Speech Clarity Therapy
Speech clarity therapy helps children whose speech is hard to understand because sounds are left out, swapped or made in an unusual way. Dr Lauren Crumlish (PhD) assesses why a child's speech is unclear and works online with the child and their parents on articulation and pronunciation.
In plain terms
Speech sound disorder is the term speech pathologists use when a child's speech is harder to understand than expected for their age. The difficulty can sit in how sounds are physically made (articulation), in the patterns a child uses to organise sounds (phonological), or in planning the movements for speech (motor speech).
Children with unclear speech differ a great deal in severity, cause, the errors they make and how they respond to therapy, which is why assessment comes first.
By kindy age (about three and a half to four and a half), speech should be clear and understandable most of the time, even to people who do not know your child well. These signs suggest an assessment is worthwhile.
People outside the family often cannot understand your child
Sounds at the start, middle or end of words are left off
Early sounds such as t, d, p, b, k and g are still swapped or missed at kindy age
Longer words are shortened or simplified
The same word sounds different each time your child says it
Teachers or other children find your child hard to understand
Therapy starts with finding out why your child's speech is unclear. A speech sound assessment brings together what you know about your child's history, a sample of single words, a sample of everyday connected speech, and a check of which sounds your child is almost ready to produce. Together these show where your child's speech is strong and where it breaks down.
Therapy then targets what the assessment found, rather than following one approach for every child. As Dr Lauren writes in her article on classifying speech sound disorders, children with similar-sounding difficulties can respond differently to the same approach, so she plans for the individual child and reviews progress as therapy goes on.
Sessions use games deliberately. A well-chosen game helps a shy child settle, lets a child feel successful while working on something hard, and keeps motivation up through repeated practice. Read more in why speech pathologists use games.
Unclear speech often sits alongside other needs. Where language or early reading is also involved, Dr Lauren looks at language development and literacy as part of the same plan.
Sessions are held online by secure video, with your child somewhere familiar at home and a parent close by.
Dr Lauren assesses your child's speech and talks with you about their history and your concerns.
Therapy sessions are 45 minutes, held online, and built around games chosen for your child.
You are given the tools to practise between sessions. Home practice is one of the factors that most affects progress.
Dr Lauren tracks your child's progress and adjusts the plan as their speech changes.
The Short Assessment is the one usually recommended for unclear speech. Ongoing therapy is charged per session.
Therapy
Per 45-minute session + administration
$193
Matching assessment
$590
Late talkers, stuttering and speech clarity difficulties
Medicare rebates are available with a GP referral. Private health and NDIS (self-managed or plan-managed) can also apply. See full pricing
Speech and language skills build on one another, so Dr Lauren's advice is to be wary of waiting to see. An assessment shows whether your child's speech is within the range expected for their age.
Yes. Dr Lauren's sessions are held online by video, and articulation work suits the format. Whether online sessions suit your child is considered at the start, including their attention, your technology and the support a parent can give in the room.
There is no fixed answer. The severity of the difficulty, how many areas of communication are involved, how consistently sessions happen and how much practice happens at home all affect how long therapy takes.
It can. Children need a well-developed speech sound system when they start formal reading and writing in prep, and some types of speech sound disorder carry a higher risk of reading difficulties.
Dr Lauren works with a small number of families and has limited availability. Tell us about your child to be considered.
Apply For Consideration