Supporting Children Who Stutter

Some children experience moments where their speech gets “stuck” or feels effortful. This might look like repeating sounds or words, stretching out a sound, or having trouble getting words out at all. These are called stuttering or dysfluencies, and they are more common than you might think.

Your child knows exactly what they want to say—they just need more time or support to get the words out.

You might notice:

• Repeating parts of words (e.g. “I-I-I want that”)
• Stretching out sounds (e.g. “Ssssssometimes I go”)
• Pausing or getting “blocked” on a sound or word
• Speech that feels effortful or tiring to produce

At Speechcare, we take a respectful, neurodiversity-affirming approach to stuttering. We don’t focus on “fixing” how a child talks. Instead, we support your child to feel confident and safe when communicating, no matter how their speech sounds.

We also support families to better understand stuttering and respond in ways that reduce pressure and increase connection.

 Stuttering is just one way of talking—and with the right support, your child can feel empowered to express themselves fully and proudly.

Supporting Literacy with Confidence and Care

All children learn to read and write in their own way and in their own time. Some children need extra support with the building blocks of reading and spelling—and that’s okay.

At Speechcare, we support children to develop literacy skills through evidence-based, strengths-focused approaches that honour how each brain learns best. Our goal is to build confidence, reduce frustration, and help your child feel successful and supported—without shame or pressure.

Your child may benefit from extra support if they:

• Find it tricky to sound out (decode) or spell (encode) words
• Can read the words, but struggle to understand the meaning
• Have trouble remembering spelling patterns or reading rules
• Seem to forget spellings they’ve just learned

We use affirming, structured approaches like Sounds-Write and other programs tailored to your child’s needs. We focus on making literacy accessible, engaging, and empowering—because every child deserves to feel successful in how they read, write, and learn.

 Let’s help your child discover their unique learning style and celebrate their growth every step of the way.

For a variety of reasons babies and children have problems with feeding and eating at mealtimes.

For babies this may be include:

• problems with sucking and swallowing
• refusal of food or bottles
• long or difficult feed times
• and/or problems with gaining weight

For toddlers and young children this may include difficulties with the skills required to eat and drink including biting, chewing and swallowing.

It may also involve food refusal, resulting in a very limited range of foods or a restricted way in which they will accept foods.

Supporting Healthy, Confident Voices

Some children may use their voice in ways that sound hoarse, strained, or very soft or loud—and sometimes this can affect how comfortable or confident they feel when communicating.

At Speechcare, we support children to use their voices in ways that feel comfortable, sustainable, and authentic—without forcing them to sound a certain way. We take care to explore what’s going on beneath the surface and help children understand how to care for their unique voice.

You may notice:

• A hoarse or husky voice, especially after lots of talking or shouting
• Speaking with unusual pitch or rhythm
• A voice that sounds much louder or softer than expected for their age

We work with families to explore whether a voice difference is related to vocal habits, physical factors, or communication preferences. Our approach is gentle and empowering, helping children learn how to use their voice in a way that feels natural and safe—never performative or forced.

 Every child’s voice deserves to be heard and cared for—with respect, not correction.

Supporting Communication and Daily Living for Children with Developmental Differences

Some children experience the world differently and may need extra support with things like talking, understanding language, learning to read, building social connections, or enjoying mealtimes.

At Speechcare, we work alongside families to understand each child’s strengths, needs, and goals—without trying to change who they are. We support children with developmental differences and disabilities to communicate, connect, and thrive in ways that feel empowering and meaningful.

We support children who may:

• Communicate differently or have unique ways of expressing themselves
• Need help with early language, literacy, or social connection
• Experience sensory-based feeding or mealtime challenges
• Benefit from extra support to feel confident, included, and heard

Our team of Speech Pathologists are experienced in working with children with a wide range of developmental needs. We offer individual, group, and family-based sessions that are tailored to your child and grounded in respect, joy, and real-world success.

 Our focus is always on what your child can do—and how we can support them to shine in their own way.

Getting Started with Speechcare

You don’t need a referral to access support with us—parents and caregivers can contact Speechcare directly.

We also regularly receive referrals from trusted professionals including:

• GPs and Paediatricians
• ENT Specialists and Audiologists
• Teachers and Educators
• Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists
• Dietitians and other allied health professionals

Working Together for Your Child

Sometimes, your Speech Pathologist may suggest connecting with another health or education professional to help build a more complete picture of your child’s strengths and needs.

For example, a hearing check with an audiologist is often recommended, as hearing plays an important role in how children develop speech and language skills.

Our goal is always to work in partnership with you and your child—supporting their communication, wellbeing, and confidence at every step.

