Parent question hub
Start with the question you are actually asking.
Parents rarely begin with a therapy label. They begin with something they are noticing at home, school or in everyday life. These answers are general guidance and do not replace an individual assessment.
Ask our team a questionSpeech and communication
My child understands us but is not speaking much. Should we wait?
There is no single answer based only on age or number of words. If you are concerned, a speech and language assessment can help clarify current communication skills and whether support is useful now.
My child speaks, but people outside the family struggle to understand them. Can speech therapy help?
Speech clarity is one area a speech-language professional can assess. The next step depends on the pattern of speech sounds, age and how much the difficulty affects communication.
Do we need a diagnosis before speech therapy?
No. Parents can seek an assessment because of a communication concern even without a diagnosis.
Sensory, movement and everyday skills
Does every sensory concern need occupational therapy?
No. Sensory preferences are common. OT may be useful when sensory or motor differences are significantly affecting everyday participation.
My child avoids certain clothes, sounds or textures. What should I do?
Notice which situations are difficult and how strongly they affect daily routines. If the pattern is frequent or disruptive, an occupational therapy discussion can help clarify what is going on and what support may be useful.
Can OT help with school readiness?
It may help when motor, sensory, attention or self-care skills are affecting classroom participation. The goals depend on the individual child.
Behaviour, routines and regulation
My child has frequent meltdowns. Does that mean they need behaviour therapy?
Not automatically. Meltdowns can have different causes, including communication difficulty, sensory overload, transitions or unmet needs. The first step is understanding the pattern and context.
Is ABA the same for every child?
No. If ABA-informed strategies are used, goals and methods should be individualised and explained clearly to the family.
Should difficult behaviour simply be stopped?
Behaviour is more useful to understand than simply suppress. Support should consider what the child may be communicating and build safer, more useful skills where needed.
Learning, school readiness and development
How do I know which therapy my child needs?
Start with what you are noticing in communication, movement, sensory needs, behaviour, learning or everyday routines. Assessment and discussion can help identify the relevant professional and goals.
Do we need a diagnosis before contacting a therapy centre?
No. A concern or question is enough to begin. The team can discuss whether an assessment or another professional's input is appropriate.
Does an assessment automatically mean therapy?
No. Assessment is intended to understand strengths and support needs. Recommendations depend on what is found.
What should we bring to a first assessment?
Bring relevant previous reports or school observations if you have them. You do not need to collect documents before making the first enquiry.
Your question can be the starting point