Understanding School Refusal: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
School refusal is often more than reluctance—it can be a sign that a child’s needs aren’t being met in their learning environment. Rather than focusing solely on attendance, it’s important to understand the underlying sensory, emotional, or social factors contributing to a child’s distress. In this article, we explore how paediatric occupational therapists work collaboratively with families and schools to identify these needs and implement tailored supports. By creating safer, more responsive environments, children can gradually build the confidence and regulation skills needed to re-engage with learning and daily school routines.
Supporting Autistic Children Through Meltdowns: A Practical, Trauma-Informed Approach
Meltdowns in autistic children are not behavioural problems—they’re neurological responses to overwhelm. This blog explores how parents and caregivers can support children using the NEST approach, a trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming framework used by occupational therapists to promote safety, emotional regulation, and long-term wellbeing.
Understanding Echolalia: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How Speech Pathologists Can Help
Echolalia is a common and meaningful part of language development in many children, particularly those who are autistic or neurodivergent. Understanding its function and supporting children in ways that are respectful, evidence-informed, and family-centred can help promote strong, functional communication.
Understanding Interoception: The "Hidden Sense" That Impacts Everyday Life
Interoception, often called the "hidden sense," helps us recognise internal body signals like hunger, thirst, and emotions, playing a crucial role in self-regulation. Children with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing challenges may experience interoceptive differences, leading to difficulty recognising or responding to their body’s needs. Some children may be hypersensitive to internal signals, feeling hunger or a racing heart as overwhelming, while others may be hyposensitive, missing cues for thirst, pain, or bathroom needs. By using targeted strategies such as interoceptive language, body mapping, and mindfulness, therapists and parents can help children strengthen their awareness and improve their ability to self-regulate.
Why Does My Child Get Overwhelmed by Small Changes?
Some children, especially those with autism or ADHD, experience heightened sensitivity to change due to differences in brain development, particularly in a process called synaptic pruning. Typically, the brain refines its neural connections over time, removing unnecessary ones to improve efficiency, but in neurodivergent children, this process may be less active, leading to an overload of sensory information. As a result, minor changes in routine can feel overwhelming, triggering strong emotional responses like meltdowns or rigidity. Understanding these neurological differences allows parents and educators to approach children’s reactions with empathy and implement supportive strategies, such as structured routines and predictable environments, to help them feel more secure.
Understanding Sensory Regulation in Children: Insights from Research and Practical Strategies
Sensory regulation plays a crucial role in how children navigate their world, influencing their ability to stay calm, focus, and engage in everyday activities. When a child struggles with sensory processing—whether they are hypersensitive to stimuli like noise and textures or seek intense sensory input through movement—it can affect their emotional regulation and participation in daily routines. Research suggests that these challenges, particularly in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, stem from differences in brain connectivity, neural pruning, and sensory pathway development. By implementing tailored strategies, such as occupational therapy, sensory-friendly environments, and structured sensory breaks, we can help children feel more secure, regulated, and ready to learn.
What does it mean to be neurodiversity affirming?
Neurodivergent children, for example those with ADHD or autism, have a brain structure and chemistry that is fundamentally different from typical brains (or neurotypical brains). Navigating the healthcare system for a neurodivergent child, whether they are autistic, have ADHD, or face specific learning differences, can be challenging. Often, traditional assessments and therapies are designed to "correct" neurodivergent traits, focusing on perceived deficits rather than celebrating the child's unique strengths.
At Hi Thrive, we are committed to a neurodiversity-affirming approach.
What is Gestalt Language Processing?
Language acquisition is how children learn and use new words. There are two main types: analytic and gestalt. Analytic language processing starts with single words and builds up to phrases and sentences, whereas gestalt tends to do the opposite. If you’re wondering why your child’s language is delayed or not following the typical norms, gestalt language processing may well be the reason why.
Understanding Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) is a common but often misunderstood condition that affects the way children acquire language skills. Despite its prevalence, awareness about DLD remains relatively low, making it crucial to shed light on what it is, how it impacts children, and what can be done to support those affected. Receiving tailored therapeutic support early on is vital for these children who often slip through the cracks in our system.
Teaching First Words: Early Language Strategies
Language development in early childhood is crucial for a child's overall cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Early intervention strategies can greatly enhance this developmental journey. Here are some effective techniques to encourage language development in young children: When in doubt- stop asking your child questions and start modelling the language yourself!
10 Tips for Parents of Children with Speech Sound Delays
Facing speech sound delays in young children, where "car" becomes "tar" and "fish" is "wish," is a common challenge for many families. Finding ways to support your child before their appointment with a Speech Pathologist can feel overwhelming. Here are some practical tips to assist your child in their everyday conversations.
Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in Autistic Children
Parenting a child on the autism spectrum comes with its unique challenges, and among them is the lesser-known condition called Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). PDA is widely understood to be a profile on the autistic spectrum, characterised by an avoidance of everyday demands and the use of ‘social’ strategies to as a means for avoidance.
How Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) can help language development in toddlers.
Language development is a crucial milestone in a toddler's life, laying the foundation for effective communication and social interaction. However, some toddlers may face challenges in expressing themselves verbally. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) emerges as a powerful tool to support and enhance language development in these young learners.
Recognising Early Signs of Language Delay in Babies
As parents, the journey of watching our babies grow and develop is filled with excitement and anticipation. Language development is a significant milestone, and every baby progresses at their own pace. However, it's essential to be aware of early signs of language delay and know when to seek support from a speech pathologist. In this blog, we'll explore key indicators of language delay in babies and the importance of early intervention.
Autism and Gestalt Language Processing: Understanding How Autistic Children See the Big Picture
In the world of language, everyone has their own way of putting words together like pieces of a puzzle. For some kids, especially those with autism, they have a special way of processing language called "Gestalt language processing." Let's dive into what this means and how it's often like a superpower for many autistic children.
Voice Therapy – How Speech Pathology Can Help Kids Find Their Voice
When we think about a child’s health and development, we often focus on things like physical growth and cognitive abilities. Yet there’s one important aspect that often slips under the radar—their voice. A child’s ability to communicate and express themselves verbally is crucial for their social, emotional, and academic growth. That’s where a speech pathologist specialising in paediatric voice steps in.
The Crucial Role of Music in Early Language Development
The world of early childhood development is a symphony of experiences that shape the foundation of a child's future. Among the myriad factors influencing a child's growth, music emerges as a powerful catalyst in fostering language and communication skills.
Why parents are the best speech pathologists
In a child's development, the ability to communicate effectively is a cornerstone for building future success. For children facing challenges in speech and language development, early intervention is paramount. In recent years, the role of parent coaching in speech pathology has gained prominence as a powerful tool for fostering communication skills in young children. This blog explores the transformative benefits of parent coaching in early intervention speech pathology, shedding light on how it empowers both parents and their children on the journey to improved communication.