Expressive Language | Speech Pathology Adelaide
Expressive language is an individual's ability to convey thoughts, feelings, and information through words, sentences, and other forms of communication. Challenges in this area can make it difficult to express needs, share ideas, or participate in conversations at home, school, or in social settings.
At Thrive Health Therapies, we support individuals in developing expressive language skills to enhance their ability to communicate confidently with peers and adults, articulate their thoughts clearly, and engage meaningfully in everyday interactions.
What is Expressive Language?
Expressive language refers to the ability to use words, sentences, gestures, and writing to convey meaning and communicate messages to others. It encompasses skills such as describing actions and events, labelling objects, forming sentences, using correct grammar, retelling stories, answering questions, and composing written text.
If an individual's expressive language develops more slowly than expected for their age, this is referred to as an expressive language delay.
Why is Expressive Language Important?
An expressive language delay can have a considerable impact on various aspects of your or your child’s life.
Challenges with expressing thoughts and ideas clearly at home, school, or work can make it hard for you or your child to engage in age-appropriate conversations with peers. This may lead to self-esteem and confidence issues, and in some cases, frustration or feelings of isolation may result in challenging behaviours.
Expressive language delays can also significantly affect learning, particularly the development of essential reading and writing skills.
What Might Difficulties with Expressive Language Look Like?
Individuals with expressive language difficulties may experience challenges in the following areas:
Expressing Thoughts Clearly:
Struggling to convey ideas or share thoughts effectively, particularly in conversations or when asked to explain something.
Example: Saying, “I go park yesterday,” instead of “I went to the park yesterday,” or using vague phrases like “that thing over there” instead of naming an object.Describing Events or Actions:
Difficulty providing detailed descriptions or recounting events in a logical order.
Example: When asked, “What did you do at school today?” responding with a fragmented sentence like, “Play outside… drawing… lunch,” without elaborating.Using Appropriate Vocabulary:
Challenges in retrieving the right words to use in context, leading to hesitations or substitutions with simpler or unrelated words.
Example: Saying “thing” instead of “pencil” or pausing frequently during speech to search for the right word.Forming Complete Sentences:
Difficulty constructing grammatically correct sentences or combining words into meaningful phrases.
Example: Using incomplete sentences like “Me want go” instead of “I want to go.”Answering Questions:
Trouble providing relevant and complete responses to questions.
Example: When asked, “What did you eat for breakfast?” answering vaguely with “Good” instead of specifying what was eaten.Telling Stories or Narratives:
Struggles with organising thoughts and creating cohesive stories with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Example: Starting a story in the middle or jumping between unrelated details, making it difficult for listeners to follow.Participating in Conversations:
Challenges in contributing to or maintaining a conversation, such as initiating topics, staying on topic, or responding appropriately to comments.
Example: Responding with silence or changing the subject abruptly during a peer interaction.Producing Written Communication:
Difficulty translating ideas into written form, often resulting in incomplete sentences, poor organisation, or limited detail.
Example: Writing “I went park play” instead of “I went to the park to play on the swings.”
These difficulties can vary depending on the individual’s age, environment, and the complexity of the language they are trying to produce. Early identification of these challenges allows for targeted support and strategies to improve expressive language skills.
How Do Speech Pathologists Help with Expressive Language Delays?
We work with you, or a child’s family to create functional goals to support the development of expressive language skills for you or your child. These goals are designed to align with an individual’s interests and include home-based activities that integrate skill-building into daily routines, such as meal time, bath time, and story time.
As expressive language skills progress, we provide education in incorporating alternative communication methods when needed, such as visual supports (pictures or symbols) and other Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), gestures, and signs, to enhance effective communication.
When appropriate, we also work closely with teachers or educators, providing them with strategies and resources to support your child’s participation in the classroom and access to the curriculum.
How We Deliver Speech Pathology at Thrive Health Therapies
Thrive Health Therapies offers community-based, clinic-based, and telehealth speech pathology.
