Our Services

At OST, we are passionate about addressing communication challenges as early as possible to ensure we set a strong foundation for a child’s further development and future success. Some children may be considered late talkers, which is when there is a delay in using words and forming sentences (e.g. a 2 year old that is only using a handful of words). Early intervention aims to encourage the development of essential skills to promote clear and confident communication through parent training. Our therapists work closely with families to create fun, engaging sessions that encourage language growth with a focus on social and play skills, building vocabulary, understanding instructions, and confidence in communication from an early age.

Language is a foundational skill for communication and connection. Children with a language disorder may struggle with using appropriate vocabulary, sentence structure, grammar, or the ability to understand and follow instructions. Language disorders may impact communication across various contexts and are not solely due to hearing, intellectual, or emotional issues. Language disorders make it challenging to communicate effectively and impact the ability to understand and connect with others. At OST, we aim to develop and strengthen language skills tailored to each individual’s needs. This often involves assessing and working on comprehension skills, vocabulary, grammar and sentence structure to achieve more meaningful communication.

Speech and articulation refers to the ability to produce sounds clearly. Some errors are age appropriate, whilst others are not (e.g. a child who has a lisp and says ‘thun’ for ‘sun’ at 4 years old is age appropriate, however at 6 years old this would be considered delayed). Difficulties with speech sounds can make it hard to say words clearly and can impact our ability to be understood by others. It can be frustrating for both the person and their loved ones when it is difficult to communicate ideas, needs and feelings clearly. Whether working with a child with developing speech or an adult refining articulation, our team is trained to assess, diagnose and provide intervention for speech sound disorders and delays. We are dedicated to supporting our clients to become clear and confident communicators.

Stuttering is the repetition of a sound, word or phrase which impacts fluency and causes interruptions in speech (e.g. b b b ball). It can also sound like someone is getting “stuck” while trying to express themselves. This can be frustrating as it impacts a person’s ability to express themselves effectively and can affect confidence as well as communication. We can work with children, teens and adults to promote smoother, more confident speech in a supportive environment. 

Literacy involves the skills needed to read and write effectively. Challenges with literacy, including dyslexia, can make these tasks difficult at any age and can have a big impact on participation across learning and day-to-day environments. Our team provides specialised support using evidence-based techniques to develop skills like reading comprehension, phonics, and spelling. We focus on boosting literacy, building confidence, and improving learning outcomes by working toward practical, functional literacy goals.

Learning difficulties can impact the ability to process information, attend to tasks and retain information. This can affect participation and learning outcomes at school, work, and in everyday life. We provide support to strengthen memory and problem solving skills as well as strategies to compensate for attention and working memory difficulties. Our approach aims to support both children and adults to improve their learning abilities and to encourage functional participation in learning environments. Additionally, we provide specialised support for individuals with special needs who may experience learning difficulties related to a primary diagnosis.

Voice is the ability to produce sound from your vocal chords (your voice box). Voice disorders can affect the quality, pitch, or volume of speech, making it difficult to communicate comfortably.  Voice disorders can occur for a number of reasons and be affected by various factors. Our team is trained to assess and develop an individualised treatment plan to improve vocal health and clarity.

Learning English as a second language can be challenging at any age. For children learning multiple languages it can often be complicated to tease apart if difficulties may be attributed to a developmental language delay or disorder, versus a language difference! At OST, we are able to assess these skills and if necessary, can provide targeted support to enhance pronunciation, grammar, and conversational skills. We are passionate about empowering children and adults alike to feel confident and comfortable using English in social, academic, and professional contexts.

Communication is an essential part of life, allowing us to share thoughts and connect with others. For some people, verbal communication can be difficult and it may be more suitable for them to use different methods to express themselves. Alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) systems can help those who struggle with verbal communication, providing tools such as picture boards or electronic devices. Our team can assess if AAC may be beneficial to you or your child and from there can develop a tailored treatment plan to integrate these tools.