When to see a Paediatric Speech Pathologist
Communication milestones can be a good marker of a child's current skills and whether they might benefit from speech therapy sessions.
Research shows that the sooner that challenges are identified and treated, the better the outcomes for learning into the future.
We are Paediatric Speech Pathologists located in Rose Bay. Take a look at the following common milestones to determine if your child could benefit from Speech Pathology services.
-
By 1 year of age, the child should be able to:
respond to familiar sounds e.g. telephone ringing, the vacuum cleaner or the car in the driveway
understand simple commands, such as "no" and “come”
respond to / turn to their own name being called
understand / look for familiar objects or people when asked
say "dad", "mumma" and a few other words
try to make familiar sounds, such as car and animal noises
By 2 years of age, the child should be:
achieving all the above and…
using a vocabulary of at least 50 words
starting to use simple 2 word phrases e.g. “go park” or “mumma milk”
listening to stories & naming pictures
understanding simple questions, such as "where's your shoe?" (looks for the shoe)
following simple instructions e.g. “get your nappy” or “give me the ball” (from a set of other toys)
talking to themselves or their toys during play
using toys in range of ways
-
By 2 years of age, the child should be:
achieving all the above and…
using a vocabulary of at least 50 words
starting to use simple 2 word phrases e.g. “go park” or “mumma milk”
listening to stories & naming pictures
understanding simple questions, such as "where's your shoe?" (looks for the shoe)
following simple instructions e.g. “get your nappy” or “give me the ball” (from a set of other toys)
talking to themselves or their toys during play
using toys in range of ways
By 3 years of age, the child should be:
achieving all the above and…
be understood 75% of the time by those not in frequent contact with them (e.g. family or friends not seen often, doctor, shopkeeper, librarian etc.)
understanding how objects are used e.g. a crayon is something to draw with
communicating their needs and wants using words/sentences
following 2 part instructions e.g. “get your shoes and bag” (without gestures)
use three to four word sentences e.g. "we go park mummy"
begin to use basic grammar such as “we went to park”
enjoy telling stories and asking questions
have favourite books
By 4 years of age, the child should be:
achieving all the above and…
be understood 90% of the time by 5 years of age
understanding shapes and colour names e.g. "show me the..."
understanding some "time" words e.g. "lunch time" OR "today"
asking who, what and why questions
using lots of words, about 900, usually in four to five word sentences
using correct grammar with occasional mistakes, such as "I falled down"
using language when playing with other children
By 5 years of age, the child should be:
achieving all the above and…
understood 100% of the time by everyone
using sentences of about six words with correct grammar
talking about events which are happening, have happened or might happen
explaining why something happens, such as "Mum's car stopped because the petrol ran out"
following three-part instructions, for example, "pack away the toys, put your shoes on and wait by the door"
saying how they feel and tell you their ideas
interested in writing, numbers and starting to read things
-
By 5 years of age, the child should be:
achieving all the above and…
understood 100% of the time by everyone
using sentences of about six words with correct grammar
talking about events which are happening, have happened or might happen
explaining why something happens, such as "Mum's car stopped because the petrol ran out"
following three-part instructions, for example, "pack away the toys, put your shoes on and wait by the door"
saying how they feel and tell you their ideas
interested in writing, numbers and starting to read things
-
By 7 years of age, the child should be:
achieving all the above and…
have all needs and wants met through a range of communication skills
beginning to read simple sentence or greater (even short books)
make and maintain friendships
explain how to play a game
follow along in a game explained by someone else
tell / write stories or information
write with mostly accurate spelling
Above the age of 7 years, the child should be:
achieving all the above and…
developing reading skills every year
be able to read and comprehend a range of texts (stories, information text etc)
be able to write a range fo texts with correct structure, grammar and spelling.
able to communicate to solve problems that arise in friendships
FAQ’s
-
Do I need a referral to see a Speech Pathologist?
No, a referral is not needed to see a paediatric speech pathologist.
We accept referrals from all professionals but this is not essential to get the support you need.
The information you provide to us before your first appointment is enough to get started. If you have recently had an assessment and have reports you can provide, we may also be able to begin therapy without the need for an assessment.
-
What is a paediatric Speech Pathologist?
A Paediatric Speech Pathologist assesses, diagnoses and treats communication and feeding difficulties.
Imagine you are visiting a foreign country and you don't know the language. Consider all the ways you would attempt to understand and communicate with those around you - these are all the aspects that Pediatric Speech Pathologists support people.
Additionally, we also work with children who have feeding challenges.e know about the services you provide? Better descriptions result in more sales.
-
Where is Kids Spot located?
Our clinic is conveniently located in Rose Bay in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. With ample parking options and close to many nearby schools, find Kids Spot is easy - just look for the bright yellow door!
Our Speech Pathologists can support children in the clinic or various locations across the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
If you live further away, we can also support you by providing online sessions. Research shows this type of service is as powerful as face to face sessions.
How to support a family to make an appointment
Helping families to make an appointment at a speech pathology clinic can be challenging. Often educators, are at the front line for communicating to families that speech pathology for children may be helpful.
This can often feel daunting or challenging. It doesn't have to be.
Many parents value honesty and clarity about their child’s development and the reason why you are recommending an assessment.
The most powerful way to support a family towards making a referral is by providing specific examples.
Make sure to link these examples to functional outcomes for the child in the long term e.g. how they will develop social skills, learn to read, develop confidence to interact, succeed at school.
If a family is reluctant to take action, you can do one of the following:
continue to document specific examples and provide these regularly so you are reiterating your concerns
suggest a phone call with one of our Speech Pathologists to answer any questions
don't give up, sometimes consistency is key.