Frequently asked questions
What is Speech Pathology?
Speech Pathology is a type of therapy that supports babies, children and adults with a range of communication, swallowing and feeding differences. Find out more about speech pathology in Norwest at Savi Communicators.
What is the difference between speech and language therapy?
Speech therapy targets the sounds that a person is making, whilst language therapy targets the words and sentences a person uses.
How do I know if my child needs therapy for their speech or language?
Some children are simply late talkers, whereas others may require additional support. If your child is not meeting key communication milestones, it is recommended that they see a speech pathologist for assessment.
What sorts of speech and language difficulties do you offer support for?
We support children and adults with:
● Speech or language delays
● Reading or writing challenges
● Stuttering
● Social communication difficulties
We also support autistic individuals and Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs).
What formats of therapy are available?
We offer therapy face to face, online or via home/school visitations. We offer individual as well as group therapy sessions.
How often will I/my child need therapy?
We typically see clients weekly or fortnightly, however this is dependent on the needs and capacities of each client.
What payment options are available?
Our clinic offers payment options via NDIS (self managed and plan managed) or Medicare with an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) referral from a GP.
Do you work with autistic people or additional needs?
Yes! We work with autistic people and people with additional needs. We also have training in working with individuals who are Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs).
We are deeply committed to providing neurodiverse affirming and inclusive therapy, and we tailor each session to each person’s individual strengths and areas of support.
What is meant by ‘Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs)’?
When a person is a GLP, this means that they learn language in memorised chunks, rather than through individual words.
Often these language ‘chunks’, also known as ‘scripts’ are tied to specific experiences which can provide context for the meaning of their message. For example, a child may say ‘Do you want to build a snowman?’ (from the movie Frozen) to mean ‘let’s play’.
What is AAC?
AAC stands for ‘Alternative and Augmentative Communication’ and refers to a range of different tools and strategies that can support a person’s communication. Some examples include the use of gesture (e.g. Key Sign), communication boards, or the use of speech generating apps.
Will my child stop learning to speak if they use AAC?
No. It is a common myth that children will stop learning to speak if they rely on the use of AAC, for example a speech generating app. Studies have shown that AAC can have a highly positive impact on the development of speech and language by providing lots of opportunities to practice generating language themselves.