Community-Based Services: We provide community-based speech pathology in your home, school or kindergarten, or a location convenient to you throughout metropolitan Adelaide. Learn more about our service areas.
Clinic-Based Services: We provide clinic-based sessions at our Findon clinic.
Telehealth Services: We also offer comprehensive telehealth services, providing clients with convenient, video-based therapy consultations for those who may have difficulty travelling to our clinic or prefer the convenience of remote support.
Funding Options for Speech Pathology
We accept a variety of funding options, making augmentative and alternative communication therapy accessible for everyone:
Private Health Insurance
Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans (GP Team Care Arrangements)
Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
Why Choose Our Speech Pathology Services?
No wait time: We can start working with paediatric or adult clients straight away!
Experienced: Our speech pathologists have extensive experience working with individuals of all ages.
Extensive Coverage in the community: We serve a large geographical area, providing speech therapy services across all of metropolitan Adelaide from Gawler to Aldinga. We see clients at home, in their school or kindergarten, or at a location convenient to them.
Clinic space: Our Findon clinic has been specially designed to be appropriate for a wide range of presentations and disabilities.
Individualised care: Every client receives a personalised therapy plan based on their unique needs and goals.
Neuroaffirming Practice: We provide compassionate and affirming services to support and empower neurodiverse individuals.
Multi-Disciplinary Approach: We offer a wide range of allied health services under one roof, allowing for a holistic approach to your health.
NDIS Registered: We are proudly registered with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Home Care Package (HCP) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP): We accept a variety of funding options, helping our clients access the support they need.
LGBTQIA+ friendly: We celebrate, value and include people of all backgrounds, genders, and sexualities, Our Findon clinic is a welcoming, safe and inclusive space for all LGBTQIA+ people and families.
FAQs About Expressive Language
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact our friendly team on 0474 248 081 or email enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com
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Expressive language is the ability to convey thoughts, ideas, and feelings through words, sentences, gestures, or writing. It involves using vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure to communicate effectively with others.
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Receptive communication is the process of receiving and understanding a message from another person. It can be thought of as the input. Expressive communication is a message to another person. It is the means by which feelings, wants, likes, dislikes, comments, and intents are expressed.
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Expressive language includes various forms of communication, such as speaking, using gestures (like pointing), writing, facial expressions (smiling, frowning), and vocalisations (laughing, shouting).
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No! We can start working with new clients right away.
Once we have received a referral form with all of your details, we are able to book an Initial Assessment as soon as possible, depending on your availability.
You can find our paediatric referral forms here and our adult referral forms here.
If you have any questions prior to referring please reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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If you are funded through Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) we need the appropriate referral documentation from your GP.
For all other funding sources you can refer yourself or your child directly via our online referral form, or reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Referring is easy! You can find our paediatric referral forms here and our adult referral forms here.
If you have any questions prior to referring please reach out to us on 0474 248 081, via our online enquiry form or at enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com.
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Yes! As a registered NDIS provider, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants.
As a NDIS registered provider, we are also able to offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.
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As a registered NDIS provider, interpreter services are available free of charge for NDIS participants. Please inform us if you require this service, and we will arrange this for you.
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We accept referrals from a wide range of funding sources, including the NDIS, home care packages, Department of Veterans Affairs, Chronic Disease Management (previously known as EPC) and private clients. Learn more about our accepted funding sources.
As a NDIS registered provider we are also able to accept participants who have chosen to have their funds managed by NDIA.
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Prices vary between services. Our therapists work with you to ensure you get the best program of services within your budget allocation.
Please contact us for a personalised quote.
Your Trusted NDIS Registered Provider in Adelaide
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides funding for individuals with permanent and significant disabilities. As a registered NDIS provider in Adelaide, Thrive Health Therapies meets rigorous NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. We are passionately committed to upholding the NDIS Practice Standards, providing high-quality and safe supports and services for NDIS participants. As a NDIS registered provider, we offer services to participants whose funds are managed by the NDIA.
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