Speech Pathologists at Startright Speech Therapy have over 30 years combined experience and we meet together weekly to share our knowledge and resources.

 

What is a Speech Pathologist?

A Speech Pathologist has been trained to assess and treat children and adults with communication / swallowing difficulties. Speech Pathologists complete a degree at university which encompasses all aspects of communication.

'Communication' refers to the process of being able to understand and being understood, which is something most of us take for granted. Communication difficulties are the result of problems with speech, using and understanding language, voice, fluency, hearing and literacy (reading and spelling). One in seven Australians has some form of communication difficulty.

Speech Pathologists work in a variety of different ways including providing individual therapy, working in small groups, working within a classroom, becoming involved in home-based programmes, providing resources and information, as well as giving advice and direction to clients, their carers and other professionals. They co-ordinate the management of clients, work as part of multi-disciplinary team, consult with other agencies, provide workshops and support family members and other caregivers. A Speech Pathologist is an important member of an early intervention team, an aged care services team and a school therapy team.

The role of a Speech Pathologist is to advocate strongly for appropriate care and services for people with communication difficulties. Startright Speech Therapy is a highly regarded privately-owned Speech Pathology clinic in the North Ryde area of Sydney. Our premises is professionally cleaned by expert end of lease cleaners in Sydney in order to make sure that all our clients and guests get the best of everything.

Improves Articulation

Articulation is imperative for people affected by impaired speech. Our pathologists work extremely hard to let people learn the way to articulate words properly. This improves their communication capabilities and builds confidence. We have several methods that can help children improve their articulation technique.

Minimises Stuttering

Stuttering usually creates problems in speaking fluently. Our speech pathologists can help affected people improve their stuttering and boost their communication skills. Below is the list of methods you can do to combat stuttering:

• Practice by talking slowly
• Take deep breaths and control it while talking
• Don’t forget to practice trigger words when you are alone. This will improve fluency of those words
• Visualise your words and rehearse them
• Use pacing and gestures to clam your nerves.

Boosts Confidence

Those who can’t speak fluently often suffer from lack of confidence and anxiety levels. This fear is reflected in their communication skills. We, at Start Right Speech, focuses on building your confidence by reducing the level of anxiety. Our team organises sessions and programs where patients can participate in different games and activities that can improve their confidence while speaking in public.

Assessment and therapy for Children and Adolescents:

Early Intervention Speech Pathology/Therapy Services for children with a diagnosis of:
Autism, Down Sydnrome, Cerebral Palsy, Fragile X Syndrome, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, Angelman Syndrome, Kabuki Syndrome and/or Smith-Magenis Syndrome:
Please contact us at enquiry@startrightspeech.com.au to discuss your child's individual needs.

Unclear Speech (Articulation, Phonology and/or Childhood Apraxia of Speech): "People find it difficult to understand what my child is saying"
Difficulty or inability to produce speech sounds, resulting in speech that is difficult to understand.

Receptive (understanding of) Language: "My child finds it difficult to understand people"
The understanding of spoken and written information as well as following instructions of different lengths that involve a variety of concepts.

Expressive (use of) Language: "My child can't put sentences together"
The ways in which messages are communicated to others (includes grammar, structure of sentences and vocabulary).

Literacy and Dyslexia: "My child has difficulty reading and spelling"
Assessment and therapy for dyslexia and other reading and spelling difficutlies is provided for school-aged children. Therapy via the MULTILIT program is offered at Startright Speech Therapy. The pre-requisite skills for literacy (phonological awareness) development are also addressed.

Stuttering: "My child seems to get stuck on words"
Experiencing interruptions to the flow of speech, which may be characterised by repetitions of sounds, syllables, words or prolonging of sounds. Difficulty starting words and 'blocking' are also types of stutters.

Voice: "My child's voice sounds different"
Speech Pathologists provide strategies to modify voice quality and encourage safe use of the voice.

Social Skills: "My child finds it difficult to talk to other children and make friends"
This involves appropriate use of the rules of language in order to effectively communicate in social situations.

We provide a mobile service to Child Care Centres, Preschools and Schools within the Ryde, North Shore and Inner West areas of Sydney, including but not limited to: Macquarie Park, North Ryde, East Ryde, West Ryde, Rhodes, Concord, Eastwood, Epping, Ermington, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, Pymble, Wahroonga, Warrawee, Turramurra and St Ives. Please contact us at enquiry@startrightspeech.com.au for more information.

We offer free Speech Pathology Screenings within Child Care Centres and Preschools in Macquarie Park and surrounding suburbs. Please contact us at enquiry@startrightspeech.com.au if you would like to arrange screenings for the children at your centre. Speech Pathologists from Startright Speech Therapy completed screenings in eleven centres in 2014.

Assessment and therapy for Adults:

Accent Reduction and Speech Fluency (Stuttering Therapy)
Changing speech patterns including pronunciation, intonation and rhythm, in order to change or reduce an accent. Individual and group therapy sessions are currently offered.
We understand adults are more hesitant to go for speech therapy which is why we keep your information confidential. Even during group therapy sessions, we maintain discipline and respect to prevent any member from feeling ashamed. Often people who attend our sessions have been ridiculed or made fun of for their accent and speech fluency. Thus, we offer complete support and ensure our clients can feel at ease during therapy. What’s more, we offer individual and private sessions for people extremely shy about their speech issues. There is no shame in seeking speech therapy at any age. So, feel free to attend our online or offline sessions to improve your speech.