Helping your child communicate
Feilding based
Speech Language Therapy
from a qualified Speech-Language Therapist
with over fifteen years experience.
Services
Assessments $170
Assessments will take approximately one hour. Your child's communication skills will be assessed in a play-based manner - using books and / or toys and / or conversations - depending on your child's age, abilities and interests. I will discuss the assessment results with you and provide you with recommendations on how to encourage your child's communication development.
Individualised sessions $110
Following your assessment, you may want to book regular therapy sessions at the Speech-Language Therapy office. These last approx 45 minutes. You attend with your child. Sessions are usually held weekly, fortnightly or monthly. I will give you things to practice at home between sessions, to enable the best progress.
Other
Please contact me to discuss your needs and we can talk through options.
About Me
My name is Kellie O'Carroll and I am a qualified, N.Z trained Speech Language Therapist with over fifteen years experience.
I live in Feilding with my husband and two sons.
Qualifications and Work History:
I qualified from Canterbury University with a Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy in 1994.
Since then I have worked as a Speech Language Therapist in Auckland, Palmerston North and the Wellington region.
I have also been employed as a Service Manager in both Lower Hutt and Palmerston North, running teams who provide Speech Language therapy services as well as other services to support chidren with diverse needs.
I live in Feilding with my husband and two sons.
Qualifications and Work History:
I qualified from Canterbury University with a Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy in 1994.
Since then I have worked as a Speech Language Therapist in Auckland, Palmerston North and the Wellington region.
I have also been employed as a Service Manager in both Lower Hutt and Palmerston North, running teams who provide Speech Language therapy services as well as other services to support chidren with diverse needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age should children start speech language therapy?
Most children who see a speech therapist are likely to be between 3-6 years of age when first seen. This is usually because of the broad range of development with younger children and people waiting to see how the child is developing before they refer.
Some Speech Language Therapists also work with swallowing and feeding difficulties - so may see babies.
Any age is fine - if you are concerned and want ideas and advice then contact us.
Some Speech Language Therapists also work with swallowing and feeding difficulties - so may see babies.
Any age is fine - if you are concerned and want ideas and advice then contact us.
Does my child need to be able to sit and listen to do speech language therapy?
Not at all! The children we see are all ages, have different interests and different personalities. We design therapy sessions to be fun and keep the child's attention. Sometimes we may be sitting at a table or on the floor, sometimes we may be taking giant steps around the room to practice some words. It needs to be fun.
Is there a free (public-funded) Speech Language Therapy service in New Zealand?
Yes - Te Mahau, the Ministry of Education's Learning Support team, provide free speech language therapy services for preschool and school-aged students. Click here for more information: Ministry of Education NZ
Can my child have public and private Speech Therapy at the same time?
Yes.
Sometimes parents choose to do just Ministry funded Speech Language Therapy.
Sometimes parents choose to do just Private Speech Language Therapy.
Sometimes parents choose to do private speech therapy while they are on the public wait list, then stop the private therapy once they are picked up.
Sometimes parents want their child to have public funded and private Speech Language Therapy at the same time.
If this is the case, it's important for the parent and the Speech Language Therapists to discuss the best way for this to work.
e.g. the public therapist may focus on supporting the teacher to adapt the curriculum for the child's language skills, while the private therapist works directly with the child on speech skills.
Sometimes parents choose to do just Ministry funded Speech Language Therapy.
Sometimes parents choose to do just Private Speech Language Therapy.
Sometimes parents choose to do private speech therapy while they are on the public wait list, then stop the private therapy once they are picked up.
Sometimes parents want their child to have public funded and private Speech Language Therapy at the same time.
If this is the case, it's important for the parent and the Speech Language Therapists to discuss the best way for this to work.
e.g. the public therapist may focus on supporting the teacher to adapt the curriculum for the child's language skills, while the private therapist works directly with the child on speech skills.
As a parent / carer, will I be given things to do?
Yes. Children make the most progress if things are practiced throughout the week. Family life is busy - I'll work with you to plan how this can be carried out in the easiest and most successful manner.
e.g. if working on a particular speech sound, we could work out a 3-5 minute game that you could play together 4 times a week.
e.g. if working on language skills we might choose a particular part of your daily routine to work on the focus skill (e.g. practice using 3 word phrases during breakfast time).
Everything will be tailored to your child, your family life and the specific goals and skills we are working on.
e.g. if working on a particular speech sound, we could work out a 3-5 minute game that you could play together 4 times a week.
e.g. if working on language skills we might choose a particular part of your daily routine to work on the focus skill (e.g. practice using 3 word phrases during breakfast time).
Everything will be tailored to your child, your family life and the specific goals and skills we are working on.
Does my child need to see a Speech Language Therapist?
All children develop differently from each other - even siblings!
If you are worried whether you should get help for your child, consider:
* are you noticing progress? (e.g. are they learning new words, or getting longer sentences?).
* is your child frustrated they're not being understood?
* if your child attends an early childhood centre or school - what do the teacher's think?
A good resource you can look at is: 'Much More Than Words'
In the end remember - if you don't feel things are improving and /or your child is getting frustrated - think about requesting Speech Language Therapy support.
If you're unsure, give me a call or email and we can chat about it.
If you are worried whether you should get help for your child, consider:
* are you noticing progress? (e.g. are they learning new words, or getting longer sentences?).
* is your child frustrated they're not being understood?
* if your child attends an early childhood centre or school - what do the teacher's think?
A good resource you can look at is: 'Much More Than Words'
In the end remember - if you don't feel things are improving and /or your child is getting frustrated - think about requesting Speech Language Therapy support.
If you're unsure, give me a call or email and we can chat about it.
What is the difference between a Speech Language Pathologist and a Speech Language Therapist?
Nothing. Traditionally in NZ we have been called Speech Language Therapists, overseas often we are called Speech Language Pathologists. It means the same thing.
Contact Details
- 3 Denbigh Street, Feilding, New Zealand
If you have any questions, or would like to book an appointment, please contact me and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Ph 022 083 5744