Zara Fraser - Speech Pathologist

How long will it take for my child to progress through speech therapy? I'm answering that question today! #speechpathology #therapy #language #speech #fluency #motivationmonday #backtobalance #speechisawesome

Did you know that May is Better Hearing and Speech Month? This month is all about raising awareness of communication disorders and the available treatment options.
Something fun to start off the month - Did you know that speech pathologists use a secret code when we're providing assessment and treatment for speech sounds?
SLBEEP's has provided a great little transcript - can you figure out what it says?
... “ɪz ðɪs ðʌ ril lɑɪf, ɪz ðɪs dʒʊst fæntasi? kɔt ɪn ʌ lændslɑɪd, no ˈskeɪp frʊm riɑlʌti. oʊpen jʊr ɑɪz, lʊk ʊp tu ðʌ skɑɪz n si:. ɑɪm dʒʊst ʌ por boɪ, ɑɪ nid no sɪmpɜθi. bikʌz ɑɪm izi kʌm, izi goʊ, lɪtl hɑɪ, litl loʊ, æniwɜr ðʌ wɪnd bloʊz, dʌznt rili mætr tu mi, tu mi.”
For more information on Better Hearing and Speech Month check out http://napacentre.com.au/may-is-better-he aring-speech-month…
For an appointment at the clinic to assess your child's speech and language visit www.backtobalance.net.au
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Lately I've had parents asking me if it's alright to let their child use a dummy, if it will impact their speech and when to remove the dummy. Here is a great article examining the positives and negatives of dummy use!

School holidays are just around the corner, so why not have your child's communication skills assessed before they head into the next semester? Free screeners include an evaluation of speech, language, voice, fluency and pragmatic skills. I also address all parent concerns. A diagnostic assessment includes a detailed report, recommendations/strategies for educators and recommendations on whether speech therapy is required.
If you'd like to book in a free screener or full ass...essment head to: www.backtobalance.net.au If you have any questions or concerns you can contact me via: zara@backtobalance.net.au
I look forward to seeing some friendly faces over the school holidays at our Woolooware and Casula clinics!
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Many parents know about lisps, but they don't know that there are different types. In this video I look at 2 types of lisp - interdental and lateral. Interdental lisps are age appropriate until around 4 - 4 1/2 years of age. On the other hand a lateral lisp is not considered to be part of typical speech development and should be assessed straight away. It is important to note that in most cases children will not grow out of a lisp and will require speech intervention. Lisps are one of my favourite things to work on!

Day one of the 'Walk for Autism' campaign done! From today until the 15th April I will be walking 10000 steps a day to raise money and awareness for Autism. If you would like to donate click here: https://walk-for-autism-2018.everydayhero .com/…/zara-the-sp… Any donation is so appreciated!

I am excited to be taking part in the Walk for Autism challenge! Funds raised will go to Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT) - who provide fantastic care and support for families and children with ASD. I will be walking 10,000 steps a day from April 8 to April 15. If you would like to donate, no matter how small or how large, please click the link below. Looking forward to supporting this cause and raising funds for those in need!

Last year I had the pleasure of returning to my old high school to present as part of an allied health day. Alumni students who now work in allied health were asked to explain what they do, why they love what they do and answer any questions regarding their profession. It was fantastic to tell students why I love speech pathology so much, why I chose to become a speech pathologist and to encourage others to look into speech pathology.
Speech pathology is fantastic because we ...give people a voice and we help people to communicate their wants and needs. We work with a range of different people and different presentations to achieve communication goals. Seeing children smile is the best part of my day!
I look forward to presenting again in the future! If you have any questions about what speech pathologists do, who we work with, what we treat, etc please feel free to get in touch or book in for a consult: www.backtobalance.net.au
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Are you wondering if your child is ready for school? Or are you wondering if your kindergartener will thrive in school and achieve their goals? A speech and language assessment is a fantastic way of assessing your child's knowledge and identifying any gaps in their learning. It is recommended that a speech and language assessment be conducted a year before school starts if you have any concerns regarding your child's communication, language and/or literacy skills. For more info visit backtobalance.net.au

Reading to children is so beneficial! Reading has a positive impact on language acquisition and developing a child's imagination. I always recommend that parents read to their children daily. What a great new study covered by 7 News highlighting the benefits of reading!

Welcome to 2018! I'm back in the office and so excited to kick off another great year providing speech pathology services. I'm looking forward to seeing my clients achieving their goals this year!
To book in, please call the clinic or book online at https://backtobalance.cliniko.com/booking s…

A fantastic resource for parents and friends to help those with ASD manage and thrive during the festive season.

I am an NDIS registered provider! The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides support to people with disability, their families and carers. The NDIS is for Australians under 65 who have a permanent impairment that substantially reduces their intellectual, cognitive, neurological, physical, sensory, psychological and/or social functioning.
More information can be found on https://ndis.gov.au/
... I look forward to helping those in need as a registered provider.
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Children with sensory issues sometimes miss out on the little things, like going to a movie. Sensory Movie Day is a fantastic day out for children with sensory issues and their families! There are events on all over Sydney. Awesome!

FREE Speech and Language Screenings! Come in for a free screener assessment on Thursday 26th October or Thursday 2nd November. Call the Woolooware clinic on 02 9527 7504 to secure your spot!

Yesterday I attended a Speech Pathology Australia professional development course focused on late talkers - how to assess and best treat children with a delay in language development.
Did you know that between 10-20% of children aged 2 are late talkers? How do you know if your child is a late talker? Here are some observations that may help you identify whether your child requires an assessment -
* By 12 months your child should have 2 - 6 words (other than dadda and mamma)... * By 18 months your child should have around 50 words * By 2 years of age your child should have 200 - 300 words * By 3 years of age your child should have around 1000 words
If you have concerns regarding your child's language development it's always a good idea to bring them in for an assessment!
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Last night I was honoured to be the guest speaker at the 50th Anniversary of the Sutherland Shire Debating Competition finals. It was a privilege to speak after the Sutherland Shire Mayor, Carmelo Pesce, and give the students, families and other attendees an insight into the influence that debating has had on my life and how it has helped me in my work as a speech and language pathologist. During my high school years I entered the Sutherland Shire Debating Competition four ti...mes, competed in the finals four times and won the title three times. Evidently, I loved debating! Who would have thought that this passion for communication so many years ago would have led to a lifetime dedicated to helping others to communicate.
Keep an eye out for more information in the St George and Sutherland Shire Leader and congratulations to the teams involved!
If you or your child require assistance with any aspect of communication, you can find me and book an appointment at www.backtobalance.net.au
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Who are speech pathologists and what do we do?
As a speech pathologist in private practice I see children, teens and adults who are experiencing difficulties with communication. This may include treating speech sounds, language disorders, pragmatic/social skills, stuttering and selective mutism, among many other things! Some speech pathologists, such as myself, are also trained to work with children who have Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD or a disability, such as cerebral palsy.
It is so important to find a speech pathologist who understands your child, makes therapy fun and understands their needs.

What is the difference between attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Autism? Did you know that these conditions can occur together?
Both ADHD and Autism have a range of characteristics. Some of these characteristics may be constant movement, lack of social awareness, challenging behaviours and difficulty paying attention to people. This link will help you to learn about both and ensure that your child receives the best care for their needs!

Such a good personality and her clients are so responsive to her energy and genuine care

Such a good personality and her clients are so responsive to her energy and genuine care