Paediatric Speech Pathology in Adelaide

Every child develops at their own pace, but some signs that a speech pathology assessment might be helpful include: your child is difficult to understand compared to other children their age, they struggle to follow instructions or join in conversations, they are avoiding talking or seem frustrated when trying to communicate, they are finding reading, writing or phonics difficult at school, or mealtimes are consistently stressful or restricted. If you are unsure, the best first step is to get in touch — we are happy to talk it through before you book.

We support children from toddlerhood through to school age. Whether you have concerns about a 2-year-old’s first words or a 10-year-old’s literacy, our team works with a wide range of ages and stages.

Yes. We support children who use or would benefit from Augmentative and Alternative Communication — including low-tech (picture boards, PECS) and high-tech (speech-generating devices, apps). We work collaboratively with families, educators and other support teams to make sure AAC is embedded meaningfully across your child’s environments.

Yes. Late talking is one of the most common reasons families come to see us. Our speech pathologists assess your child’s current communication profile and work with you on practical strategies to support language development at home, as well as direct therapy when it’s the right fit.

Yes. For children who are working with both an OT and a speech therapy at SPOT, joint sessions can be arranged where this supports the child’s goals.

Absolutely. A significant proportion of the children we support are autistic or have ADHD. We use a neuro-affirming, strengths-based approach — which means we work with each child’s unique communication style rather than trying to fit them into a single template of “normal.” We are continually growing our practice to better reflect the latest evidence and the voices of autistic adults and self-advocates.

No GP referral is required to book with us. You can contact us directly to arrange an initial appointment. If your child has an NDIS plan (self-managed or plan-managed), a GP Mental Health Care Plan, or private health cover with extras, these may help cover costs — get in touch and we can help you work out what applies to your situation.