication and social skills of children who have a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Contact us if you’d like to find out how we can help your child.