Assessments of feeding and mealtime skills may be completed for clients, such as those who:

• are having difficulties with early feeding/starting solids

• are selective, restrictive or anxious eaters

• have difficulties with eating, drinking and/or swallowing

• struggle with certain textured foods

• may be at risk of safety issues when eating and/or drinking

• need support to engage in positive, successful and meaningful mealtimes

• find it challenging to get adequate oral intake, nutrition and/or hydration

• have trouble swallowing their medications

• eat/drink using tube feeding (including currently using, having a history of using, or may need to use in the future)

• have family members or carers who would like support to better understand and support their feeding skills and needs

Communication assessments may include informal assessments (e.g. observations, parent/carer interviews, play based tasks), or formal assessments (standardised assessment tools for communication skills).

The communication areas and skills assessed, and the types of assessments used will depend on each individual clients goals and support needs, as well as the purpose of the assessment.

Communication areas that may be assessed include:

• Early language, interaction and play skills

• Speech sounds and clarity (articulation, phonology, motor speech skills)

• Language skills (receptive language, expressive language, higher level language, pragmatics)

• Multimodal communication skills, including Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

• Literacy skills (phonological awareness, reading, spelling, writing, reading comprehension)

Assessment reports can be completed following communication and feeding assessments, and during the course of therapy, for various needs and circumstances. Reports are individualised, and can range from a brief assessment summary report, to a comprehensive assessment report, a mealtime management plan, progress report, or assistive technology assessment/recommendation report, depending on your needs.

Reports can also be completed during the course of therapy, to document therapy goals and progress and provide recommendations (e.g. future therapy and goals, strategies for home or school, recommendations for access to funding and other supports, referrals to other services).

Any reports requested will be discussed in detail with you, to ensure they meet your specific and individual requirements and purpose, and a quote will be provided for approval prior to writing any reports.

Therapy sessions supporting feeding challenges and goals, using a holistic approach that considers each individual person and all of the internal and external factors that contribute to the overall feeding experience. There is no one feeding therapy approach or program that works best for everyone, so each person's feeding therapy journey will look different, and I strive to find the right individualised combination of supports to achieve your goals.

Our work together will aim to enhance participation in safe and positive feeding and mealtime experiences. My approach not only focuses on improving physical safety (in eating, drinking and swallowing) and feeding skill development, but also on nurturing felt safety, the feeding relationship, autonomy, curiosity, motivation, and confidence.

Individualised therapy sessions supporting any and all forms of communication, focusing on the goals that matter most for you. I'll work closely with you to choose goals that are important, and support you to achieve your goals in ways that are fun, functional and meaningful for you.

Communication is the process of sharing information, and it's how we connect and interact with others. No matter what communication skills and goals I am supporting you with, our work together will have a deep focus on nurturing strengths and individuality, fostering connection and relationships, and developing self-advocacy and autonomy.

A limited number of once-off and ad-hoc sessions (telehealth only) are available for those who don't need an assessment or ongoing therapy, aren't ready to start this process, or aren't really sure if they could benefit from speech or feeding therapy services. Maybe you have some burning questions, want peace of mind, or want some information or advice around developmental milestones, a particular communication or feeding skill or challenge, or are seeking suggestions for resources, or other services that might be helpful.

If this sounds like something you need, reach out and we can discuss available appointment times and what support you're looking for.

Clinical supervision for Speech Pathologists.

Mentoring, support, and/or education for other allied health professionals, wanting guidance for supporting people with communication and feeding challenges.