Does my child need to see a speech pathologist?
At Central Coast Local Health District, our speech pathologists work with children who find it hard to:
- use words and sentences
- understand what is said to them
- speak clearly
- speak smoothly
- eat and drink
- use their voice
It is important to contact us if you have any concerns about your child’s communication or eating and drinking skills/development.
Can my child be seen by a speech pathologist?
Our speech pathologists work with children aged 0-16 years who live on the Central Coast. We do not work with children who have NDIS funding. If your child has NDIS funding, you can use this funding for other services that best meet your child’s needs.
How can I book an appointment?
Please call us on 02 4328 7999.
What will happen at the first appointment?
The first appointment is a telephone call. A speech pathologist will call you to talk about your child. The speech pathologist will then book your child for an assessment appointment. Options for assessment may include a face-to-face appointment or Telehealth session.
What will happen at the assessment?
The speech pathologist will:
- Look at your child’s communication/eating and drinking skills.
- Talk to you about your child’s skills/development.
- Make a plan with you about how to help your child.
- Tell you about other services that might be helpful for you and your child.
What if the assessment shows my child needs help?
If your child needs help, the speech pathologist will work with you to come up with a plan. The plan will depend on your child’s needs and age. The plan might include the following:
- Attending a parent information session.
- Attending therapy appointments, either individually or with a group of children and their families. This could be face-to-face or via Telehealth.
- Doing activities at home.
- Speaking with your child’s teacher.
Where will the assessment be?
Our speech pathologists work in our community health centres in the following locations:
Erina – 02 4367 9600
Gateway (Gosford) – 02 4328 7900
Lake Haven – 02 4393 7777
Long Jetty – 02 4336 7800
Woy Woy – 02 4344 8432
If you need to change or enquire about your appointment, please contact your local centre on the number above.
Helpful websites
The following websites have helpful information about children’s communication and eating and drinking development.
Language
Speech Pathology Australia’s (SPA) Communication Milestones
SPA’s Communication Milestones helps families who are not sure whether their child has communication difficulties.
Western NSW Local Health District’s Waiting for Speech Pathology
The Waiting for Speech Pathology website has information and resources for families to access while they are waiting for their child to see a speech pathologist.
DLD and Me’s goal is to raise awareness about developmental language disorder (DLD) and to offer support and resources for parents, teachers and individuals impacted by DLD.
Fluency
The Lidcombe Program is a treatment for children who stutter.
Literacy
Five from Five aims to improve literacy levels by ensuring all children receive effective, evidence-based reading instruction.
Feedback
We welcome feedback on any services received from our team and suggestions on how we can improve. To provide feedback, please contact the Consumer Feedback Department on 02 4320 3920 or 02 4320 2036 during office hours, or email CCLHD-ConsumerFeedback@health.nsw.gov.au.