Talking Children Podcast

In this episode paediatric speech pathology researcher discusses her work on how families can be best supported to engage in speech therapy with their children.

In this episode I discuss Dr Anna Cronin's research on the experience of cleft lip and palate in early childhood. 

In this episode I talk with Shaun Zeigenfusz to discuss developmental language disorder (DLD) which affects 2 children in every classroom.

In this episode I talk about the diagnostic criteria for autism and common features of autism in children.

Part 2 of our Autism series. In this episode I answer some of the most commonly asked questions about Autism with special guest Lucia Flint. We cover topics such as whether autism is becoming more common, masking, stimming, regression and meltdowns. This episode is busting common myths with the latest research on neurodiversity affirming practices.

In this episode I speak with Rich Stephens, a speech-language pathologist and person who stutters. Rich is the founder of SAY: Australia, a Melbourne-based national not-for-profit organisation that supports, empowers, and educates young people who stutter aged 7-18 years and the world that surrounds them. Rich discusses his experience of finding a community with other people who stutter, accepting himself and supporting young people who stutter to do the same. SAY: Australia runs FREE comprehensive and innovative educational arts programs that address the physical, social, and emotional impacts of stuttering. Their aim is to build a community of acceptance, friendship, and encouragement for young people who stutter. They also run a summer camp for young people who stutter. For more information see: https://www.sayaustralia.org.au/ Or contact Rich: rich@sayaustralia.org.au

This taster gives a quick introduction of what to expect from the Talking Children Podcast.

In this episode I unpack the 6 steps to the SPRING approach to supporting communication development in children.

In this episode I discuss the science around Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and how they impact upon children’s development with a particular focus on language development. I also discuss how we can support children to health from their trauma and create positive relationships to enhance lifelong outcomes.

In this episode I explain what baby sign is and its potential benefits. I then provide step by step tips for introducing baby sign with a little one.

This episode looks at children who are learning to speak or use more than one language. In Australia, 1 in 6 children start school speaking a language other than English, so there are many parents and teachers who are eager to know how best to support their language development. I draw upon the research to share 5 key facts and dispel 5 common myths around multilingualism in children.

This episode discusses the importance of early identification and early intervention for communication difficulties. I draw upon research evidence to discuss the risks of waiting and the benefits of acting early upon concerns about a child’s communication. I talk about the important role both parents and teachers play in this process. I also discuss the communication milestones developed by Speech Pathology Australia and how these can be used to help identify children who may need support for their communication.

This episode introduces stuttering in early childhood. The types of stuttering behaviours are described and information is provided about risk factors and when to seek help. The episode concludes with a list of dos and don’ts when talking with a child who stutters.

This episode discusses how children learn the sounds in their language. We talk about the typical processes that children go through when learning their sounds and at what age sounds are acquired by children in English. Strategies for supporting children to learn their sounds and an activity for identifying whether a child might need support with their speech development are provided.

This week’s episode explores the way that babies communicate in their first few months of life including eye contact, facial expressions, babbling and gesture. We also describe how adults use “baby talk” to communicate with babies and help them to learn language. I then share three ways that adults can engage with babies to help lay the essential early foundations for language learning and communication.

In this episode we cover the basics of how children learn language and discuss the importance of interaction with primary caregivers. This episode lays the foundation for understanding all of the future topics we will cover on the podcast. I unpack the simple mantra of: talk, read, play to help support children’s language development from their earliest moments.

This episode provides an introduction to the Talking Children Podcast.