There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach and as such Foundations Speech Pathology uses a range of evidenced based treatments to tailor intervention to the individual. The following are just some of the evidenced based interventions offered at Foundations Speech Pathology:

Hanen ‘It Takes Two to Talk’

The Hanen ‘It Takes Two to Talk’ Program is designed specifically for parents of young children (birth to 5) who have been identified as having a language delay. As part of this program parents learn practical strategies to help their children learn language naturally throughout their day together.

Lidcombe Program for stuttering

The Lidcombe Program is an evidence-based intervention for young children who stutter. Parents or carers learn how to do the treatment during weekly clinic visits and then carry out the therapy daily in the child’s everyday environment. The speech pathologist oversees the program to ensure it is being done accurately and that it is a positive experience for both parent/carer and child.

Camperdown Program for stuttering

The Camperdown Program is an evidence based speech restructuring program for adolescents (and adults). This technique requires the adolescent/adult to learn a new speech pattern that is incompatible with stuttering. The main aim of the program is to reduce stuttering in everyday speech situations.

DIR- Floortime

DIR/Flooortime is a comprehensive, evidence based therapy approach, for guiding intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other developmental challenges. DIR, which stands for: Developmental, Individual-differences, Relationship-based, aims to promote an individual’s development through a respectful, playful, joyful, and engaging process. It uses the power of human connections and relationships to promote engagement, communication, positive behaviors, and thinking.

Sounds-Write

Sounds-Write is an evidence-based linguistic phonics program utilising an exciting and highly successful approach to the teaching of reading and spelling.

If you are interested in finding out more, the following introduces you to the Sounds-Write phonics program. This course is designed for parents and carers of children aged 4 to 6 who want to know how to get their children started in their journey towards becoming literate:

Orofacial Myology

Orofacial Myology is the study and treatment of Orofacial Myofunctional Disorders (OMDs) that involve a variety of postural and functional abnormalities of the muscles of the tongue, lips, jaw, and face. OMDs may interfere with normal growth and development of the muscles and bones of the face and mouth, and can impact how the muscles of the face and mouth are used for eating, talking, and breathing. Some signs of an OMD may include:

• Breathing through the mouth often, or difficulty breathing through the nose.
• Limited tongue movement.
• Eating may be messy or difficult.
• An overbite, underbite, and/or other dental problems.
• The tongue pushing past the teeth, even when a person is not talking or using the tongue.
• Difficulty saying some sounds, like “s” in “sun,” “sh” in “ship,” or “j” in “jump.”
• Drooling, especially beyond age 2.
• Difficulty closing the lips to swallow.

Denielle is a Certified Practicing Member of Speech Pathology Australia. She is also a Hanen-certified Speech Pathologist and an Active Member of the Australian Association for Orofacial Myology.