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The Spalding Method is one of the most comprehensive and effective method for teaching English. The Spalding Approach aims to increase literacy for all; from preschoolers to adults regardless of their initial literacy abilities. The Spalding Method trains individuals to develop deep thinking and problem solving to become skilled readers, critical listeners, and accomplished writers and spellers.

It is an integrated, multisensory language arts program comprising of three areas: Spelling, Reading and Writing.

The spelling component targets phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, handwriting, reading rules, morphology and high frequency vocabulary. This teaches individuals how to identify sounds and blend them together to form words.

The reading component targets literacy appreciation, oral reading fluency, text structure, reading comprehension and mental actions. This teaches individuals to understand texts, read fluently and enjoy books.

The writing component targets high frequency vocabulary, word usage, grammar, sentence construction and compositions. This teaches individuals how to structure sentences and written pieces in a number of different forms such as narratives, expositions, recounts and procedures.

A Speech Pathologist trained in the Spalding Method will assess all these areas and determine the individuals strengths and weaknesses to provide individualised therapy in the areas which the individual finds challenging. This allows the individual to utilise their strengths and excel at literacy.

Contact us for results focused on speech therapy

This article was written by our Speech Pathologist Ashleigh Fattah who is a Speech Pathology Australia member. If you have speech pathology related questions, make an appointment. We‘ll provide you with simple and effective therapy targeted to your concerns. Contact us today.

The post The Spalding Literacy Program appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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When visiting a speech pathologist for the first time, as you might guess, one of the first questions your clinician will ask you is what the reason for the visit is. If you are seeing fluency or stuttering specialist, then your concern will most likely be due to a stutter that you or your child has. The stutter is often one that has been present since you or your child started talking however, we do sometimes see stuttering arise in patients with Parkinson’s disease or other neurological aetiologies. Once you have established what your concerns are, there are a few key components that the assessment is composed of, including:

Case History

This includes any background history such as the initial occurrence of the stutter, any family history of stuttering, information about when the stutter is best or worst, as may people stutter more when speaking in front of unfamiliar listeners or when their emotions are heightened (when they are angry or nervous).

Baseline stuttering data

Once the case history has been taken, your clinician will then determine the types of stuttering present in your speech. This may include repetition of words, phrases or sentences, prolongation of sounds or blocks, which are breaks in speech where the mouth opens however, no sound is produced. More severe stutters can also include superfluous non-verbal behaviours such as tics, blinking and facial grimacing. Severity is also rated either on a scale associated with the chosen method of therapy such as the Lidcombe program severity scale or using percentage of syllables stuttered (%SS). These measures are often taken to serve as a baseline to help measure progress over time. Measures should be taken in everyday activities that you are most likely to engage in. This could include reading a newspaper article aloud or during a conversation with your speech pathologist.

After the assessment has been completed, your speech pathologist will provide you with the results, which will include a diagnosis and education about stuttering and the treatment programs available. Each diagnosis is different and based on the individuals presenting symptoms, which guide the type of therapy provided. For this reason, it is essential that your stuttering be assessed properly by a qualified speech therapist prior to commencing therapy.

Contact us for results focused on speech therapy

This article was written by our Speech Pathologist Ashleigh Fattah who is a Speech Pathology Australia member. If you have speech pathology related questions, make an appointment. We‘ll provide you with simple and effective therapy targeted to your concerns. Contact us today.

The post What to expect in an initial stuttering speech pathology assessment appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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What is hypertension?

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure, and according to the Heart foundation, approximately 4 in 10 adults are experiencing hypertension which is a cause for concern.

What is blood pressure?

We often hear this term but may not fully comprehend what it means.

The heart pumps blood throughout the body through blood vessels knows as arteries. The force with which the blood is pumped is known as blood pressure. When the force is higher than normal, it is termed as high blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the greater the risk of heart disease. The risk is equally high for both men and women, young or old.

A blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg or lower is normal.

How is blood pressure measured?

