What Is Speech Therapy?
Speech therapy supports children in developing the communication skills needed to engage with others, learn effectively, and flourish. When children can share their thoughts and understand those around them, they feel more connected to the world. This confidence opens the door to friendships, emotional regulation, learning opportunities, and everyday participation.
At Chatterbox, our paediatric speech pathologists support children across all stages of growth. From toddlers beginning to speak to preschoolers strengthening their language and school-aged children working on speech, literacy, and social skills, we’re here to help.
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 taking longer to start talking, having trouble being understood, or finding it difficult to connect in conversations at school, we aim to support them.
Why Might My Child Need Speech Therapy?
Children all progress differently, and for some, speech and language skills take a little longer to emerge.
Not all children pick up speech and language through daily experiences alone. Many need targeted support that may help them develop step by step, tailored to how they learn best. This is where children’s speech therapy could be life-changing.
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.
Delays without support may mean a widening gap as demands grow at school, in friendships, and in everyday situations. That’s why early intervention is vital; it aims to provide the foundation for success and prevents current challenges from holding a child back later.
How Speech Therapy Works at Chatterbox
Starting speech therapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re unsure what to expect. Here’s how we make it simple and supportive from the very beginning.
1. Initial Assessment
We begin with a friendly, play-based assessment to get to know your child. This helps us understand your child’s current communication skills, identify strengths and challenges, and figure out the best way to help.
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
- Rely on evidence-based practices supported by up-to-date studies
- Support your child by building on their abilities and working through the tricky parts together
- Support your child to develop greater confidence, stronger connections, and more independence
Our therapy sessions may use games, movement, chats, or hands-on experiences, whichever approach helps your child feel safe, engaged, and ready to learn. Sessions are always play-based and focused on real-world communication. We practise a neurodiversity-affirming model that encourages every child to develop confidence, connection, and independence in a way that embraces their individuality.
4. Family Support and Coaching
Because your involvement is key to progress, we provide coaching and practical tools you can apply at home, in the car, or during regular 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
In every session, we monitor your child’s progress so we can adjust and respond right away. This keeps therapy practical and meaningful for your child and your family.
Why Families Choose Chatterbox
We work in a way that affirms neurodiversity and highlights every 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 partner with families to design goals and therapy plans that are flexible and centred around your needs
- We ensure therapy is playful, motivating, and adapted to your child’s needs
- Our team helps children grow across different areas of development, all under one roof
- We offer both face-to-face and online speech therapy options
- Our team is made up of skilled therapists who truly care about each child’s progress
All of this is included in what we do, but do you know the most important reason?
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 set goals by talking with you. Together, we’ll figure out your big goals: what matters most for you and your child. From there, we break things down into smaller, achievable steps so your child can build confidence and experience success along the way.
When we design goals, we factor in your child’s age, development, and everyday life so the plan is meaningful, practical, and tailored to support their learning.
How many sessions will my child attend each week?
Based on the latest research and your child’s needs, your clinician will suggest a therapy schedule designed for the best outcomes.
Effective therapy usually relies on steady, regular input. Repeated practice gives children more opportunities to grow their skills and reach better outcomes. Ideally, this would be several hours a week, but we know that’s not always manageable for families.
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?
The length of time a child may attend therapy varies, influenced by things like age, developmental level, learning style, personality, and specific diagnoses, so there isn’t a simple answer for every child.
Once your therapist gets to know your child, they’ll be able to provide a clearer sense of how therapy may unfold. It’s important to keep in mind that progress takes time; there’s no instant solution.
Who will be my child’s speech therapist?
Every therapist on our team is registered with Speech Pathology Australia, bringing both qualifications and experience. They’re dedicated to supporting children’s growth with family-friendly, evidence-based care.
We ensure your child sees the same speech pathologist each session, so they may form a strong, trusting bond. With that consistency, your child may feel safe and supported, and therapy can be tailored more precisely to their needs.
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.
Since our team works hand in hand, your child’s goals and progress are always shared, making each session seamless even with a new therapist. Meeting different clinicians now and then may actually benefit your child, potentially helping them adapt, generalise skills, and build confidence across varied communication partners.
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:
- Attend sessions consistently
- Help your child by completing practice activities between each therapy session
- Try to shift appointments rather than cancel them outright
- Consider holiday intensives to give your child extra support during breaks
- Get involved during sessions — your input makes a difference
Consistency and involvement from you may lead to the best outcomes for your child.
Do you offer online speech therapy for children?
That’s right! We provide speech and occupational therapy both in clinic and online , giving families choice and flexibility. Online therapy suits busy families, children who are most comfortable at home, and families living in remote or rural 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.
There are different ways to make therapy more affordable. Discover the available 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?
At each of our primary locations in Bella Vista, Kingswood, Oran Park, Parramatta, and Penrith, a dedicated team is ready to assist you and your family, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish. With free on-site parking available at every clinic, attending assessments or therapy sessions is made easy and stress-free.
While our speech pathologists in Parramatta primarily help people from surrounding suburbs including Parramatta, Rosehill, Westmead, Harris Park, Rydalmere, Merrylands, Granville, Auburn, Newington, Wentworthville, Northmead, Oatlands, Lidcombe, and Guildford, our clinics are more than welcoming to anyone looking to use our services across Sydney.
