Banter Speech & Language

Our recent blogs

Real world things your child should know before starting school I: position words (prepositions), places, home address, and directions

5 June 2018

Recently, we’ve seen a worrying increase in the number of preschoolers – with and without language issues – who don’t know where they live or how to describe where things are in space. While lots of early education products… Read More

Why are boys more at risk for reading problems like dyslexia than girls?

22 May 2018

By David Kinnane

Peer-reviewed evidence tells us that: boys are 3-5 times more likely than girls to be referred to professionals for help with reading difficulties, including dyslexia; on average, boys don’t do as well as girls on standardised reading tests;… Read More

Get out there! Being social and kind to others makes kids happier, better-liked, and less likely to be bullied

15 May 2018

By David Kinnane

We all want our kids to be happy, well-behaved and well-liked by peers. But, sometimes – despite our best hopes – they struggle. And few things in life are as stressful as seeing your child suffer as they… Read More

Help! My bilingual child just started preschool but won’t speak! (FAQs on the “Silent Period”)

9 May 2018

By David Kinnane

First, don’t panic. Your child is probably going through the – perfectly normal – “silent period” many kids go through when learning a second language. The Silent Period? The “silent period” is also known as the “silent phase”… Read More

A voice treatment for Parkinson’s Disease that works: LSVT LOUD (radio interview)

3 May 2018

By David Kinnane

It’s just not good enough! Voice problems – especially speaking too quietly – are a common symptom of Parkinson’s Disease, affecting between 65-90% of people with the disease. Losing your volume can be devastating for your quality of… Read More

Editor's Picks

Stuttering: will my child recover? Factors that predict recovery and why you shouldn’t wait

2 January 2018

By David Kinnane

About 4% to 8% of children stutter at some point during early childhood (Yairi & Ambrose, 2013). Stuttering usually starts without warning between the ages of 2 1/2 and 4 years of age. Here’s the good news: at… Read More

“Why should I let my late-talker play with other kids?” Because play promotes learning: here’s why and how

2 January 2018

By David Kinnane

Yesterday morning, while sunburning myself to a crisp, I watched my sons muck around at Austinmer beach. They were out of earshot, but appeared to be playing a game where Son 1 would “defend” Son 2 from oncoming waves… Read More

Does my child have a language disorder? 6 questions speech pathologists should ask before assessment

2 January 2018

By David Kinnane

From time to time, I get complaints about the length of my pre-assessment case history form. But I’m not shortening it. Every question in my case history form has a purpose. Yet the answers to some questions are… Read More

Reading with – not to – your pre-schoolers: how to do it better (and why)

2 January 2018

By David Kinnane

Most parents know that reading books with their kids is important. But many parents don’t know why exactly. And it’s not as if parents get issued with an instruction book about how to read books with their kids… Read More

Is your child struggling to read? Here’s what works

29 January 2018

By David Kinnane

On reflection, I’m incredibly lucky. Both my parents were teachers. Growing up, my house was full of chatter, stories and books. My early state school education in regional Victoria was long on “old school” phonics and short on fads…. Read More

FAQ: 10 common speech error patterns seen in children of 3-5 years of age – and when you should be concerned

21 April 2018

By David Kinnane

Speech is a wonderfully complex skill, and children need lots of practice to learn how to do it. As with any motor skill, children make plenty of mistakes as they learn to speak clearly. In English, we hear… Read More

Explore our website

Book an appointment today

How can we help you?

Speech

Language

Reading

Stuttering

Accent

Voice

FAQ

Speech Pathology

School Readiness

Standardised tests

Family Activities

Writing

Our recent blogs

Real world things your child should know before starting school I: position words (prepositions), places, home address, and directions

Why are boys more at risk for reading problems like dyslexia than girls?

Get out there! Being social and kind to others makes kids happier, better-liked, and less likely to be bullied

Help! My bilingual child just started preschool but won’t speak! (FAQs on the “Silent Period”)

A voice treatment for Parkinson’s Disease that works: LSVT LOUD (radio interview)

Editor's Picks

Stuttering: will my child recover? Factors that predict recovery and why you shouldn’t wait

“Why should I let my late-talker play with other kids?” Because play promotes learning: here’s why and how

Does my child have a language disorder? 6 questions speech pathologists should ask before assessment

Reading with – not to – your pre-schoolers: how to do it better (and why)

Is your child struggling to read? Here’s what works

FAQ: 10 common speech error patterns seen in children of 3-5 years of age – and when you should be concerned