Speech-Language Therapists (SLT) work with children with communication and/or feeding difficulties. 

Speech Language Therapists treat children with disabilities/special needs under the age of 3 years provided the child also requires another therapy from child development.

• We assess a child’s communication difficulties through play and therapy activities.
• We educate parents to encourage early communication in infants and toddlers during play.  This can include different ways of communication such as the use of Makaton sign language or visuals.
• We assess a child’s feeding difficulties and provide support and education to encourage the safest and most appropriate feeding method.  Some children who have feeding difficulties may go on to have a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFS) which is an xray of swallowing.

Children over the age of 3 with significant feeding problems may be seen by the SLT and Dietician in the Feeding and Nutrition Clinic.

Cleft Lip and Palate Services through Counties Manukau Health are run in parallel to Child Development Speech Language Therapy.