Speech Pathology Adelaide | Speech Therapy for All Ages

Who Do Our Speech Pathologists Support?

At Thrive Health Therapies, our Speech pathologists work with people who have difficulty communicating or swallowing because of developmental delays, autism, learning disability, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, stroke, brain injuries, dementia and hearing loss, as well as other problems that can affect speech, language or swallowing.

Some typical presentations we work with include:

• A child who struggles to be understood by other children at their childcare centre.

• A child with autism who needs support expressing themselves and forming social connections.

• A child or teenager who stutters and wants to speak more fluently and confidently.

• An individual facing challenges with clear speech following a brain injury.

• A person with dementia needing support to communicate with family, carers, and make decisions about their future.

• A person experiencing difficulty swallowing safely after a stroke.

Speech

Speech refers to an individual’s ability to pronounce speech sounds accurately (articulation) and their ability to organise these sounds into patterns (phonological processes) to form words. Difficulties in these areas can affect communication, making it hard for others to understand.

Our speech therapists work to support and enhance an individual’s speech sound system through tailored, evidence-based interventions. The goal is to improve the individual's intelligibility, ensuring their speech is clear and easily understood in everyday interactions. By addressing both articulation and phonological processes, our therapists help individuals communicate more effectively, boosting confidence and social engagement.

Learn more about how we support an individual’s speech development.

Receptive Language

Receptive language refers to the ability to understand and process spoken or written words, including comprehending instructions, questions, and information shared by others. It involves the capacity to interpret meaning and respond appropriately.

Speech therapy targets areas such as:

- following instructions/directions understanding questions (e.g., ‘where’, ‘what’, ‘who’)

-understanding concepts (e.g., direction, position, sequence, quality, size)

-understanding word meanings and their relationships

-understanding grammatical elements (e.g., past tense, plurals)

-understanding object functions (e.g., scissors are for cutting)

Learn more about how we support an individual’s receptive language development.

Expressive Language

Expressive language refers to an individual’s ability to communicate their thoughts, desires, ideas, and feelings effectively to others.

Our speech therapists targets areas such as:

• Using grammatical elements (e.g., verb tenses, pronouns, and conjunctions) to form phrases and sentences that make sense and follow proper syntax.

• Constructing longer, more complex sentences to retell stories or recount personal experiences, like describing a child’s day or sharing past events.

• Expanding the use of meaningful words (vocabulary), helping the child to express themselves more precisely and engage in richer conversations.

Learn more about how we support an individual’s expressive language development.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

AAC refers to methods and tools used to support or replace verbal speech for individuals who have difficulty communicating through traditional speech. AAC can include both augmentative methods, which enhance existing speech (such as communication boards or devices), and alternative methods, which replace speech altogether (such as sign language or speech-generating devices). AAC helps individuals express their thoughts, needs, and ideas when verbal communication is not sufficient.

Learn more about how we support an individual’s use of AAC.

Fluency

Fluency refers to an individual’s ability to join together speech sounds and words with fluent, smooth, and clear movements. Our speech therapists support individuals who experience an interruption in the flow of their fluent speech, such as with stuttering.

Learn more about how we support an individual’s fluency.

Literacy

Literacy refers to child’s reading and writing skills which plays a crucial role in individual development, education, employment, social participation, and overall well-being. Our speech therapists target areas such as phonological awareness (e.g., rhyming, segmenting, blending, manipulating sounds) and decoding strategies (e.g., letter-sound correspondence, word recognition).

Social Connections

Our speech pathologists can help people with social communication by addressing communication difficulties that can hinder social interactions. They can work with individuals and families to help people develop the skills they need to build and maintain relationships, express themselves, and participate in social activities.

Dysphagia (Swallowing) Support

Dysphagia refers to difficulty in safely and effectively consuming food and liquids, which plays a crucial role in an individual’s health, nutrition, and overall well-being. Our speech therapists focus on areas such as improving swallowing techniques, oral motor skills, and addressing issues with chewing and swallowing to ensure safe eating and drinking. We also provide strategies for managing dysphagia, helping individuals maintain proper nutrition and hydration.

Feeding Support

Our speech pathologists help people with food aversions and texture sensitivities. This usually involves the introduction of different textures and tastes to help the individual become more comfortable with a variety of foods. This approach improves eating habits while also reducing mealtime stress and anxiety, promoting a more positive and enjoyable feeding experience.

Speech Pathology Assessments We Offer

At Thrive Health Therapies, our experienced therapists offer a wide range of assessments, including:

• Speech and Language Assessments: Identify and address speech delays, language disorders, and articulation difficulties.

• Swallowing Assessments: Comprehensive evaluations to diagnose and manage dysphagia.

• Social Communication Assessments: Evaluate challenges with social interaction and pragmatic language skills.

• Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Assessments: Assess the suitability of AAC devices and train individuals in their effective use.

• Literacy and Phonological Awareness Assessments: Identify challenges in reading, writing, and phonological processing to create tailored literacy support plans.

• Feeding Assessments: Identify food aversions and texture sensitivities.