Newcastle Speech Pathology

03/06/2026

Meet our founder and director, Alison McDonald. 🩵
Hear the story behind why she became a speech pathologist.

01/06/2026

Here’s a refresher on who Newcastle Speech Pathology is! 💜

We support communication at every stage of life, from first words to finding your voice again.

Swipe to get to know us. 👉
📍 Cooks Hill & Kurri Kurri

25/05/2026

This Wednesday at 12pm, over two million children across Australia will be reading the very same story together for National Simultaneous Storytime 📚💙

This year’s featured book is *Luna Roo* by Adam Wallace and Christopher Nielsen, a heartwarming story about courage, friendship, and finding your place in the world. National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual event by the Australian Library and Information Association that celebrates the joy of reading and supports early literacy for children nationwide.

Three little things to try when you read aloud this week 🐨
• Pause and wonder out loud together
• Let your child help turn the pages
• Talk about the surprises in the story

Reading aloud is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to support your child’s speech, language, and connection.

You can find a copy through your local library, school, or bookshop, and join the nationwide reading event on Wednesday 27 May at 12pm.

We’ll be reading at Cooks Hill, tag us if you’re joining in, we’d love to see your storytime crew 📖

21/05/2026

Reading doesn't always start with words on a page.

For autistic kids, literacy often grows through connection, curiosity, and the everyday moments you're already making space for.

Three simple ways to support reading at home:
✔️ Turn reading into a conversation, not just reading the words
✔️ Use everyday print around the house — magazines, catalogues, fridge magnets, the back of the cereal box
✔️ Choose books based on what your child is actually interested in, not what you think they should read

Engagement comes first. The skills follow.

At Newcastle Speech Pathology, we work alongside families across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and the Hunter Valley to support autistic kids with reading, communication, and confidence.
Our director Alison has been a speechie for over 32 years and is also mum to an autistic daughter who's thriving. That lived experience shapes how our whole team works with every family.

Newcastle's Best Speech Pathology Practice. 2023, 2024, 2025.
Comment READING below and we'll DM you our communication checklist.

18/05/2026

Sometimes parents wait because everyone around them says,

“They’ll grow out of it.”
“Every child develops differently.”
“Give it more time.”

And sometimes that’s true.

But if something has been sitting in the back of your mind for a while now, this is your reminder that you’re allowed to ask questions sooner.

These signs don’t automatically mean something is wrong. But they are worth paying attention to.

Early support can make a real difference, and often, parents tell us they wish they’d acted earlier instead of spending months or years wondering.

Save this for later, or send it to someone who may need to hear it today.

And if you’d like to talk to a speech pathologist, the details are below.

📞 (02) 4948 9800

📧 [email protected]

15/05/2026

Think speaking two languages confuses children? These 5 myths might surprise you.

Is speaking more than one language confusing for your child? We explore five common myths about bilingual development and share what research tells us.

14/05/2026

Try this 👇

Say “juicy cantaloupe” backwards.

Tricky? Now imagine needing that much effort just to speak every day.

For people with Apraxia of Speech, coordinating the muscles for speech can feel this challenging, even when they know exactly what they want to say. 💙

Today is World Apraxia Awareness Day, helping raise awareness and understanding for individuals and families living with apraxia.

14/05/2026

One of the most common questions we hear is:

“Will speaking two languages affect my child’s speech?”

Current evidence shows that bilingualism does not cause speech delay.

Children learning more than one language may:

👉 use words from both languages

👉 mix languages within sentences

👉 show vocabulary across different contexts

These are all typical parts of bilingual development.

What matters most is how communication is developing overall, across understanding, expression, and interaction.

If you’re noticing differences in both languages over time, it can be helpful to take a closer look

🔖 Save this as a guide to come back to
📩 DM us for our free Communication Checklist (4–5 years)

12/05/2026

A lot of parents spend months, sometimes years, trying to convince themselves that…

Everything is “probably fine.”

And sometimes it is.

But one of the most important things we look at isn’t whether a child is talking the way you’d expect for their age. It’s whether they’re still making progress.

Are new words still being added? Even slowly?
Or have things completely plateaued?

Those are two very different conversations.

Tonight, try this: write down 10 words your child used this week… then think back to the words they were using 6 months ago.

Has the list grown?

If not, that’s worth a closer look.

📍Newcastle · Lake Macquarie · Hunter Valley

👇Comment your child’s age below and we’ll DM you the right guide — toddler or preschool.

10/05/2026

To the mum who notices every new word. The one who celebrates the small wins. Who does the quiet work no one else sees.

Happy Mother's Day from all of us at NSP. 💛

If you've been wondering whether your child might benefit from a speechie in their corner, we're here. Book a free 10-minute call.

No pressure. Just a chat.

📍 Newcastle + Hunter Region