FAQ

Some of the more commonly asked questions are answered below, for further information please do not hesitate to call and speak with Amy.

We can work on a range of areas, these include:

  • LANGUAGE (language comprehension – working on understanding questions and directions as well as language expression – finding the words you need and constructing grammatically appropriate sentences)
  • ARTICULATION or SPEECH (working on sounds and speech clarity in conversation)
  • VOICE (using vocal cords appropriately and learning how to speak without vocal abuse and misuse)
  • FLUENCY or STUTTERING (reducing the stutters in conversation and increasing fluency in connected speech)
  • PHONOLOGICAL AWARENESS (improving reading accuracy and fluency as well as improving the spelling and word attack skills)

The assessment sessions usually take at least 1 hour. Sometimes they can be longer depending upon the types of assessments required.  For articulation and stuttering assessments, the time to complete assessments can be completed in 30-45 minutes depending on the client’s difficulties and attention span.  Treatment sessions are usually 30 minutes in length, however, these can be extended to either 45 minutes or 1 hour depending on the specific goals that we are targeting.  The frequency of these sessions is determined by the clinician and family following the initial assessment; they can be either: weekly, fortnightly, or monthly.

The services provided by a speech pathologist are professional and specialised. Rates of services are subjected to clinical preparation costs as well as business expenses such as resources and assessments.  To provide individualised and effective speech pathology sessions, at least double the amount of time of the session is required for preparation of that session. Our fee structure is based off the NDIS approved rates, please email us to find out any specific costs, admin@powsp.com.au

Each session is individually planned to suit your child’s needs and to work best with your family. Play on Words Speech Pathology aims to provide training and encouragement to the care givers because we believe that you are with your child and have more opportunities to subtly work on these skills in your everyday situations as well as complete the home practise that is required to see speedy and efficient progress.

Typical Speech and Language Development over the first few years…

It can be very difficult to compare the speech and language development of your child with other children and information found in books.  It is also normal that you can become accustomed to the way your child communicates and will find yourself often interpreting your child’s speech for others.  It is ok if your child is different to or falling outside of the expected ranges seeing as with a little support and guidance these things can be targeted in some individual sessions at Play on Words Speech Pathology.  Use this table as a guide, but please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s development.

By 12 months
  Understands Says Speech
  • Responds to their name
  • Looks at the person talking to them
  • Responds to no
  • Understands & participates in routines
  • First word stage – speaks in single words frequently
  • Has at least 50 words mostly nouns
  • Copy actions & words
  •  Sound play & babbling from 4 months
  • Copies sounds
By 2 years
  Understands Says Speech
  • Concepts such as: in, off, one, more, all, away, on, wider, out, together, soft, heavy, big, tall
  • Understands yes/no, what, where questions
  • Points to body parts
  • Gives objects when asked
  • Plays with toys appropriately
  • Two word stage uses more pronouns & verbs
  • By 2 ½ three word stage
  • Can say their own name
  • Has approximately 200+ words
  • Child starts a game or conversation
  • Babble is more complex
  • Plays with vowels & consonants
By 3 years
  Understands Says Speech
  • Concepts such as: up, top, apart, open, forward, empty, some, same, around, in front, high, full, light, little, long
  • Understands whose, who, why, how questions
  • Shows you objects when asked what it is used for
  • Uses complete simple sentences
  • Uses basic grammar such as plurals
  • Uses sentences to tell stories
  • Between the ages of 0-3 children should be saying all vowels and consonants such as: p, b, t, d, m, n, ng, w, y, & h
  • Speaking smoothly with no stuttering
By 4 years
  Understands Says Speech
  • Concepts such as: beside, bottom, forward, backward, less, each, rough, smooth, short, fat, down, low, through, different, thin
  • Understands how long, how far, how much questions
  • Follows 2-3 step instructions
  • Understands complex sentences
  • Identifies most colours, categories & rhyming words
  • Uses imaginary speech
  • Uses 5+ words word sentences
  • Rapidly expanding vocab up to 900+ words
  • Talks about “here and now”
  • Retells stories using & to join ideas
  • Between 3-4 years children should be using consonants such as: f, v, k, g & blends
  • By 3 ½ years they should be able to speak clearly & be understood by most people
By 5 years
  Understands Says Speech
  • Concepts such as behind, first, last, between, over
  • Understands how often, how long, when questions
  • Can follow general directions given in a group
  • Understands slap stick humour
  • Understands 3-4 part directions
  • Understands negatives (not,  don’t & can’t)
  • Develops word & sound awareness (rhyme & sound play)
  • Speaks in well-developed & complex sentences
  • Uses more complex grammar
  • Stories are well developed
  • Classification & functions can be described
  • Uses more complex structures (and, because & but)
  • Uses irregular past tense
  • Initiates & ends conversations
  • Asks questions for more information
  • Can make up rhymes
  • Between 4-5 years children should be using consonants such as: s, z, sh, zh, ch, j, l, r & th
By 6 years
  Understands Says Speech
  • Understands the meaning of most sentences
  • Predicts the next event in the sequence
  • Reads & understands non-verbal & verbal information
  • Differentiates between fantasy & real life
  • Understands describing words
  • Segments, blends & manipulates sounds in CVC words
  • Re-tell familiar stories
  • Uses adult like grammar
  • Explains differences
  • Uses indirect requests
  • Uses language for humour
  • Maintains conversation with ease
  • Generate rhymes
  • Speech is completely understandable & socially useful
By 7 years
  Understands Says Speech
  • Enjoys riddles with a literal explanation
  • Understands most jokes
  • Able to segment, blend & manipulate complex consonant blends
  • Reads with considerable ease
  • Can use in passive sentences
  • Noun-verb agreement
  • Can change topics appropriately in conversation
  • Explain similarities
  • Can control rate, pitch & volume
By 8 – 12 years
  Understands Says Speech
  • Understands abstract concepts
  • Uses & understands metaphors
  • Able to see humour in riddles
  • Inference becomes more sophisticated
  • Writing simple stories
  • Uses full sentences to express complex relationships
  • Able to use hinting as a question form
  • Areas of language growth in adolescence include: colloquialisms, figurative language, sophisticated complex ideas, genres & conversational interactions

Friendly and very experienced speech pathology