Language Development
Language therapy supports children who find it hard to understand what is said to them (receptive language) or to put their thoughts into words (expressive language). Dr Lauren Crumlish (PhD) works online with late talkers, preschoolers, school-aged children and teenagers, and with their parents.
In plain terms
Speech is how sounds are made. Language is understanding and using words: following what others say, finding the right words, and putting them into sentences and stories.
A child can have clear speech and still find language hard, or the other way round, which is why an assessment looks at both.
Language builds step by step: single words, then word combinations, then early phrases and sentences. A child who has not settled one step usually does not jump to the next.
Between one and two, not yet pointing to pictures you name or following simple instructions such as “push the car”
Between two and three, finding two-part instructions hard
At kindy age, not yet telling you about their day or retelling a simple story
By around four, not yet talking in full sentences or asking and answering who, what, where and why questions
At school, finding instructions, new words or show-and-tell hard
In older children and teens, trouble reading between the lines, understanding humour or sarcasm, or following longer texts
For young children, parents are at the centre. Speech, language, play and thinking develop together in the early years, and much of a young child's language grows from everyday interaction with the adults around them. Dr Lauren is trained in Hanen: It Takes Two to Talk, a program for early language, and works closely with parents so that support carries on between sessions. Her guide to speech and language milestones sets out what to expect from birth to five.
For older children, therapy turns to the language that learning and friendships depend on: vocabulary whose meaning shifts with context, inferencing (reading between the lines), understanding and telling stories, and following the big picture of a text or conversation. These higher level language skills matter for both schoolwork and social life.
Language and literacy are closely linked, so where reading or writing is also a concern Dr Lauren considers both together. See literacy support.
Sessions are held online by secure video. For young children especially, a parent takes an active part.
Dr Lauren assesses how your child understands and uses language, and listens to your account of their development.
Therapy sessions are 45 minutes, held online while your child is somewhere familiar at home.
You are given the tools and knowledge to support your child's language at home between sessions.
Dr Lauren tracks your child's progress and adjusts the plan as their language grows.
Late talkers usually start with the Short Assessment. School-aged children with language difficulties usually start with the Mid-Length Assessment.
Therapy
Per 45-minute session + administration
$193
Matching assessments
$590
Late talkers, stuttering and speech clarity difficulties
$890
School-aged language, literacy challenges and social communication
Medicare rebates are available with a GP referral. Private health and NDIS (self-managed or plan-managed) can also apply. See full pricing
Dr Lauren's advice is to trust your instinct. Early milestones need to be settled before later ones can build on them, so waiting can cost time. An assessment tells you whether your child's language is within the range expected for their age.
Dr Lauren works with children from birth to 18 years. If you have concerns before 18 months, it is worth raising them; children are expected to reach a series of speech, language and hearing milestones by that age.
Closely. Reading means decoding words and also understanding what they say, which depends on oral language. Many children who first need help with language development go on to find reading difficult.
Dr Lauren's article on screen time sets out the guidance she shares with parents: screens cannot replace an adult's consistent, responsive interaction, and when young children do use media, an adult watching and talking with them matters.
Dr Lauren works with a small number of families and has limited availability. Tell us about your child to be considered.
Apply For Consideration