Speech Therapy for Kids near Leichhardt

Developing your child’s communication skills.

Every child deserves a voice

Communication is a human right. That’s why we support every child to communicate in ways that work for them, whether they need a little extra support, have developmental differences or disabilities, or are neurodivergent.

Personalised goals guide everything we do. At Inner West Paediatrics, our speech pathologists in Leichhardt lean on evidence-based therapy to support your child’s speech, communication and literacy development.

Ways we support your child’s communication

Assessment, diagnosis, treatment and intervention across speech, language, communication, voice, feeding and fluency all sit within our speech pathologists’ scope of practice.

We also work with you and your child to address challenges relating to speech sounds, reading, writing, eating, play, self-advocacy, and social participation and inclusion. Our speech pathology services include:

In-person speech therapy

Personalised speech therapy services in a welcoming, supportive environment.

Dedicated family advocates

For families in Leichhardt who can’t travel to our clinic, we’re happy to come to you instead.

We work with you

Wherever your child is in Australia, our online speech therapy service aims to make care easier to access.

Where our support is focused

Language and Communication

We support children to build the language skills they rely on every day, including vocabulary, grammar, comprehension, and both expressive and receptive communication.

AAC Assessment and Intervention

Communication should be within everyone’s reach. For children and young people who may benefit, we introduce and support the use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), working alongside families to assess, trial and implement systems built around each child’s individual strengths, preferences and needs.

Reading and Writing

Reading, writing, spelling and phonological awareness all form part of the literacy skills we support children to develop for learning and everyday life. When appropriate, we may partner with your child’s school team so progress carries across home and the classroom.

Speech Sounds

Our team helps children work towards speech that’s clear and confident, so being understood in everyday conversations comes more easily.

Play

At the heart of how children learn is play. Our therapy sessions draw on play-based activities tuned to your child’s interests and strengths, creating a relaxed, enjoyable environment in which they may develop speech, language, communication and confidence through genuine, meaningful interactions.

Stuttering (Fluency)

For children who stutter, we draw on evidence-based, strengths-focused approaches to support confident communication. We partner with your child and their family to shape strategies that encourage comfortable, self-assured communication in day-to-day life.

Social Communication and Relationships

Home, school and the community are where children’s relationships take shape, and we support them to build meaningful connections across all three. Drawing on strengths-based, neuroaffirming approaches, we help children gain the skills and confidence to understand and express their feelings, advocate for their needs, and nurture positive relationships in ways that feel right for them.

Hanen Programs

It Takes Two to Talk®

Designed for parents of children from birth to 5 years who have been identified as having a language delay, the It Takes Two to Talk® program brings families together in a small group to learn practical, everyday strategies that support language development naturally throughout the day.

The program teaches you how to:

Recognise your child’s stage and style of communication to identify goals and meaningful next steps
Identify what motivates your child to communicate
Use the strategies to encourage interaction and build communication confidence
Adjust everyday routines to help your child take turns back and forth in interactions
Support your child’s understanding and use of language through responsive communication strategies
Use play and book sharing to foster communication, interaction and language development

To find out when our next It Takes Two to Talk® program opens for registration, email info@innerwestpaediatrics.com.au.

More than Words

Created for parents and caregivers of autistic children or children with social communication differences, the More Than Words program shares specific, research-based strategies that support social communication and play, while helping families connect and enjoy more moments together.

‍Through the program, you will learn:

What motivates your child to communicate
How to use your knowledge about your child to set appropriate and realistic goals
How to make interactions with your child last longer
Tips for using pictures and print to help your child’s understanding
Strategies for how to talk so that your child understands you
Strategies for providing new play opportunities for your child

To find out when our next More Than Words group program opens for registration, email info@innerwestpaediatrics.com.au.

Learning Language and Loving It®

Learning Language and Loving It® is an evidence-based program created for early childhood educators and professionals working with young children. It offers practical, responsive strategies that nurture language, communication and early literacy through everyday interactions, play and daily routines. Throughout the program, you’ll learn how to:

Recognise each child’s stage and style of communication.
Create everyday opportunities that encourage language learning and participation.
Use responsive interaction strategies to support communication and extend conversations.
Adapt the learning environment and daily routines to promote communication.
Support children’s social communication and interactions with their peers.
Build language and early literacy skills through play, shared book reading and everyday experiences.

Get in touch at info@innerwestpaediatrics.com.au to discuss a bespoke Learning Language and Loving It® package tailored to your education setting.

Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT)

At its core, PACT puts parents in the driving seat of an evidence-based therapy program suited to autistic children aged 2–11 and children with social communication differences. Along the way, parents and caregivers come to understand their child’s communication style more fully and strengthen daily interactions using responsive, enjoyable strategies that foster connection and engagement.

Through video feedback, our PACT-trained therapists support you to tune into your child’s unique communication style and respond to it with confidence. Over the course of the program, you’ll learn practical, evidence-based strategies that nurture communication by working with your child’s individual strengths, preferences and needs across your daily family routines and interactions.