Supporting Communication Without Spoken Words

For children who communicate in ways other than spoken language, we offer specialist support in Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC).

This means helping your child share their thoughts and feelings in ways that work best for them — whether that’s through a simple communication board, visual schedule, or a high-tech speech-generating device (SGD).

How We Help

We trial and provide AAC devices through trusted partners like Liberator Australia to find the best fit for your child’s unique style and needs.

Our goal is to empower your child to express themselves confidently and connect with the people around them.

Some people who stutter may seek support to understand how to manage their stutter in a way that suits them.

Treatment may focus on breathing, learning to use gentle onsets to sounds and techniques to decrease anxiety about speaking. Importantly, treatment for our clients involves education about stuttering in order to develop acceptance of your stutter and providing education and advocacy within your community.

Advocacy and support groups are available across Australia.

speakeasy.org.au

Many people reach adulthood and may have had difficulty learning to read or require support to read that was not sufficient in childhood.

Assessment and intervention by a Speech Pathologist can help you to make significant gains in reading, writing and understanding written text.

Speechcare Speech Pathologists use evidence-based approaches and affirming therapy to support clients to develop their skills according to their own goals. There are state and national organisations that support and advocate for adult literacy.

qcal.org.au

At Speechcare we provide support to adults who present with a range of disabilities and can provide individualised assessment and intervention based on functional goals that will support better quality of life.

Speech Pathologists have the skills to assist adults with neurological conditions such as stroke, head injury and Parkinson’s Disease.

Dysarthria is a motor speech disorder. The muscles of the mouth, face, and respiratory system may become weak, move slowly, or not move at all after a stroke or other brain injury. A Speech Pathologist can assess and treat these difficulties.

Aphasia is a loss of language skills usually caused by stroke or other brain injury. A Speech Pathologist can provide assessment and treatment. At Speechcare our clinicians set goals with you that focus on developing functional skills for improved quality of life.

Aphasia can affect:

• speaking
• understanding the speech of others
• reading
• writing
• understanding numbers and money

aphasia.org.au

Dysphagia is a term that refers to difficulty with eating and/or swallowing. Swallowing is mainly a fairly automatic process, one that people don’t consciously think about unless something goes wrong.

For some people there can be a breakdown in their normal swallow, with different causes producing different signs and symptoms.

People may find they are coughing on every mouthful, having food or tablets ‘get stuck’ on the way down, find that they have difficulties chewing or swallowing, or find they experience reflux or regurgitation after eating or drinking.

This may happen more at a certain time of day, be related to a particular texture of food or type of medication, or a person may have no difficulties when they are well, but notice whenever they are unwell they have swallowing problems.

Speech Pathologists work closely with your GP and can help with strategies and exercises to improve swallow function and can advise on modifications of food and fluid to ensure your safety when eating and drinking.

Speech Pathologists understand the effect that swallowing and communication difficulties can have on a person’s everyday life and can provide support and advice to the individual and their family.

health.vic.gov.au

Speech Pathologists can support adults with mental health difficulties and those who have experienced trauma. Both can result in or can cause difficulties with communication, social interaction and eating.

Speech Pathologists can be a key part of a multidisciplinary team working together to support various aspects of your daily life.

More information about Speech Pathologists and mental health can be found here:

speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

At Speechcare we provide education assessment, intervention, support and advocacy for our neurodivergent clients, their families and their communities.

Autism and ADHD are diagnoses that describe a difference in the way a person thinks, learns and processes the world around them.

Speech Pathologists with appropriate education, training and experience can provide safe, affirming and individualised supports to neurodivergent clients and their families.

We work with other health professionals, work places and education and training settings to provide support to enable our clients to have equal access to learning, working and the community.

For information and support for autistic women and girls visit the Yellow Ladybugs:

yellowladybugs.com.au

Developmental Language Disorder is a lifelong condition that results in difficulties with learning language.

If you experience difficulties learning and using language, you may have a language disorder.

Speech Pathologists provide assessment and intervention to support language skills. Due to the link between language and literacy, Speech Pathologists often assess both written and verbal communication.

At Speechcare we provide recommendations and treatment that is person and family-centred. We will work with you to develop meaningful and funtional goals that will improve your quality of life.

For more information about Developmental Language Disorder please visit the links below.

dldandme.org

radld.org

thedldproject.com

Anyone can self-refer directly to Speechcare.

We can receive referrals from GPs, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialists, Neurologists, Audiologists, Psychologists and Dietitians.

Sometimes your Speech Pathologist may recommend a referral to another medical practitioner or allied health professional for further investigation.

A referral to an Audiologist for a hearing test is often recommended as adequate hearing is vital for speech and language development.