ADHD Information for Parents

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a medical condition that affects 5% of all Kiwi children. Its primary symptoms are hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. If left untreated, ADHD can undermine a child socially and academically. Children with ADHD do not simply grow out of it. Despite sound parenting and being gifted with normal to above normal intelligence, they still need …

Speech Clarity: What’s Normal and When to Seek Help

It’s perfectly normal for children to make some mistakes as they learn to pronounce new sounds, and every sound has a different age-range at which we would expect kids to get the hang of it. While all children learn at their own pace, it is still helpful to monitor their progress as they reach speech-related milestones. By ensuring kids are …

Verbal Dyspraxia or Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) – also known as Verbal Dyspraxia – is a motor speech disorder, which means children with CAS have problems articulating sounds, syllables and words. This is not because of muscle weakness or paralysis, but rather because the brain has problems planning to move the body parts needed for speech. The child knows what he or she …

Stuttering And Its Treatment

Stuttering is a communication disorder that involves a breakdown in the continuity of the flow of speech. It is can be quite common, affecting approximately 11% of pre-schoolers and 1% of adults. In this introductory article, we will review the core characteristics and causes of stuttering, as well as discussing the importance of speech therapy for stuttering. Characteristics of Stuttering …

Auditory Processing Disorder

People with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) experience issues with the way their brain uses and interprets sound. It can affect their ability to focus, understand or recall information and is most common in children under 15 years of age. Unlike other issues that can affect focus or comprehension, APD is not caused by higher-order intellectual disorders. It may, however, co-exist …

Dyslexia: An Overview and How Speech Therapy Can Help

Dyslexia is a disorder that affects all forms of communication, spoken and written. People with Dyslexia have trouble with reading fluently, and may also have difficulties with language and verbal comprehension. Dyslexia is a common learning disability that can be treated, and the sooner it is diagnosed, the more favourable the outcome tends to be. Possible Signs of Dyslexia There …