5 Best Speech Therapists in Adelaide

Virginia Hill Speech Pathology has a large roster of licensed speech therapists, with Dr. Virginia Hill at the helm. She is a member of Speech Pathology Australia as well as the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

Autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury, stroke, transgender communication and voice therapy, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease are just a few of the difficulties that their team can assist with.

We admire that they are able to provide a comprehensive report and assessment in order to give a clear picture of where the client needs improvement and the programs they offer to address this.

Another thing we like about them is that they occasionally plan excursions so that appointments are not confined to their offices.

For those who live far away or cannot make it personally to their clinic, they offer teletherapy sessions via Skype or Zoom.

Unfortunately, the price point of their initial and subsequent consultations is higher compared to other speech therapists on our list.

Moreover, speech therapists usually provide a pamphlet or an overview of the programs and methods they employ in their sessions. We did not find this on their website or other advertisements.

We find it a hassle to constantly call or visit the clinic to get easy answers about their programs and methods if the client is not yet certain about going for it.

Nevertheless, for adults and kids of all ages, Virginia Hill Speech Pathology provides a high level of knowledge and experience (including early intervention from birth onwards).

HenderCare is a licensed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider established in 2004 and is aware that every kid has unique requirements and objectives. 

To ensure that your kid makes the most of their NDIS plan and funding, their committed team of therapists collaborate closely with you regarding speech-related concerns and development.

If you are not eligible for the NDIS but still need therapy, they can provide these services privately at reasonable prices.

What’s great about them is that they offer 24/7 support for clients.

Additionally, they provide early childhood screening programs where specialists visit your kindergarten or school. They offer accurate information and reporting through quick, non-intrusive evaluations.

Their allied health therapists are adept at managing social groups created and appropriate for kids who would gain from participating in a group setting.

Children can practice and improve their language, emotional control, physical abilities, and proper social skills in these groups.

However, HenderCare therapists are more renowned as specialists in aged care services instead of catering to children for early intervention in speech-related impairments.

Moreover, some clients complained about their poor communication with clients. Communication is crucial because it shows how well they make setting appointments convenient for clients and how well they build rapport with them.

In addition to this, there is a lack of staff profiles on their website. Since speech therapy is a self-regulated profession and a government-issued license is required to practice, it is difficult to gauge their credibility without an extensive staff directory.

Despite these, we recommend HenderCare for its evidence-based and innovative approach to speech therapy. 

One of these approaches is their use of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies, which serve to complement or make up for the impairment and disability patterns of those with severe expressive communication difficulties.

Do you feel like you don’t know where to begin and have no idea what speech therapy is? You should check out Talking Matters.

They have the largest roster of speech therapists and occupational therapists in Adelaide we have seen. Apart from their excellent resources, there will be little to no waiting times.

No two therapy programs would have the exact same structure or presentation. They are aware that your child is unique and will benefit best from sessions if the program is created with their needs and skills in mind.

You will also find their website easy to navigate and highly informative with the pamphlets they have for you to learn more about speech therapy and their approach.

During the school holidays, they also provide a variety of engaging group choices for intense intervention. These sessions can effectively enhance the child’s speech skills and school preparation.

They offer a thorough checklist of the abilities kids should possess at each age as a reference. If your child needs to be evaluated by a therapist, this will help you decide.

Their services are also reasonably priced, which we appreciate.

However, some clients are disappointed about being passed from one therapist to another over the course of their treatment. This is difficult, as it can take time for children to warm up to new people for them to have a good relationship.

Some clients also have commented about the difficulties of some therapists in connecting with their children. This speaks about the lack of experience of some staff.

We also found that they only offer their speech therapy services to children. 

Established in Adelaide in 2005, Liberty Speech Pathology is a private pediatric service provider that provides fun, interactive evaluations and therapy for children and teenagers.

The child checklists they offer for free will help you gauge if your child needs to be referred to a speech therapist.

Liberty Speech Pathology can conduct screening evaluations for entire classes at school or for individuals at the Liberty Speech Pathology clinic.

A screening test’s objective is to detect speech, language, and reading impairments early in the child’s life so that they can be remedied as soon as possible.

We admire how they value partnering with parents in assisting their children to overcome speech impairments by offering workshops for them that are target-focused. 

They also provide services to a wide variety of schools in Metropolitan Adelaide, easily delivering therapy on-site and reducing the need for your child to miss school.

We also appreciate the fact that you may qualify for their discounted rates if your child is not qualified for the government funding options or if you are on a waiting list for funding. 

However, one downside to their speech therapy services is that they do not cater to adults. They only take in kids and teens as clients.

We are also disappointed about the lack of profiles of their speech therapists on their website. This is crucial in ensuring the credentials of their experts.

If these downsides don’t apply to or affect you, Liberty Speech Pathologist is recommended if you plan on organizing an in-school speech therapy session. 

We also recommend them if you need expert screening and assessment for your children’s speech-related causes of concern. 

Kid Sense Child Development has 20 years of expertise and is the oldest continuously held private provider of pediatric speech and occupational therapy in Adelaide. It is one of the most reputable names in child development.

They have six locations across Adelaide. Their state-of-the-art facilities provide a physically and emotionally secure atmosphere, encouraging kids to take calculated risks that promote development.

To make learning engaging and entertaining, there are easily accessible toys in every area that may be utilized for a range of activities.

Kid Sense believes that therapy should take a multi-sensory approach. Every treatment room has visuals, which adds to the way a child understands what is expected of them.

They also excel in synergizing occupational therapy and speech therapy.

Occupational therapy can directly aid speech therapy by improving sensory processing and self-regulation, allowing children to sit and pay attention to tasks for longer periods of time.

What we don’t appreciate about them, however, is that their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. Many clients find their front desk rude and unwelcoming.

Some clients also complained about delays in processing reports from consultations and evaluations. This is crucial for children who require professional help from speech therapists as soon as possible.

In addition to this, Kid Sense does not offer home/school visits. They only offer in-clinic sessions and teletherapy.