Blood pressure is measured in two ways. The first measurement is known as systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. The second measurement is known as diastolic blood pressure, which measure the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart rests between beats.

What are the risk factors?

There are several risk factors for hypertension, such as age and genetics, but these are risk factors that we unfortunately do not have a control over. However, there are factors that we do have control over, such as weight, salt and alcohol intake, and abdominal obesity. This is characterised by weight concentrated around the abdomen. Abdominal obesity is of major concern because the fat tissue around the abdomen is metabolically active and can release free fatty acids into the circulation that accumulate around the heart, affecting its ability to function effectively.

Excess salt consumption also causes an increase in blood pressure. This is because when you consume a lot of salt the body starts to retain water. This puts pressure on the heart to pump blood around the body and causes high blood pressure.

Lifestyle management tips to help with hypertension:

1. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension) diet is the recommended diet for reducing blood pressure and reducing weight. The diet consists of fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and low fat dairy products.

2. Reduce dietary sodium levels to 2300mg or less of sodium a day (which equals to less than 6g of salt per day). This will reduce systolic blood pressure by 2-7mm Hg.

Listed below are some ways you can reduce salt from your diet:

  • Avoid adding salt to meals and swap sauces that have a high salt content (i.e. soy, oyster and fish sauce) with herbs and spices, lemon or lime juice, black pepper, fresh ginger, garlic and chilli to add flavour to your food.
  • Swap processed meats like salami, ham, bacon, and sausages with fresh meat, fish or eggs.
  • Choose low salt cheeses such as ricotta or quark cheese.
  • Choose snacks with less salt such as plain rice wafers, corn thins and unsalted popcorn.
  • Read labels on packaged foods to check for salt content. Packaged foods with less than 120mg are ideal.

Contact us for results focused on nutritional advice

This article was written by our dietitian and nutritionist Juhi Bhambhaney. If you have any questions regarding health and nutrition, make an appointment with one of our dietitians. We‘ll provide you with a simple and effective routine targeted to your concerns. Contact us today.

The post Dietary management of hypertension appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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What is alcohol?

Alcohol is formed by yeast fermentation of different foods. Wine, for example, is made from the sugar in grapes and beer comes from the sugar in malted barley. Through this fermentation process, ethanol is produced as a by product. The strength of the alcohol is dependent on the length of the fermentation process. Spirits, for example, have a higher alcohol content than beer or wine.

How much should you consume?

The Australian dietary guidelines recommend no more than two standard drinks per day for both men and women, and at least two alcohol-free days per week. This is the recommended maximum, and although consumption of alcohol in moderation is acceptable, one should aim to keep to a minimum as alcohol is simply empty calories. There are however certain individuals who should not be consuming alcohol at all. This includes pregnant women, children, adolescents and patients on medications that negatively interact with alcohol.

Metabolism of alcohol

Unlike food, alcohol does not require digestion as it gets quickly absorbed across the walls of the stomach and reaches the brain within a few minutes. In the stomach alcohol is broken down with an enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenase. From the stomach, it moves to the small intestine where it is rapidly absorbed. Then the alcohol travels through the blood and reaches the liver. The liver is the main site where the alcohol is dealt with.

Why is drinking too much alcohol a problem?

The liver prefers to use fatty acids as its fuel; any excess fatty acids are packed into what is know as triglycerides and sent out to other tissues of the body. However, when there is alcohol in the body, the liver has to give priority to alcohol as it demands a lot of attention, and the fatty acids accumulate on the liver which can create what is known as ‘fatty liver’. By decreasing alcohol intake fatty liver is reversible, but only in the initial stages. If alcohol intake is excessive and the fatty liver progresses to cirrhosis, it is largely irreversible.

