Speech and Language Assessments Adelaide
At Thrive Health Therapies, we offer professional speech pathology services, including comprehensive speech and language assessments, to support children and adults across Adelaide. Our expert speech pathologists work closely with parents and caregivers to identify and address communication challenges, empowering children to develop essential skills and thrive.
What is a Speech and Language Assessment?
A speech and language assessment is the first step in understanding your or your child’s communication abilities. It provides a clear picture of how you or your child communicates, interacts, and processes language, helping to identify strengths and areas that need support.
Our assessments include:
Family or Client Interview: Understanding your concerns, your or your child’s medical history, and developmental progress.
Observation: Monitoring how you or your child communicates with familiar and unfamiliar individuals during play and conversation.
Standardised Assessment Tools (where appropriate): Conducting structured assessments to evaluate communication and social skills.
Holistic Development Review: Considering other factors like hearing, vision, cognitive abilities, and motor skills.
What Does a Speech and Language Assessment Evaluate?
The speech pathologist will determine which areas to assess based on the presenting difficulties. However, a thorough diagnostic speech pathology assessment typically includes evaluation in the following areas:
Receptive Language
Expressive Language
Speech (Articulation/Phonology)
Voice Fluency Social Communication (Pragmatics)
Other areas which may be assessed depending on the presenting difficulties and age of the client include:
Literacy (possibly including reading, writing, spelling and phonemic and phonological awareness)
Play
The assessment provides detailed insights into your or your child’s strengths and challenges, forming the foundation for a personalised therapy plan.
How is Speech Assessed?
For Children Under Three Years of Age:
Speech pathologists engage young children through play and conversation activities, observing their natural speech sounds in context.
For Children Three Years and Older:
A series of standardised speech tests are conducted. These may include:
Labelling pictures and objects.
Observing speech sounds during structured tasks and conversation.
Assessing oral-motor skills, such as facial and mouth movements.
For Adults:
Speech assessments may involve analysing speech clarity during conversation, evaluating pronunciation, and assessing oral-motor abilities.
The goal is to determine if speech patterns align with expected developmental milestones or effective communication standards.
How is Language Assessed?
Language development evolves from simple words to complex conversations as individuals grow. Assessing language skills helps determine if understanding and use of language are age-appropriate.
For Children Under Three Years of Age:
Play-based and conversational activities assess vocabulary size and sentence use.
Input from parents is crucial for evaluating language produced at home.
For Children Three Years and Older:
Standardised language tests evaluate comprehension, vocabulary, sentence formation, and storytelling abilities.
Activities include answering questions, describing pictures, and forming sentences.
For Adults:
Language assessments focus on understanding, vocabulary use, sentence complexity, and the ability to convey ideas effectively in both spoken and written communication.
Speech Therapy Services Based on Assessment Results
If the assessment identifies a communication delay or disorder, our speech pathologists will:
Provide a detailed report outlining your or your child’s strengths and challenges.
Offer tailored therapy services to address identified areas.
Develop a support plan with targeted activities and strategies for home and therapy sessions.
If additional needs are identified beyond communication, we may recommend referrals to other health professionals for further support.
How We Deliver Speech and Language Assessments at Thrive Health Therapies
Thrive Health Therapies offers clinic-based and community-based assessments across Adelaide.
Community-Based Services: We provide community-based assessments 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.
Funding Options for Speech and Language Assessments
We accept a variety of funding options, making speech and language assessments 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.
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A speech and language assessment is essential for understanding communication abilities, identifying strengths, and addressing areas for support. The process includes a family or client interview, observation of interactions, standardised tests (if applicable), and a holistic review of developmental factors like hearing, vision, and motor skills.
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We conduct speech and language assessments with children and adults from two years of age and older with a range of communication difficulties.
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Yes! We offer home-based assessments throughout metropolitan Adelaide.
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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.
FAQs About Speech and Language Assessments
If you can’t find an answer to your question, please contact our friendly team on 0474 248 081 or email enquiries@thrivehealththerapies.com
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.
Ready to get started with an assessment?
It’s easy!
Referral Form
Fill out our easy online referral form and we’ll be in touch!
