Frequently Asked Questions

Do parents usually get involved in sessions?

Yes! Parents are some of the greatest catalysts for change as they spend so much time with their child and know them best. As you begin to recognize your child's speech and language goals, I will be able to help you identify opportunities throughout your typical day for practice. We will spend a portion of every session ensuring you confidently develop the skills and strategies to work on your child's communication. If I see your child at school or preschool, I will communicate goals and progress through planned phone calls or regular emails. You can always ask any questions you may have. 

Is my child's difficulty typical for their age anyway?

There are many research studies suggesting general age guidelines for individual speech sound development (with a lot of variation). However, children with multiple speech sound errors or substitutions can be difficult to understand in conversational speech. As a general rule of thumb familiar adults should understand 90% of what a three year-old says, 95% of what a four year old says and 100% of what a five-year old says. According to research by Gordon-Branna & Hodson (2000), if fewer than 2/3 of the utterances of a child aged 4;0 are understood - intervention is warranted. By six to six and a half years old, all speech sounds should really be developed to ensure there is no impact on their ability to share their ideas or their literacy development. If your child cannot say their "ch, j, sh, th, r, l, s-blends etc." they will be unlikely to be able to hear the sounds accurately as they learn to read these sounds and write the sounds accurately. 

What happens if I have to cancel a session?

You can let me know that you need to cancel by texting, emailing or calling with a minimum of 24 hours notice. If a session is cancelled within 24 hours of the appointment time 50% of the session fee will be charged. If a session is cancelled within two hours of the session (unless there are outstanding circumstances) 100% of the session fee will be charged as I do pre-planning and prep before the session and often link up travel times between appointments.

How many therapy sessions will my child need?

This will vary depending on your child's needs and is a difficult question to answer. I will always set clear goals with you and help teach you the strategies for continuing work on your child's goals outside of therapy sessions. Sometimes we start sessions off weekly or bi-weekly to make a strong start and then can ease off and schedule fortnightly sessions as momentum is gained.

Can teletherapy be effective for my child or situation?

Teletherapy can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy when an active, engaged parent is present and willing to give new ideas a go in an effort to support the child. Sometimes we get a bit silly to ensure we keep the child's engagement and may change the length or frequency of the sessions to better accommodate your child's needs. Teletherapy can be carried out using a home computer or tablet, and even a smartphone. I will use toys, puppets, simple games/activities online and your child's own favorite toys to help us achieve our goals. Teletherapy can reduce travel time, and allow sessions to be completed when your child's attention is optimal and throughout varying Covid-19 Alert Levels.