Besides the liver, alcohol also affects the brain. Although alcohol is often used to deal with emotional stress, it is essentially a depressant as it slows the central nervous system. Regular consumption of alcohol also reduces the amount of serotonin in the body which is a hormone that makes a person feel good. Hence, alcohol in the long run can actually lead to depression rather than be a cure for it. Excess alcohol also promotes obesity. Alcohol is calorie rich but does not provide any nutrients. Furthermore, alcohol interferes with excretion of uric acid which can cause inflammation of the joints.

Tips when drinking alcohol:

    1. Drink water:

    Alcohol can cause dehydration as it decreases the production of the anti-diuretic hormone that is responsible for retaining water. As a result, the loss of water can also increase thirst. It is important to quench your thirst only by drinking water; not by drinking more alcohol. To avoid dehydration, drink a glass of water before every drink. Further to reduce the hangover effect, drink an extra glass or two of water before sleeping.

    2. Eat before drinking:

    Eat a meal containing carbohydrates and fats before drinking. Carbohydrates such as bread, rice and yogurt will help slow the absorption of the alcohol, and the fats will slow the movement in the gut. This will help slow the process of alcohol reaching the brain.

    3. Choose lower calorie options:

    Avoid sugary mixers and high alcohol contents, and instead choose drinks like gin with diet tonic water, vodka with a lemon wedge or lower alcoholic beer.

    4. Drink slowly:

    The slower you drink, and with breaks in between the drinks, the easier it is for the liver to metabolize the alcohol.

Small amounts of alcohol can be enjoyed in moderation, but in excessive amounts it can be lethal. Closely monitor your alcohol intake as it could be the sole reason for weight gain and a number of other health issues.

Contact us for results focused on nutritional advice

This article was written by our dietitian and nutritionist Juhi Bhambhaney. If you have any questions regarding health and nutrition, make an appointment with one of our dietitians. We‘ll provide you with a simple and effective routine targeted to your concerns. Contact us today.

The post Alcohol appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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When visiting a speech pathologist for the first time, as you might guess, one of the first questions your clinician will ask you is what the reason for the visit is. If you are seeing a dysphagia specialist, then your concern will most likely be due to difficulties swallowing. Swallowing difficulties can occur with food or solids, drinks or liquids and even with saliva. These difficulties can arise due to a number of reasons such as physiological changes to the throat, stroke, Parkinson’s disease and other neurological aetiologies. Once you have established what your concerns are, there are a few key components that the assessment is composed of, including:

Case History

This includes any background history such as the initial occurrence of the swallowing concern, any previous illnesses, injuries or episodes in hospital that may serve to explain the reason for your swallowing concerns and help to determine what strategies are used to tackle the issues. Any previous investigations such as modified barium swallow or functional X-ray while you swallow will also be discussed and help guide treatment. Your current diet should also be discussed to determine a baseline from where the investigation will begin.

Oromotor Examination

This is often the first part of the physical examination where you will be asked to copy an array of facial movements such as poking out your tongue and spreading your lips to determine the strength, speed and coordination of the muscles of the head and neck. Any deviations noted in these movements can help pre-empt any possible swallowing difficulties and determine the direction of swallow management.

Food and Fluid Trial

During this component, you will be asked to eat and drink a range of food and drinks. While you are swallowing, your speech pathologist will be feeling and listening out for signs that food or fluid may be going down the wrong way into your lungs. It is essential to ensure this does not happen, as food or fluid in the lungs can cause Aspiration Pneumonia which can be life threatening.

After the assessment has been completed, your speech pathologist will provide you with the results, which will include a diagnosis and education about swallowing and the treatment programs available. Each diagnosis is different and based on the individuals presenting symptoms, which guide the type of therapy provided. For this reason, it is essential that your swallowing be assessed properly by a qualified speech pathologist prior to commencing therapy.

Contact us for results focused on speech therapy

This article was written by our Speech Pathologist Ashleigh Fattah who is a Speech Pathology Australia member. If you have speech pathology related questions, make an appointment. We‘ll provide you with simple and effective therapy targeted to your concerns. Contact us today.

The post What to expect in an initial adult swallowing assessment appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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