Covid-19: The clinic is now open and following government recommendations around hygiene and social distancing.

Blogs

May 20
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Young girl doing a Speech Pathology assessment in speech therapy clinic in Bondi Junction and Mascot

What is CAS or Childhood Apraxia of Speech?

By | Speech Pathology

What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)? Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) is a ‘neurological motor speech disorder’. Children with CAS have problems saying sounds, syllables, and words. This is not because of muscle weakness or paralysis. The brain has problems planning to move the body parts (e.g., lips, jaw, tongue) needed for speech. The child knows what he or she wants to say, but his/her brain has difficulty coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words’ (source) In other words, the child knows what they want to say. However, their brain has trouble making the muscles movements in…

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May 17
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speech pathology, speech pathologist, speech pathology assessment, mascot, Bondi Junction,

What is a lisp and what does Speech Pathology do?

By | Speech Pathology

Parents often ring our Bondi Junction clinic to seek a Speech Pathology assessment for a lisp. A lisp usually occurs when children have difficulty producing the ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds, and sometimes the ‘sh’, ‘ch’ and ‘zh’ sounds. These sounds are tricky, and require more complex oral movements. If you are concerned that your child may have a lisp, then here are a few things that you should know. There is more than one type of lisp: Interdental lisp: This occurs when a child is saying the ‘s’ and ‘z’ sounds with their tongue coming forward between their teeth. This…

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May 14
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Improving a child with autism sensory issues in the ESDM in early intervention clinic in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs.

ESDM and sensory issues

By | ESDM

Sensory issues in autism are very challenging. They challenge the child, parents, teachers and therapists. The sensory responses interfere with a child’s ability to learn. The Early Start Denver Model, ESDM, uses specific techniques to address the sensory issues of children with autism. WHAT ARE SENSORY PROBLEMS? Young children with autism frequently have sensory issues. It is part of the diagnosis criteria for autism. We describe some children as ‘under responsive’. Theses children often appear passive and lethargic. Other children are  described as ‘over responsive’. They children are more active and restless. Some children can be a bit of both….

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May 11
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Certified ESDM Therapist doing an early intervention session with young child with autism in Sydney

What is a certified ESDM Therapist?

By | ESDM

What is a Certified ESDM Therapist? A Certified ESDM Therapist is a professional who been trained to fidelity to deliver the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM). They must have completed all levels of the ESDM training. After that, they spend 6-12 months of intensive training to meet the ESDM fidelity expectations. Therapists have to submit a series of videos to prove that they can deliver the ESDM. They also have to prove that they can write an individualised early intervention program. Certified ESDM Therapists must have an allied health qualification or other appropriate qualification. This includes Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists,…

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May 08
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Three reasons why children are picky eaters

By | Picky Eaters

So… you have a picky eater. It causes stress for the whole family. You’re worried about your child’s nutritional intake. You’ve tried to get them to try new foods. Then you explained why they have to eat more foods. Maybe you even begged – but you keep hitting a brick wall. We see many picky eaters in our Bondi Junction clinic. Most of the children in our Sydney clinic are picky eaters. We understand the stress that families go through when children want to eat the same, limited range of foods. Picky eating behaviours starts at a fairly young age….

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May 05
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Group of children doing intensive group social skills in Early Start Denver Model ESDM intervention for young children with autism in Sydney.

ESDM social skills groups

By | ESDM

Parents are keen to see their child’s social skills emerge at the playground, play dates and preschool. However, the preschool environment is a more challenging environment for their children. Learning social skills with a therapist does not ensure that your child can socialise more at preschool. How do we support children in their Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) sessions? How do we teach them interact with peers and make friends at preschool? This is where ESDM social skills groups become part of a child’s program. What is an ESDM Social Skills Group? ESDM social skills groups provide a bridge  for…

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May 02
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ESDM therapy and AAC

By | ESDM

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is an alternative communication systems for children with autism who cannot talk. When children with autism first start intervention in the Early Start Denver Model or ESDM, we aim to get the child talking. However, some children don’t talk and we have to consider AAC. What is the Early Start Denver Model or ESDM? The ESDM is an evidence based intervention for young children with autism. The child has goals across all areas of development – including verbal expression. Verbal expression includes the ability to talk. We review each child’s goals every 10 weeks in the…

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