Contact info@innerwestpaediatrics.com.au to find out when registrations open for our next PACT program.

Is communication a challenge for your child?

Whatever shape your child’s communication journey takes, you’ll find an experienced team ready to support you with evidence-based, family-centred care.

Techniques behind our therapy

Every child is different, so our speech pathologists personalise a wide range of therapy techniques to suit you and your child. As well as being fully qualified and accredited, our therapists have extensive training and experience across the following:

- Hanen Programs® (It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words, Target Word, Talkability, Learning Language and Loving It)
- Key Word Sign
- SOS Feeding Approach
- The Lidcombe Program
- DIR Floortime Principles
- Learn to Play approach
- Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT)
- Responsive Feeding Approach
- Sounds~Write
- Meaningful Speech for Gestalt Language Processors
- Occupational Performance Coaching
- High and Low Tech AAC implementation
- DTTC and ReST

Supporting your child through speech pathology

Speech clarity

We support children to develop speech that’s clear and confident, so being understood in day-to-day conversations comes more naturally.

Language Development

We help children develop the language skills that let them understand others, express themselves and communicate with confidence.

Fluency

We help children who stutter or experience other fluency differences to find confidence in their communication, guided by evidence-based, strengths-focused approaches.

Social communication

We help children grow the skills and confidence to communicate, connect and take part in ways that suit them.

Self-confidence and self-advocacy
When your child’s communication is supported in ways that suit them, speech pathology may help nurture confidence, build meaningful connections and encourage them to take part in everyday life.

Common speech therapy questions

What is speech pathology?

Speech pathology centres on the assessment, diagnosis, management and, where possible, prevention of speech, language, voice and fluency disorders.

What can a speech pathologist help with?

Supporting children to communicate in ways that work for them sits at the heart of speech pathology. Speech pathologists assess and deliver evidence-based support across speech, language, communication, voice, fluency, literacy, feeding and swallowing, giving children the confidence to join in everyday life.

Do you provide speech therapy for toddlers in Leichhardt?

Yes. We support children from infancy through to 18 years, including toddlers who are developing their early communication, language and speech skills. If you have concerns about your toddlers’ communication, early intervention can make a meaningful difference.

What kinds of conditions and disabilities do you support?

There are many reasons a child might need support with communication and language, and we recognise every one of them. Our speech pathologists work with a wide range of disabilities, including autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, global developmental delay, ADHD, social-emotional difficulties, trauma, behavioural differences and other neurological disorders, as well as supporting children with articulation and stuttering difficulties.

How can speech pathology support my child's education?

Yes. Since strong communication underpins learning, our speech-language pathologists can, where suitable, collaborate with teachers and educators to support your child’s progress at school and at home.

How long will my child be in speech pathology?

No two children are the same. Our dedicated team keeps a close eye on your child’s progress and adjusts their therapy plan together with you as they grow, so the support they receive may always match where they are at that moment.

Which speech and occupational therapies do you offer?

Highly skilled and always building on their training, our paediatric speech therapists in Leichhardt draw on a wide range of areas to provide meaningful therapy. Some of the services and approaches we may offer include:

Hanen Programs® (It Takes Two to Talk, More Than Words, Target Word, Talkability, Learning Language and Loving It)
DIR Floortime Principles
Learn to Play approach
Key Word Sign
Paediatric Autism Communication Therapy (PACT)
SOS Feeding Approach
Responsive Feeding Approach
The Lidcombe Program
Sounds~Write
Meaningful Speech for Gestalt Language Processors
Occupational Performance Coaching
High and Low Tech AAC assessment, trial and intervention
Handwriting Without Tears programs
Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP Approach)
Toileting interventions
Zones of Regulation
Alert Program
Regulation and sensory supports

Which funding options are available?

There are several funding options for therapy that may help cover the cost of speech pathology support, including NDIS, Medicare, and private health insurance.

Other ways we can help your child

Occupational Therapy

Learn more

Speech Pathology

Learn more

Feeding Therapy

Learn more

Group Programs

Learn more

Orofacial Therapy

Learn more

Key Worker Service

Learn more

Allied Health Assistants

Learn more

Support Work

Learn more

The Inner West Paediatrics difference

Dependable support

With more than 5,000 children and families supported since 2015, we bring years of experience to each and every session.

Joined-up care

Because we offer a range of services under one roof, your child can be supported across multiple areas of need.

Flexible therapy delivery

At home, at school, in childcare or online, our team is here to support your child in the setting that suits them.

Support your child's communication with speech therapy in Leichhardt

Every child communicates in their own way. Whether your child needs a little extra support or has more complex communication needs, our experienced speech pathologists are here to help. We’ll work alongside your family to build on your child’s strengths and provide practical, evidence-based support that helps them communicate with confidence in everyday life.