Innerlink Therapy provides Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy assessment and therapy for toddlers, preschoolers and young children from our Belmore clinic.
Young children may experience difficulties with communication, understanding language, speech clarity, play, social interaction, sensory processing, emotional regulation, fine motor skills or everyday routines. These difficulties can affect a child’s ability to express their needs, follow instructions, interact with others, participate in play and develop independence.
Our Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists work with children and families to understand each child’s strengths, identify the difficulties affecting everyday participation, and develop practical goals and strategies that support communication, learning, play and independence.
Families may speak one language or several languages at home. Using more than one language does not cause a speech or language disorder. When supporting multilingual children, our Speech Pathologists consider the languages a child uses across home, preschool and other everyday environments.
Parents and carers are an important part of the therapy process. We work collaboratively with families so that assessment, therapy and practical strategies reflect the child’s needs, family priorities and everyday life.
‘I thought Amy was shy, just like I was as a child. Her younger sister is talking more than her.’
‘Jack didn’t respond to his name when I call him, but he always ran to the TV when his favourite show came on.’
‘Theo plays with things he is interested in, he won’t look or copy things I say.’
‘I don’t know if Chris will be ready for school, I can understand him, but his father can’t.
‘Patricia is the youngest of four children, everyone talks for her. She used the dummy for a long time too.’
It can be difficult for parents and carers to know whether a child’s communication, play or everyday participation is developing as expected. Innerlink Therapy can help identify the skills that may be making everyday activities more difficult and determine whether Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, further assessment or practical strategies may be appropriate.
Signs Your Child May Benefit From Speech Pathology
You may consider a Speech Pathology assessment if your child:
- is learning to talk later or more slowly than expected
- has difficulty understanding everyday instructions or questions
- is difficult for familiar or unfamiliar people to understand
- uses fewer words or shorter sentences than other children of a similar age
- finds it difficult to express needs, ideas or feelings
- has difficulty joining conversations or interacting with other children
- relies heavily on pointing, gestures or taking an adult by the hand to communicate
- finds it difficult to participate in stories, songs or group activities
- becomes frustrated when others do not understand what they are trying to communicate
Speech Pathologists can assess the communication skills affecting everyday participation and provide therapy and practical strategies to support clearer communication, understanding, social interaction and participation at home, preschool and in the community.
Signs Your Child May Benefit From Occupational Therapy
You may consider an Occupational Therapy assessment if your child:
- finds everyday routines such as dressing, eating or toileting difficult
- has difficulty using their hands for drawing, colouring, cutting or other fine motor activities
- finds it difficult to participate in play or age-appropriate activities
- has difficulty with balance, coordination or gross motor skills
- finds some sounds, textures, movement or other sensory experiences difficult to manage
- has difficulty moving between activities or managing changes in routine
- needs more support than expected to develop independence in everyday activities
- finds it difficult to regulate emotions or participate in group activities
Occupational Therapists can assess the skills affecting a child’s everyday participation and provide practical strategies and therapy to support play, self-care, motor development, regulation and independence at home, preschool and in the community.
How We Can Help
Support may include assessment, individual therapy, parent coaching, practical home strategies and collaboration with preschool or other professionals where appropriate.
Our therapists focus on the everyday activities that matter to each child and family. Goals may include communicating needs, following routines, joining play, developing motor skills, managing sensory demands and becoming more independent in daily activities.
Why Children May Experience Communication Difficulties
Children can experience communication difficulties for many different reasons. Sometimes there is a known developmental, medical or hearing-related factor, while in other cases there may be no single identifiable cause.
Factors associated with communication difficulties may include:
- hearing loss or a history of frequent middle ear infections
- developmental delay
- developmental language disorder
- speech sound disorder
- genetic or developmental conditions
- cleft lip or palate
- differences affecting attention, social communication or learning
- a family history of speech, language or literacy difficulties
Speaking more than one language does not cause a speech or language disorder. When concerns arise, a Speech Pathologist can assess how a child communicates across their everyday environments and determine whether further support may be helpful.