We’re addressing some of the most common Speech Pathology Myths we see on a daily basis.
In every single line of work, there are common misconceptions that are completely unavoidable, and that can sadly sometimes impact the success of some industries.
At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we are paediatric Speech Pathologists. We prevent, assess, diagnose and treat speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication and swallowing disorders in children from ages 2-18.
Over our years of experience in practice, we’ve heard our fair share of misconceptions about our industry, which is why we’ve decided to debunk some of the most common Speech Pathology myths below.
“The process is too clinical. My child will be scared”
Having specialised in children’s speech therapy for over 13 years, the team at Alex V. Speech Pathology understand better than anyone how intimidating medical appointments can be for children. Due to this, we have made it a priority to make the process as child-friendly as possible.
Our rooms are filled with bright colours, toys and child-friendly pictures to make them feel at ease. In addition, we take the time to get to know you and your child on a deeply personal level. We believe that the best results come from a child and speech therapist that have a strong relationship where trust and rapport are central.
It’s important to find a Speech Therapist that your child feels comfortable around and that puts their best interests first.
“The sessions are enough therapy on their own”
This is perhaps one of the most common misconceptions, not only regarding speech therapy but also other allied health professions.
It is not uncommon that after a session, your Speech Pathologist will give your child exercises to do on their own or with parental guidance. In order to achieve the best results, children and parents should work together on the assigned speech exercises outside of weekly sessions.
It is often evident which children complete exercises outside of sessions, as they are the children who improve the fastest. At Alex V. Speech Pathology, we always provide the children we treat with easy to follow, fun exercises that will challenge them and improve their progress.
“Speech Therapy is just about talking”
While, yes, it’s called Speech Therapy, Speech Therapy is not just about talking!
In fact, a better way to explain it would be that it’s about the way people communicate. This involves a range of activities including learning how to use sign language, language comprehension and the use of communication aids, as well as verbal communication tactics.
In addition to communication, Speech Therapy also involves working with patients with chewing and swallowing problems to help them eat, drink and swallow their food safely.
“My child will outgrow their language delay”
This myth is a little more complicated, as some lucky children are just late talkers and end up growing out of their language delay. However, the truth is that there are also a lot of children who don’t outgrow their language delay and end up significantly behind their peers.
Additionally, the more your child develops, you risk their speech impediment worsening and requiring much more complex treatment. If you’re noticing that your child isn’t reaching the same speech milestones as their friends of the same age, go with your gut and see a Speech Pathologist.
Alex V. Speech Pathology offer initial consultations so that you can have your child tested without committing to any treatment plans. Just like you would a physical illness, go and see someone about it and don’t just assume your child will heal on their own.
“They’re just letting their siblings do all the talking”
While it is true that children with older siblings can experience a slight delay in talking, the impact of an older child “doing all the talking” will never be significant enough to truly delay a child’s speech.
Alex V. Speech Pathology specialises in treating children’s speech disorders in a fun, holistic way that produces real results. To book an initial consultation, contact Alex V. Speech Pathology on (07) 3217 7037.