Speech Therapy

Hi, I’m Kayla!

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Speech, Language and Feeding Therapist (HPCSA)

I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Pretoria (B. Communication Pathology) and in 2020, my Masters in Early Childhood Intervention (M.ECI). Following my undergraduate training I completed my community service year at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the largest hospital in the Southern hemisphere. During this time I developed a passion to work in the field of paediatrics. By incorporating a holistic and integrated, family centred approach, I aim to improve my client’s quality of life by enhancing their participation in their daily activities. I am passionate about improving feeding from birth onwards. I have a special interest in early communication intervention and working with children with complex communication needs. I believe that communication is the essence of human life and therefore aim to facilitate and enhance communication for all my clients.

Further training/courses:

  • SOS approach to feeding
  • Makaton levels 1 – 4
  • PROMPT Trained
  • An Introduction to the Developmental Levels of DIR
Kayla
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What is Speech Therapy & who is it for?

Speech language therapists have a broad scope and specialize in fostering and enhancing overall communication and improving feeding difficulties. The following areas are addressed in therapy:

  • Pre-linguistic skills: These skills are precursors to developing speech and language. Skills include: joint attention, eye contact, turn taking, object permanence and intentions to communicate.
  • Speech/ Articulation: When a child has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly or fluently (e.g., stuttering is a form of disfluency) or has problems with their voice or resonance.
  • Language: When a child has trouble understanding language, or sharing thoughts, ideas, and feelings. This may include problems with putting words together, having a limited vocabulary or being able to use language functionally.
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  • Social communication/pragmatics: When a child has trouble with the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication. These disorders may include problems with communicating for social purposes (e.g., greeting, commenting, asking questions), talking in different ways to suit the listener and setting, and following rules for conversation and story-telling.
  • Cognitive-communication: When a child has problems with organizing their thoughts, paying attention, remembering, planning, and/or problem-solving.
  • Auditory processing skills: When a child has difficulty focusing on, recalling or comprehending  spoken information. It refers to the child’s listening skills.
  • Dysphagia (feeding and swallowing difficulties): Feeding difficulties can include problems with chewing, swallowing, coughing, gagging and refusing foods (certain textures, food groups on when transitioning to solids).

Speech and language services are provided to children with:

· Speech production and pronunciation difficulties / delay

· Language delays and disorders

· Auditory processing difficulties

· Childhood apraxia of speech

· Autism spectrum disorders

· Neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy

· Syndromes where speech and/or language may be affected such as down syndrome

· Anatomical abnormalities such as cleft lip and/or palate

· Feeding difficulties (including fussy/picky eaters)