Speak Unique Speech Therapy

09/10/2026

Yesterday evening we celebrated another practice baby! Congratulations to our dear Danisa Dhaver and your bundle of joy. We cannot wait to meet him!

30/09/2026

And finally! Let's meet Marié Theart-Naudé ...

Marié graduated from the University of Stellenbosch in 2007. She completed her community service year in the very beautiful, rural setting of Barberton, Mpumalanga, where she gained invaluable experience in skills one cannot be taught at University like making due with limited resources and learning to think out of the box. She has fond memories of starting up the Kangaroo Mother Care support program for premature babies and their moms at the Barberton State Hospital and supporting CP patients at their rural homes with feeding, positioning, and basic unaided AAC systems as part of the hospital's multidisciplinary outreach team.

In 2008, Marié headed off for some experience abroad! After working for the NHS in London for 2 years — where she was based in Early Intervention Centres and Special Needs Units embedded in mainstream schools — Marié returned to South Africa and has been growing her private practice since 2010. In 2018, Jolané Kotze joined her in practice and in 2020 SpeakUnique was born.

Marié has extensive experience in multimodal communication approaches, including the use of PECS (2007), Makaton Signing (2016 and 2019), low-tech AAC, visual scheduling for classrooms and homes, making visual aids.

She is a registered DIR®/Floortime therapist (since 2017) through The Profectum Foundation and this approach has infiltrated the way in which she approaches all cases: a relationship-based foundation to therapy, that honours each child’s unique sensory and developmental profile, supports whole language engagement (multiple ways to bring one's message accross) and empowers families and educators to understand their children better and help them reach their full potential. The DIR approach is especially effective for supporting children with social-communication difficulties inside of unstructured (i.e. Sensory-motor freeplay) as well as structured (i.e. activities/games/worksheets at the table) contexts. These are typically effective for learners on the Autism Spectrum, but the hardships that children with ADHD, Childhood Apraxia of Speech, Dyslexia and many other diagnosis also experience in this area, must not be overlooked.

It is therefore not uncommon to find Marié on the trampoline or inside the fairy-light-lit blockout tent, while supporting an ADHD kiddo with a basic lisp; or on the practice’s steps making princess crowns with an ASD kiddo who didn't have the courage to enter the building on that day, because... REGULATION AND RELATIONSHIP FIRST, which paves the way for effective and authentic learning.

Outside of work, Marié enjoys being creative especially in arts and crafts with her daughter (8), building Lego with her son (5), home making and gardening. When they don't work or school, her family of 4 love to hook on their trailer and go spend time in nature somewhere in our beautiful country.

21/07/2026

💛 MORE THAN ADHD: UNDERSTANDING COMORBIDITIES 💛

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, but for many people, it's only part of the story.

Research shows that individuals with ADHD are at a higher risk of developing certain mental health conditions and behaviours, including substance use disorders and eating disorders.

Why?

ADHD can impact impulse control, emotional regulation, reward-seeking behaviour, self-esteem, and the ability to manage stress. Without the right support, some individuals may turn to unhealthy coping strategies in an attempt to manage overwhelming emotions, restlessness, anxiety, or feelings of failure.

⚠️ Substance Use Disorders
People with ADHD are at an increased risk of problematic alcohol and substance use, particularly when ADHD goes undiagnosed or untreated. Early identification and appropriate support can significantly reduce this risk.

⚠️ Eating Disorders
Children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD may be more likely to experience difficulties with eating behaviours, including binge eating, emotional eating, irregular eating patterns, and certain eating disorders.

The important thing to remember is that ADHD does not cause these conditions, and not everyone with ADHD will experience them. However, understanding the increased risk allows us to recognise warning signs early and provide support before challenges escalate.

💛

21/07/2026

10/05/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all super Moms out there...

06/05/2026

Foam fun to work on early literacy skills! 📝

05/05/2026

Time to meet Jolané Kotzé! 🌟

Jolané graduated top of her class from the University of Stellenbosch and completed her community service at 3 Military Hospital in Bloemfontein. Here she gained unique experience in treating adults with rare medical diagnoses, such as Guillain Barre Syndrome.

Jolané is the co-founder of Speak Unique Speech Therapy and our in-house guru when it comes to litercy, language and speech disorders. She specialises in evaluating and treating children with complex literacy, speech and language disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD and other syndromes and especially enjoys working with school-aged children.

She recently completed her training and internship to become a Dyslexia Diagnostician with the Stark Griffin Dyslexia Academy and is trained to diagnose and treat individuals with Dyslexia. Furthermore, Jolané is also an external lecturer and clinical supervisor at the University of Stellenbosch where she plays an active role in the training of students. Here her passion is supporting students in bridging the gap between theoretical training and real-world clinical experience.

When she is not at the practice or busy at clinical platforms, you will find her at home with her husband, 9-month-old son and two dogs. As a family, the Kotzés enjoy exploring markets, w**e farms, parks and unique experiences the province has to offer.

14/04/2026

Let's meet Danisa Dhaver-Chetty! 👋🏾

Danisa graduated from the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2016 and completed her community service year in 2017 at Catherine Booth Hospital. Her clinical interests lie in complex communication disorders, paediatric dysphagia, and supporting individuals with special needs, including those with ASD, Cerebral Palsy, and Down Syndrome. She is known for her calmness, and keeps our dramatics to a minimum 😉

Danisa is particularly passionate about Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) and plan to pursue advanced training in this area to further empower children and families in their communication journeys. She is our go-to for all things AAC and often utilises augmentative devices and systems to support language learning in sessions.

Originally from sunny KwaZulu-Natal, she balances her professional life with her personal roles as a wife and mother to a one-year-old. Beyond being a super Speechie, she also enjoys reading, writing, cooking, baking, nature walks, and swimming—activities that bring creativity, balance, and joy into her daily life.