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Speech Therapy
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Therapy & support
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Therapy & support
If one child has Speech and Language Delay, can my next child have it too?
A younger sibling can have a somewhat higher chance of speech and language delay, as language development has shared genetic and environmental influences within a family — but a raised likelihood is not a certainty, and many siblings develop speech on time. Awareness of milestones and an early check if concerned is the most powerful step. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs AAC the right therapy for a child with Autism Spectrum?
For many autistic children, AAC — from picture boards to speech-generating apps — is a strong, evidence-backed support, especially where speech is delayed or unreliable. Research shows AAC does not stop speech developing and often supports it. Whether it suits your child depends on their profile, clarified by a speech-language assessment. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs AAC the right therapy for a child with cerebral palsy?
For many children with cerebral palsy AAC is an excellent fit, used alongside speech therapy rather than instead of it — giving a reliable way to communicate now while spoken language keeps developing. AAC does not hold back speech; it often supports it. The right system is matched to how your child moves, sees and understands, and chosen after careful assessment. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs AAC the Right Therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
For many children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, AAC is a valuable partner to speech therapy rather than a replacement — it gives a reliable way to communicate now while motor-based speech work continues, and evidence shows it tends to encourage more communication, including spoken words. Whether AAC is right, and which kind, is decided with a speech-language therapist. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs AAC the right therapy for a child with Intellectual Disability?
For many children with intellectual disability, AAC — from picture boards to speech-generating apps — is one of the most effective supports, giving a reliable voice now without holding back speech. The right system is matched by a speech-language therapist to the child's understanding, motor skills and daily life. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs AAC the right therapy for a non-verbal or minimally verbal child?
For many non-verbal or minimally verbal children AAC is a highly effective support, and the worry that it stops speech is not supported by evidence — it usually encourages communication and language to grow together. AAC ranges from picture cards and signs to apps and speech-generating devices, always paired with speech and language therapy and matched to the child. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs AAC the right therapy for speech and language delay?
AAC — from picture cards to speech apps — can be an excellent support for a child with speech and language delay, but it is not automatically right for every child. The decision depends on why communication is delayed, what the child understands and how they already try to connect, and evidence shows AAC does not stop speech developing. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs AAC usually one-on-one or in a group?
AAC usually begins in focused one-on-one sessions so a therapist can match and tune the right system and build early skills, then widens into small groups and everyday settings where communication becomes social and meaningful. It is typically one-on-one first, then group and real-life practice at the child's pace. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Late Talking a Normal Part of Child Development?
Late talking can be a normal variation — many "late bloomers" catch up — but it can also signal a need for early, playful speech support, and a simple developmental check is the only way to tell which. Early help works beautifully when needed. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Mixing Up Languages a Normal Part of Child Development?
Mixing up languages, known as code-mixing, is a completely normal and healthy part of multilingual development — it reflects a flexible brain drawing from a shared word bank, does not cause speech delay, and settles as a child grows. A check is only worth it if total vocabulary across all languages lags behind peers. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Not Pointing To Show Things Normal?
Learning to point develops on its own timeline, and most children begin pointing to show or share things by around 12–16 months, often glancing back to check you've noticed. Not yet pointing isn't a cause for alarm, but if a child past 16–18 months rarely points, shows toys or shares attention, a gentle developmental check helps. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Not Responding To Name a Normal Part of Child Development?
Not responding to a name is often normal — especially in young babies, or when a child is absorbed, tired or in a noisy room. By around 12 months most children turn to their name in a quiet setting. Consistent non-response, particularly alongside limited eye contact, babbling or pointing, warrants a hearing check and developmental chat. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Repeating Words (Echolalia) a Normal Part of Child Development?
Repeating words and phrases (echolalia) is a normal part of how many children learn to talk, especially between about 18 months and 3 years, as they practise sounds and store useful language. It usually settles as spontaneous speech grows. A check helps mainly if echoing remains a child's main way of communicating past toddlerhood or comes with other differences. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs speech and language therapy suitable for babies?
Yes — speech and language therapy is suitable for babies, but for infants it is gentle, play-based support for the foundations of communication (eye contact, turn-taking, babbling, listening and feeding), delivered mainly by coaching parents in everyday routines. It is especially helpful for premature babies or those with hearing or feeding concerns. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs speech and language therapy suitable for preschoolers?
Speech and language therapy is highly suitable for preschoolers aged roughly 2 to 5 years, because this is a period of rapid brain growth when children learn language fastest. Therapy is play-based, parent-coached and tailored to each child, building strong foundations before school. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs speech and language therapy suitable for school-age children?
Speech and language therapy is well-suited to school-age children and is often exactly the right time, supporting speech clarity, language for learning, literacy links, social communication and fluency in ways shaped around real school and social life. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs speech and language therapy suitable for toddlers?
Speech and language therapy is highly suitable for toddlers — often most effective in these early years, when the brain forms language pathways fastest. It is play-based, supports understanding and connection as well as talking, and coaches parents to weave strategies into daily life. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Speech & Language Therapy Right for a Child with Autism?
Speech and language therapy is one of the most valuable supports for a child on the autism spectrum, as autism affects communication, language understanding and social connection — but it is rarely the only therapy needed, working best alongside occupational, behavioural and developmental support. Communication here means more than talking, including gestures, pictures and devices. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs speech and language therapy right for a child with Cerebral Palsy?
Speech and language therapy is often one of the right therapies for a child with Cerebral Palsy, supporting clearer communication, alternative ways to communicate (AAC), and safe feeding and swallowing — working alongside physiotherapy and occupational therapy rather than replacing them. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Speech Therapy Right for Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
Yes — speech and language therapy is the recognised primary therapy for Childhood Apraxia of Speech, provided it is the right kind: intensive, frequent and motor-based, treating speech as a movement-planning skill rather than a language or muscle-strength problem. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs speech and language therapy the right therapy for Developmental Language Disorder?
Yes — speech and language therapy is the core, evidence-based support for a child with Developmental Language Disorder, because a speech and language therapist is trained to assess and build the exact understanding and spoken-language skills affected. Therapy is play-based, coaches parents for daily practice and supports school readiness. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs Speech & Language Therapy Right for a Child with Down Syndrome?
Yes — speech and language therapy is a core, well-evidenced support for children with Down syndrome, best started early. It builds understanding into spoken words, supports clear speech around low muscle tone, and uses signing or pictures to reduce frustration while talking develops, working alongside ENT, audiology and the wider therapy team. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerIs speech and language therapy right for Global Developmental Delay?
Speech and language therapy is often a valuable part of supporting a child with Global Developmental Delay, especially for communication, understanding and feeding — but because GDD means delay across two or more areas, the best support is usually a coordinated team plan rather than one therapy alone. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Read the answer AnswerSpeech and language therapy for children with hearing impairment
Speech and language therapy is a key support for a child with hearing impairment, but it works best as part of a team — audiology and ENT care address the hearing first (often with hearing aids or a cochlear implant), then therapy helps the child build listening, understanding and spoken language. The earlier hearing access and therapy begin, the more naturally communication develops. AbilityScore® is part of Pinnacle’s developmental assessment. Diagnosis, where needed, requires an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
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