When To Refer
SPEECH SOUNDS
- The child is not babbling using a wide variety of sounds by 18 months.
- Speech is unintelligible to familiar people at 3 years.
- Child substitutes or omits sounds at the beginning, middle or end of words.
- The child is frustrated by their inability to be understood (may lead to behaviour problems).
- Parents or teachers are concerned and unable to understand the child’s speech.
RECEPTIVE LANGUAGE (understanding)
- Unable to follow non routine directions, especially more than 2 steps.
- Follows routine directions after copying the lead of other children.
- Repeats what has been said by others, rather than responding to it.
- Difficulty maintaining attention and listening.
- Does not attend to stories at group time (tends to wriggle, day dream or provoke other children).
EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE (use of language)
- Child is not using single words by 18 months.
- Child is not using 2 word sentences by 2 ½ years.
- Vocabulary is limited to mainly naming (nouns) and action (verbs) words at 3 ½ years.
- Uses natural gestures to get needs met, for example, pointing.
- Word ordering in sentences extremely confused.
- Uses a lot of non-specific words, for example, this one, over there.
STUTTERING
- Child has interrupted speech and repeats sounds and words (e.g “ my..my..my turn” or “m-m-m-m-my turn”)
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us
Katerina Epsimos Speech Pathology (Speech Time) is a registered provider with
Medicare Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC).
Claim 5 speech therapy visits through Medicare EPC.
The plan needs to be completed by your G.P. Need to talk to your G.P to see whether your child is eligible.
Private Health Insurers
Clients will need to contact their health fund to find out their level of cover and eligible rebate.