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.
Chatterbox paediatric speech pathologists partner with children throughout their development. We nurture toddlers discovering language, preschoolers refining communication, and school-aged children facing challenges with speech, literacy, and social interaction.
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 common to wonder if your child will simply grow out of their difficulties, but in most cases, these challenges don’t go away on their own. Not because your child isn’t trying, but because they need support to build the skills they’re finding hard right now.
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
Beginning speech therapy may seem overwhelming, particularly if you’re not sure what will happen. We make the process clear and supportive right from the start.
1. Initial Assessment
We start with a gentle, play-oriented assessment that aims to put your child at ease. Through this, we learn about their communication skills, identify both strengths and difficulties, and plan how best to support them.
2. Setting Individual Goals
After learning more about your child, we’ll work together to design goals that are relevant, achievable, and meaningful to their everyday life, like engaging in play, managing school directions, or expressing themselves 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:
- Customise therapy to match your child’s learning style and current developmental needs
- Rely on evidence-based practices supported by up-to-date studies
- Highlight and grow your child’s strengths, while guiding them through the skills they find harder
- Focus on growing confidence, connection, and 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 play an essential role in your child’s development, which is why we guide and support you with simple strategies to use at home, on the go, and in daily life.
We support not only the child but the whole family, because a supported family creates the best environment for a child to thrive.
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
Our approach is neurodiversity-affirming and focused on building from each child’s strengths
- We follow a neurodiversity-affirming philosophy, building on each child’s strengths rather than focusing only on challenges
- We work with you to set family-centred goals and flexible therapy plans
- Therapy is designed to be enjoyable, interactive, and personalised for your child
- 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
- We’re a team of experienced therapists who genuinely care
Yes, we offer all of this, but would you like to know the most important reason why?
Parents choose Chatterbox because they know their child will be cared for by a team that goes beyond therapy to show genuine compassion.
What’s the Next Step?
Frequently Asked Questions
How are therapy goals set?
Together with you, we decide on the goals that matter most for your child. From there, we design step-by-step targets that are realistic and achievable, allowing your child to build confidence and enjoy progress.
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?
Drawing on current research, your clinician will recommend a therapy schedule that suits your child’s needs and supports progress.
Most therapies depend on consistency and regular practice. The more often children can apply their skills, the more progress they tend to make. In a perfect world, therapy would run for hours each week, but we also recognise this doesn’t suit every family.
In certain cases, like when a child is in the maintenance phase of stuttering therapy, sessions may be less frequent (fortnightly or monthly), but this isn’t typical.
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.
As your therapist learns more about your child, they can share a clearer picture of the journey ahead. Still, it’s vital to understand that therapy is a gradual process, not a quick fix.
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.
Seeing the same speech pathologist every session allows your child to build a close, trusting connection. That consistency aims to provide a sense of safety and support, making therapy more meaningful.
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?
The great news is that you can play an active role in helping your child make the most of therapy and continue moving ahead:
- Make sure your child attends therapy regularly
- Follow through with practice activities at home between therapy visits
- Whenever you can, move sessions instead of cancelling to support steady progress
- Make the most of therapy intensives during school holidays
- Get engaged during therapy time, your input truly supports your child’s learning
Your child may benefit most when you’re consistent and take an active role in their therapy journey.
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.
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?
Our main clinics are strategically located in Bella Vista, Kingswood, Oran Park, Parramatta, and Penrith, each with an approachable admin team available to assist you and your family every step of the way. Free parking is offered at every location, making your experience for assessments or therapy smooth and convenient.
While our speech pathologists in Oran Park primarily support people from surrounding suburbs including Oran Park, Gledswood Hills, Gregory Hills, Harrington Park, Mount Annan, Currans Hill, Campbelltown, and Leppington, our clinics are more than welcoming to anyone looking to use our services across Sydney.
