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Giving your child a voice by bridging the communication gap
We empower children with speech challenges by providing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools and strategies, ensuring they have a way to express themselves and connect with the world.
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How can a speech language therapist help?

WE CAN HELP CHILDREN WITH...

SPEECH SOUND DISORDERS

LANGUAGE DELAY

STUTTERING

PHYSIOLOGICAL AWARENESS & LITERACY

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT DELAY

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

NEURODIVERSITY

DYSLEXIA

Introduction

Welcome to TalkBridge!

I’m a New Zealand-trained Speech Therapist with years of experience working in New Zealand. I work with clients ranging from pre-schoolers to young adults, with a special interest in supporting those with high and complex needs.

I’m particularly passionate about the role communication plays in helping individuals participate and engage fully in various environments. I believe in a collaborative, child-centred approach, working closely with key adults and other specialist services involved in child’s life to ensure the best possible outcomes.

In Malaysia, despite the growing need of support for children with speech and language difficulties, there is still a significant gap when it comes to supporting children through Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). This inspired me to create TalkBridge to help more parents and children exploring different AAC systems and to boost your confidence in using them.

All SLTs have basic training in understanding and assessing communication needs, including using low tech AAC. However at TalkBridge, I have completed the Communication Assistive Technology accreditation – Level 1 (CATL1). This recognises the more specialist knowledge and training required to provide appropriate advice and recommendations related to supporting children who need access to some form of AAC – whether low or high tech.

Set Appointment

Certification

  • HANEN-trained
  • Communication Assistive Technology (CAT) Level-1 accredited
  • Certified Lidcombe program trainer
  • Talking Mats Trained
  • MAKATON trained
  • Ways to Play (Autism-therapy) – trained
  • Specialised in Bilingualism

SPEECH

Specialise in helping children improve their speech sounds—whether it’s pronouncing certain words correctly or mastering tricky sounds.

LANGUAGE

Language skills are essential for your child's growth and confidence —whether it's expanding vocabulary, improving sentence structure, or enhancing comprehension.

NEURODIVERSE CHILDREN

Specialised speech and language therapy for neurodiverse children, including those with autism, ADHD, and other developmental differences.

“Parents are the first and most influential teachers in a child’s life, and they have an unparalleled understanding of their child’s needs, preferences, and learning style. Parent involvement in speech and language therapy has been shown to significantly improve outcomes for children.” – Law, 2018, in "The Role of Parents in Speech and Language Intervention"

Introduction of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

“The average 18 month old has been exposed to 4,380 hours of oral language at a rate of 8 hours/day from birth. A child who has a communication system (AAC) and receives speech/language therapy 2 times/week for 20-30 minutes will reach the same amount of language exposure (in their AAC language) in 84 years” – Jane Korsten

Frequently Asked Questions for Speech Therapy

What is speech therapy?

Speech Therapy is an evidence-based treatment approach that can have a significant impact on someone’s life with communication difficulties. It will support your child’s speech and language development, making them a confident communicator.

There are evidence-based milestones that can help track your child’s speech and language development. However, it is important not to panic if your child does not meet these milestones, as they represent 'typical' development, and every child is different. Please see the attached milestones under ‘Resources’.

There is no age limit for speech therapy. If you have concerns about your child’s speech and language development or would like reassurance at any time, feel free to reach out to us and speak to our SLT.

Speech-Language Therapists (SLTs) assess and provide treatment recommendations to support your child’s communication difficulties. We also help families understand and actively participate in the treatment plan.

How long does speech therapy typically take to see progress?

Every child is different. The duration and intensity of the speech therapy depends on multiple factors. Please speak to us for more information.

Parents will receive information on what goals are being worked on and the reasons behind them. They will also play a key role in therapy sessions, guided by the SLT and supported by our resources.

Consistency is thE key. Try to incorporate speech therapy activities into your daily routine for at least 15-30 minutes. The more frequent and natural the practice, the greater the progress in your child’s language development. SLT will be supporting parents to implement the speech therapy plan at home.

Absolutely! Recent studies have shown that online speech therapy can be just as effective as traditional, in-person therapy. In fact, many children who receive teletherapy make similar progress in improving their speech and language skills compared to those attending face-to-face sessions. For example, a study conducted in 2020 found that children participating in online speech therapy saw significant improvements in their ability to articulate words and in their language development—just like their peers in in-person therapy.

Frequently Asked Questions for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)

What is AAC?

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a range of tools and strategies that help to bridge the gap for those with communication difficulties - production and understanding of spoken and written language.

There are a range of AAC options depending on your child’s difficulties and challenges in accessing daily life routines. AAC ranges from low tech to high tech. Example of low tech AAC are visuals, picture boards, signing, body language and gestures. Example of high tech are IPad with speech generating apps.

All children will benefit from the use of AAC to support their speech and language development. For an example, exposing child since young with visuals of daily rouitnes e.g., eating, sleeping, playing time help them understand and follow routines better.

Absolutely not! Research shows AAC does not stop a child from talking, in fact, AAC furtther enhances child’s understanding and talking. By incorporating visuals, AAC supports speech and language development by boosting comprehension, providing a comfortable way for children to explore new words and concepts, and enabling them to request familiar objects or actions while learning to identify them.

How long does it take for my child to learn AAC?

Every child develops in a different pace than their peers. Few children pick up and learn AAC quick whereas there are a few that needs individualised plan and strategies to support them in mini steps. It’s like you learning a new language!

At Talkbridge, we will help to assess your child’s ability and challenges and then trial and error a few different AAC options to determine the most appropriate option for your child. Your child’s preference will also play a role in identifying the best AAC option.

Communication is a two-way process. While it may require effort from both sides, it’s absolutely worth it. Any AAC system is far better than having no way to communicate.

Absolutely! The aim is to get your child using AAC in all situations. AAC can be integrated into the classroom to actively participate in lessons, interact with peers and teachers, and express their thoughts and ideas.

When you attend speech therapy alongside your child, you learn techniques for practicing with them at home, between sessions--which will lead to faster progress!

Find Out More

Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Parent Training
Consultation