Vocal hygiene behaviours are things we can do to ensure we take care of our voice and vocal folds. Here are some tips for good vocal hygiene: Drink enough water Making sure you stay fully hydrated is important to keep your vocal cords functioning properly. Carry a drink bottle with you, and try to have small sips of water throughout the day. This is a better way for you to stay hydrated than to drink a lot of water all at once. -5-8 year olds should have about 1 litre or 5 g

There’s a difference between simply reading words off a page to your child, and engaging them in the story. What is interactive reading?...

What does ‘self regulation’ mean? Every child is unique. Some children can get overwhelmed easily, and others remain calm. In the same way, some kids can be highly attentive and alert, while others are very withdrawn. Self-regulation is an important strategy that your child can use to be calm and alert, so that they can take part in activities, interact with those around them, and process new information. There are many factors that may be influencing a child’s inability to

Early on, a child’s language is mainly based around their current environment. Conversations are usually focused on topics such as daily routines, toys, food, and familiar people. As our children grow older, however, it is important that they learn to speak about things beyond the ‘here and now’. Their language needs to allow them to speak about things that they can’t see or touch in their current environment. This type of language allows our children to learn and think, and

The building blocks for reading and writing are also called ‘emergent literacy skills’. These skills are important for every child to...

We often think of our language as being very fixed. We were all taught grammar rules in school, right? Rules can’t change! But, over a...

Here is a statement I think we can all agree on: English spelling is weird! Wait, shouldn’t that be ‘wierd’? Isn’t it ‘i’ before the ‘e’?...

A cough is a sudden burst of air coming from your lungs up your nose or mouth. It causes your vocal folds to slam together, like when you...

What exactly IS a stutter? It is the disruption in the fluency of verbal expression; the opposite of what would sound like smooth speech....

There are lots of common myths about children growing up hearing two or more languages, and not all of them are true. Our very own Emilia has busted the following five myths that many people have about bilingual language development! Myth No. 1: I should only speak one language to my child. Speaking in more than one language does not confuse your child! Research shows that they will develop two separate language systems. Yes, they may initially say some sentences in more tha

Have you ever been a bit nervous to communicate with someone who has a disability? It can be a bit daunting sometimes, especially if you...

Have you ever noticed how young children begin to play imaginatively? Early on, they will pretend to feed a teddy, or make a plane fly through the air. Has your child set up a shop or restaurant and demanded that you come and visit as the customer? These are exciting developmental stages that give us some insight into our children’s language and cognitive development. Here are 5 reasons why pretend play is important: Pretend play allows your child to practice using symbols,

Written by Suzie Garmeister of Branch and Vine Nutrition – Fd. Dip Nutrition & Holistic Health Want to give your kids a healthy lunch at...

Written by Suzie Garmeister of Branch and Vine Nutrition – Fd. Dip Nutrition & Holistic Health Feeling overwhelmed about how to feed your...

Can you recall a great conversation that you have recently had? Chances are that you remember it because you were actively involved. Your conversational partner may have asked for your opinion or given you opportunity to speak about yourself and your interests. Perhaps you had a robust debate where both of you were able to air your views. You may not consciously know what qualities make a great conversationalist, but you certainly know when you’re speaking with one. Great con

I love a good Romcom. There’s always a bit of tension and angst between the lead characters, usually fuelled by miscommunication. They both have the feeling of love, but neither seem to be able to really communicate it. After many ups and downs and a few predictable plot twists, they fall into each other’s arms, finally speaking the same language. As Speech Pathologists we talk about communication. A LOT. It’s what we do. Our goal is to see all our clients take the next step

One of the most underrated toys that we have to play with our children is one that is adaptable, portable, free and most importantly a...

Last week in our blog, we talked about some of the symptoms of stuttering (also known as stammering or dysfluency). This week we will...

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the middle of a sentence, perhaps repeating the last word you said over and over again while you...

What does Conductive hearing loss have to do with Speech and Language? As a parent of a preschooler or young school aged child, do you...