Speech Pathology · Yagoona
Literacy Support for Children
Structured, evidence-based help for children who find reading and spelling hard.
Overview
Why Speech Pathologists Help With Reading
Reading and spelling are built on spoken language. To read, a child needs to hear the individual sounds in words, link those sounds to letters, and understand the language on the page. Speech Pathologists are trained in exactly these skills, which is why we're well placed to help when reading doesn't click.
Some children find learning to read hard from the start. Others manage early reading but struggle as texts become longer and more complex. Persistent difficulty can point to dyslexia, and our assessment can form an important part of that picture.
Whatever the cause, early and structured support makes a real difference. We teach reading and spelling explicitly and step by step, in the way research shows works best.
Signs & symptoms
Signs Your Child May Need Support
Every child develops differently. If any of the signs below sound familiar, it's worth reaching out for a professional opinion, even if you're not sure.
If your child is still struggling after their first year of school, it's worth acting now rather than waiting to see if they catch up.
What to expect
Our Assessment Process
We know assessments can feel daunting. Our process is thorough but warm, and we take our time to understand your child as a whole person.
Initial Enquiry
Refer through our online form or give us a call. We'll have a relaxed chat about your concerns and answer any questions.
Assessment Appointment
We see children in our Yagoona clinic or via telehealth. Beforehand, we'll ask for recent school reports and any work samples you have.
During the Assessment
We look at how your child hears and works with sounds in words, their letter-sound knowledge, reading, spelling and comprehension, as well as the spoken language skills that support them.
Feedback and Next Steps
We share our first impressions on the day. You'll then receive a clear, jargon-free report with our findings and recommendations.
Initial Enquiry
Refer through our online form or give us a call. We'll have a relaxed chat about your concerns and answer any questions.
Assessment Appointment
We see children in our Yagoona clinic or via telehealth. Beforehand, we'll ask for recent school reports and any work samples you have.
During the Assessment
We look at how your child hears and works with sounds in words, their letter-sound knowledge, reading, spelling and comprehension, as well as the spoken language skills that support them.
Feedback and Next Steps
We share our first impressions on the day. You'll then receive a clear, jargon-free report with our findings and recommendations.
Therapy
How We Teach Reading and Spelling
We use a structured, systematic approach to teaching reading and spelling. Three of our four Speech Pathologists are trained in Sounds-Write, a well-regarded structured phonics program used in many Australian schools. Therapy is carefully sequenced, so each skill builds on the last and your child experiences success along the way.
Working together
In practice, that means teaching your child how written English actually works. Children learn that letters represent sounds, that the same sound can be spelled in more than one way, and that some spellings can stand for more than one sound. They practise three core skills until they become automatic: breaking words into their individual sounds, blending sounds together to read, and swapping sounds to make new words. Because everything is taught explicitly, children aren't left guessing, and reading starts to make sense.
What we work on
- Phonological awareness (hearing and working with sounds in words)
- Letter-sound knowledge
- Decoding and reading fluency
- Spelling
- Vocabulary and reading comprehension
- Strategies to share with home and school
Structured Synthetic Phonics
Explicit, step-by-step teaching of how sounds and spellings work, delivered by Sounds-Write trained clinicians.
Reading Comprehension
Building vocabulary and the language skills needed to understand what's been read.
School Collaboration
With your consent, sharing goals and strategies with teachers so support is consistent.
What families can expect
What Progress Typically Looks Like
We set measurable goals and track progress carefully, so you always know where your child is and where they're heading.
Ready to start? Our team is happy to answer your questions. There's no obligation, just a friendly conversation.
Refer NowCommon questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Our full FAQ page covers many more topics, or just give us a call and we'll help.
Related services
Related Services
Other areas our team supports. If you're not sure which is right for you, contact us and we'll point you in the right direction.
Ready to Get Started?
Not sure if this is the right fit? Contact us and we'll help you figure out the next step.
Prefer to talk? Call us on (02) 9052 6095