Speech Pathology
Support with communication, language or literacy.
Our neuroaffirming speech pathologists help children, teens and adults develop the skills needed to express themselves, join conversations, develop literacy skills or eat a wider variety of foods.
Sessions are available in-clinic at our Wayville and Gawler locations. We also offer telehealth speech pathology sessions for those who prefer the flexibility of online care.
Enquire nowSpeech and language assessments
NDIS speech pathology
Headstart is a registered NDIS provider. If you have an NDIS plan, speech pathology services may be covered under Capacity Building — Improved Living and Life Skills supports.
Meet our speech pathologists
Our speech pathology team is a core part of Headstart’s broader multidisciplinary team. They work with all age groups across a wide range of communication and language needs.
When speech pathology may be helpful
We provide speech pathology for toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults across greater Adelaide.
You might benefit from speech pathology if you or your child would like support with:
- Developing clearer speech sounds and pronunciation
- Building vocabulary, sentences, and the ability to express ideas
- Understanding and following spoken instructions
- Reading, spelling, and written expression
- Social communication, conversation skills, and connecting with others
- Communicating in alternative ways, such as through AAC devices or sign systems
- Speaking more fluently, including support for stuttering
- Voice quality, pitch, or endurance
- Communication changes following a stroke or brain injury.
For some clients, speech therapy helps manage certain aspects of diagnosed conditions such as:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- ADHD
- Developmental language disorder (DLD)
- Childhood apraxia of speech
- Fluency disorders, including stuttering
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome and other genetic conditions
- Acquired brain injury or stroke-related aphasia
- Dyslexia and literacy difficulties
- Global developmental delay
- Parkinson's disease and other neurological conditions.
Download the free Speech Pathology guide
Speech and language assessments and NDIS funding
A thorough speech and language assessment provides a clear, evidence-informed picture of how a person communicates, including their strengths, support needs and the areas where targeted therapy may make the greatest difference.
Our speech pathologists assess a range of areas. Depending on the referral question, the person’s age and their individual profile, we may explore:
- Speech sounds: whether a child’s speech sound development is on track for their age, and the nature of any speech sound differences
- Language comprehension: understanding spoken language, following instructions and processing what others say
- Language expression: using vocabulary, forming sentences and sharing ideas clearly
- Literacy: foundational reading and writing skills, including phonological awareness and decoding
- Social communication: using language in social contexts, including conversation, turn-taking and interpreting social cues
- Fluency: the flow and rhythm of speech, including stuttering
Our written reports explain results in plain language, outline strengths and areas for support, and provide practical recommendations for home, school and community settings.
If you are applying for NDIS funding or preparing for a plan review, a speech and language assessment report may help demonstrate how communication, literacy, social communication or feeding challenges affect daily life.
Learn more about speech and language assessments
What to expect at a speech pathology session
Speech pathology is shaped by your goals and needs, so every client's experience looks a little different. Here's what you can generally expect.
Initial assessment
Your first appointment is a chance for your speech pathologist to get to know you, understand what you're hoping for, and identify areas to focus on.
For younger children, this is often play-based and unhurried. For older children and adults, it may include a mix of conversation and structured assessment tasks covering language, speech, literacy, or feeding as relevant.
Goal setting
From there, you and your speech pathologist will agree on goals together, such as being understood more easily at school, building confidence in conversation, making mealtimes more comfortable, or improving reading and writing skills.
Ongoing therapy
Ongoing sessions are collaborative and adjusted regularly as you make progress. Parents and carers are part of the process, and your clinician will share practical strategies you can use during the week.
With your consent, Headstart's speech pathologists can also work with educators and other allied health professionals to align therapy with Individual Education Plans and NDIS goals.
Ready to take the next step?
If you're ready to book, or just want to find out whether Headstart speech pathology is the right fit for you or your child, we'd love to hear from you. Our friendly team is happy to answer your questions and help you get started.
Enquire nowFind a Headstart clinic near you
Frequently asked questions
Speech pathology is a university-trained allied health profession specialising in communication, language, literacy, voice, fluency, and swallowing. Speech pathologists assess communication strengths and needs, provide therapy, and support people to participate more fully in everyday life.
Headstart provides speech pathology for children (including toddlers), teenagers, and adults. You don't need a diagnosis or a referral to make an appointment. We welcome anyone seeking communication support.
Yes. We provide paediatric speech pathology for children of all ages, including toddlers. Our speech pathologists use play-based approaches to keep sessions engaging for younger children. Early speech and language intervention can lead to measurable improvements in speech sound production and vocabulary development for children who receive support.
Your first appointment is a chance to get to know your clinician and share what you're hoping to work on. For younger children, sessions are often play-based. For older children and adults, it may include a mix of conversation and structured assessment tasks. You'll leave with a clearer picture of next steps, and your clinician will work with you to set meaningful therapy goals.
You do not need a referral to access speech pathology as a private client; simply contact us directly.
A referral may be helpful if you are eligible for Medicare rebates through a Chronic Disease Management Plan, are accessing NDIS funding, or would benefit from coordinated care across treating providers. Contact us if you're unsure and we can advise.
Speech therapy sessions are $193 per hour for both private and NDIS-funded clients. Please visit our fees page for full details. Medicare rebates may apply in some circumstances.
Yes. Headstart is a registered NDIS provider. Speech pathology services may be funded under Capacity Building — Improved Living and Life Skills in your NDIS plan. Our speech pathologists can also complete assessments and reports to support new NDIS applications or plan reviews.
A speech and language assessment is a structured evaluation of how a person communicates, covering areas such as speech sound production, vocabulary, sentence structure, comprehension, literacy, social communication, fluency, and feeding.
Findings help identify strengths and support needs, guide therapy goals, and can inform recommendations for school, home, and NDIS planning.
Yes. Speech pathology sessions at Headstart are available via telehealth as well as in-clinic at our Wayville and Gawler locations. Telehealth is a flexible and practical option for many of our clients.
At times, yes. We encourage you to get in touch as early as possible. Our team will ask some initial questions to understand your needs and help match you with the right clinician.
Contact us by phone or via our online enquiry form. Our team will ask some initial questions to understand your needs and match you with the right speech pathologist.
You can reach our Wayville clinic on (08) 8373 4531 and our Gawler clinic on (08) 8522 2621, get in touch online or book a discovery call.