What Is Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy aims to help children build the communication skills they need to connect, learn, and thrive. Being able to express themselves and understand others enables children to connect with their world. Their confidence grows, and so does their ability to make friends, manage emotions, participate in learning, and navigate daily life.
Our paediatric speech pathologists at Chatterbox provide support for children of every age. We assist toddlers as they find their first words, guide preschoolers as they expand their language, and help school-aged children navigate speech, literacy, and social communication.
Our qualified speech therapists aim to help children with:
- Understanding and Using Language
- Speech Clarity and Pronunciation
- Stuttering and Fluency
- Reading and Spelling (Literacy)
- Lisps
- Childhood Apraxia of Speech
You can learn more about the conditions we address here.
If your child is slow to develop speech, struggles with clarity, or feels left out of conversations at school, our team is ready to provide support.
Why Might My Child Need Speech Therapy?
Each child grows and learns in their own time, though speech and language may not always develop smoothly.
While everyday interaction often helps, some children require more guidance to strengthen their skills in a way that suits their learning style. Speech therapy offers this focused support and may make a genuine difference.
It’s natural to think your child might grow out of communication challenges, yet most of the time they won’t disappear by themselves. The issue isn’t effort, but the need for guided support to strengthen those tricky skills.
The concern is that without support, the gap can widen. As children grow, so do the expectations at school, in friendships, and in everyday life. That’s why early intervention matters. It helps lay strong foundations early, giving your child the best chance to thrive and reducing the risk of those challenges becoming a barrier later on.
How Speech Therapy Works at Chatterbox
Taking the first step into speech therapy can feel challenging, but we make it easy to understand and reassuring from the very beginning.
1. Initial Assessment
To begin, we use a fun, play-based assessment that aims to help your child feel comfortable. It gives us a clear picture of their communication development, showing strengths and challenges so we can tailor the right support.
2. Setting Individual Goals
After the assessment, we work with you to create goals that are meaningful, motivating, and focused on what matters most in your child’s daily life, like joining in at playtime, following instructions at school, or feeling understood at home.
3. Fun, Personalised Therapy That’s Evidence-Based
Because each child develops differently, we believe therapy should be tailored to their needs. At Chatterbox, our therapists:
- Tailor sessions to your child’s unique learning style and developmental stage
- Apply therapy techniques that are grounded in the latest research and evidence
- Focus on what your child does well, while giving extra help in the areas that are more challenging
- Support your child to develop greater confidence, stronger connections, and more independence
Speech therapy can include play, movement, talking, or hands-on activities, depending on what best supports your child’s learning. Every session is designed to be playful, engaging, and grounded in real-life communication needs. With a neurodiversity-affirming approach, we support children to build confidence, connect with others, and become more independent while celebrating who they are.
4. Family Support and Coaching
You’re a vital part of your child’s progress. That’s why we coach and support you with practical strategies you can use at home, in the car, or during everyday routines.
Our work isn’t only with children, we partner with families, knowing that when parents feel supported, children benefit as well.
5. Ongoing Monitoring
We regularly check your child’s progress during sessions, allowing us to respond immediately to their needs. This way, therapy stays achievable, impactful, and suited to your family’s goals.
Why Families Choose Chatterbox
Our approach is neurodiversity-affirming and focused on building from each child’s strengths
- We practise in a neurodiversity-affirming way, focusing on strengths and respecting every child’s individual style of learning and connection
- We collaborate with you to set meaningful goals and flexible therapy plans that support your whole family
- We ensure therapy is playful, motivating, and adapted to your child’s needs
- We bring together support for multiple developmental areas in a single, convenient setting
- We provide flexible options for speech therapy, available both in clinic and online
- We’re therapists with skill and heart, committed to making a real difference
These are just some of the things we provide, but the biggest reason goes deeper.
Families come to Chatterbox for the reassurance that their child is supported by people who care as much as they do, not just by therapists delivering sessions.
What’s the Next Step?
Frequently Asked Questions
How are therapy goals set?
We work with you to set meaningful goals by first identifying what’s most important for your child and family. Then we break those goals into smaller, practical steps, helping your child grow in confidence and celebrate success along the journey.
As we set goals, we carefully consider your child’s age, current stage, and daily needs, making sure the plan is realistic, personalised, and effective for their way of learning.
How many sessions will my child attend each week?
Your clinician will recommend a therapy schedule based on current research and what’s likely to be most beneficial for your child.
Therapies are generally most effective with frequent, consistent sessions. Each opportunity to practise helps children build on their skills and achieve stronger results. While the ideal might be multiple therapy hours every week, this isn’t realistic for every family.
Occasionally, therapies such as the maintenance phase of stuttering treatment can run at lower intensity (like fortnightly or monthly), though these situations are the exception.
Families at Chatterbox can select either 60 or 90 minute sessions. Our therapy is scheduled weekly to align with research, and we also offer additional weekly sessions plus intensive programs, which work well in school holiday breaks.
How long will my child need therapy?
It’s difficult to predict exactly how long therapy will last, as factors such as age, learning style, personality, developmental progress, and diagnoses all play a role.
With time, your therapist can offer a more detailed idea of what therapy might look like. But progress requires patience, learning takes time, and there is no overnight solution.
Who will be my child’s speech therapist?
Our team of therapists is fully qualified, highly experienced, and registered with Speech Pathology Australia. They care deeply about helping children develop and flourish with evidence-based, family-focused support.
Each session, your child will meet with the same speech pathologist, who takes time to know them well and earn their trust. This steady relationship may help your child feel comfortable and ensures therapy is carefully adapted to them.
We know schedules aren’t always perfect, so our connected team is here to help. If your usual clinician can’t make it, or you want to move or add sessions, your child can see another qualified therapist, ensuring therapy stays on track.
Our clinicians collaborate closely, sharing strategies and progress so sessions stay consistent, even if another therapist steps in. Experiencing a new clinician from time to time may also help your child practise flexibility, strengthen generalisation, and gain confidence communicating with different people, just like in everyday life.
How can I get the most out of our therapy sessions?
Here’s the good news, there are easy ways you can support your child to get the best out of therapy and keep progress on track:
- Make sure your child attends therapy regularly
- Keep therapy on track by working on practice tasks outside of sessions
- If possible, rebook appointments instead of cancelling to keep consistency
- Make the most of therapy intensives during school holidays
- Be part of the sessions, because your involvement really counts
Consistency and involvement from you may lead to the best outcomes for your child.
Do you offer online speech therapy for children?
Yes, we offer flexible options with both in-clinic appointments and online speech and occupational therapy sessions. Online sessions work well for busy families, children who feel secure at home, or those based in rural or remote areas.
What funding options are available?
There are a number of options to help cover therapy costs. You can learn more about funding options here.
Several options are available to help with the cost of therapy. You can find out and learn more about funding options here.
Is there a waiting list?
Good news! We currently have no waiting list, which means your child can likely get started straight away. Early support can make a big difference, and we know that delays can be frustrating. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to keep access to therapy as smooth and timely as possible.
Where are you located?
Our clinics are located in Bella Vista, Kingswood, Oran Park, Parramatta, and Penrith with a welcoming admin team ready to assist you and your family through each step. Free parking is available at all locations, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for assessments or therapy sessions.
While our speech therapists in Bella Vista primarily support people from surrounding suburbs including Bella Vista, Norwest, Kellyville, Stanhope Gardens, Glenwood, Rouse Hill, Baulkham Hills, Seven Hills, Castle Hill, and Kings Langley, our clinics are more than welcoming to anyone looking to use our services across Sydney.