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In a previous blog, I reviewed the Spalding program for literacy. This teaching method has been used successfully for half a decade and is very effective for students that struggle to read and write. The traditional method is excellent for older students that have greater levels of concentration. However it can be somewhat dry and unengaging when used with younger children, especially those with dyslexia or struggle with working memory and concentration. I have recently come across the Nessy resources, which use similar rules and principals to the traditional Spalding program in a fun and interactive way.

The programme incorporates a number of different techniques to ensure that literacy is fun and engaging including.

Features of the Nessy Learning Programme

  • Colourful and engaging animated videos with memorable stories and characters around the letters and letter groups. Each video links back to worksheets, games and activities, which incorporate the characters within the videos.
  • Fun games that incorporate the different rules and strategies that make literacy learning enjoyable and easier to learn. The games can be played as one player such puzzles that require the student to fit the pieces of the word together or multiplayer such as card games that can be played with others.
  • Different levels specifically targeting students with a range of skills. This ensures that each student is working at the right level and is able to achieve some success while still being challenged to learn new information. There are even tasks for those learners that struggle with sounding out basic, high frequency words like ‘on’ and ‘at’ so that success can be achieved even for very early readers.
  • Worksheets that incorporate well known and functional games such as cross words and find a word puzzles as well as true or false puzzles.
  • As students progress through the program and complete tasks, they unlock new games, characters and magical worlds to continue their literacy adventure.

Nessy – Help for Children With Dyslexia

The Nessy Learning Programme is an interactive, multi-media computer program, that enables students who have difficulties with dyslexia to write and spell with confidence. Nessy believes that if children have fun then learning becomes more memorable. Where children play games the increased level of engagement leads to dramatic improvements. Combine this philosophy with a structured, incremental system of learning and you can see the reason why academic results show such dramatic gains.

Contact us for results focused speech therapy

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

The post Resource Review – Nessy Learning Programme and Resources appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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From time to time, I come across parents of children that have shopped around to different speech pathologists after finding that their child does not seem to be making progress with their communication or feeding concerns. There are many reasons why this may be the case and even times where progress has been made however not perceived.  There are a few things to keep in mind when gauging progress in speech therapy and finding the right treatment for your child.

1. Am I clear on the speech therapy goals set out for my child and were they chosen in conjunction with my concerns and what my child requires most?

Some parents enter into an assessment session with a clear picture of what their child requires, only to be told the issue is something completely different. At times, this may truly be the case if there is an underlying issue that is causing the concern you came in to address in the first place. Other times your speech pathologist may have noticed, a concern unrelated to the initial one, however it may be a more pressing matter or more time sensitive. One example would be if your preschool aged child has speech issues, however your speech pathologist diagnoses a stutter.

While the speech may be your main concern, you speech pathologist will most likely advise you of how time critical it is to treat the child’s stuttering while they are at an age where they are most receptive to effective treatment programs. Having said this, as a parent,  you have the final say when deciding what treatment your child obtains and just like with any other health service, it is up to you to make an informed decision as to how best to support your child. We are after all here to help by providing the most up to date and relevant information to help you in making an informed choice.

If you are not satisfied with the therapy goals selected then you may feel the service is irrelevant and not continue. So ensure that you clearly understand the therapy goals and how to measure success in reaching those targets. This can be done through reassessment with your speech pathologist or daily measures of your child’s communication or feeding ability.

2. Is the treatment evidence based and am I following the correct procedure as outlined by my speech pathologist?

Speech pathology is an active therapy and just like other forms of medical treatment, it needs to be provided in the correct dose and have an adequate level of evidence to support its effectiveness. Your speech pathologist should provide you with information about the treatment you or your child is undertaking, how often and how long it should be performed.

Many parents give up on speech therapy before properly administering the techniques. Just like a tablet, if you don’t take it every day then it will not be effective. Many speech treatments require daily practice as outlined by the research behind it, so make sure to give it a proper go before calling it quits and you should see great results.

Contact us for results focused speech therapy

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

The post How to Make Speech Therapy Effective appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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Chilli is a fruit derived from the Capsicum plant family. Most commonly chilli is found in white, pale green or a purple colour. It is often used to enhance the flavour of food most commonly in Asian cuisines such as Indian and Thai Cuisine. Chillies contain a substance known as capsaicin which produces the heat giving us the spicy sensation when we eat chilli. It causes your body to release hormones which give a person an energy rush. This is why some people have a tendency to get addicted to spice.

The spicy sensation varies between chilli varieties. The Scoville scale is used to measure how spicy a particular chilli is. This is influenced by the temperature in which it is grown, hours of sunlight, moisture, soil chemistry and the type and amount of fertilizer used. The Scoville scale is a measurement of the pungency (spicy heat) of chili peppers – or other spicy foods, as reported in Scoville heat units (SHU). The Scoville scale a function of capsaicin concentration.

Scoville scale of chilli pungency

Forms of Chilli

Fresh Chillies

An example is Jalapeno which is usually green when picked and red when ripened.
They can vary from mild to hot depending on the cultivation and preparation.

Long Chillies

This is a very common variety in the Australian market. Colours vary from green to red.

Dried chilles

Examples include chipotle and cayenne. They are only mildly hot. They need to be soaked in boiling water before using.

Chilli flakes

Made from dried, crushed chillies and can be used in place of fresh chillies. One chopped fresh chilli is equal to half a teaspoon of chilli flakes.

Chilli paste

Made from red chillies and vegetable oil. Two teaspoons of the chilli paste is equal to one chopped fresh chilli.

Chilli powder

Made from ground dried chillies and can be used in place of fresh chillis. Half a teaspoon equals one chopped fresh chilli.

Chilli and Health

Chillies are rich in vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, B6 and C.In addition the capsaicin content in chilli may be protective against diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Care has to be taken to avoid excess amount of spice for people with gastrointestinal issues such as acid reflux or heart burn.

Preserving Chilli

  • Storing in an airtight container.
  • Freezing Chilli: Slice or Dice them and store in small packs in the freezer.
  • Pickling Chilli: This involves washing them in salty water and then mixing them with cider vinegar and sugar.
  • Preserving short term: This involves preserving the peppers in olive oil.

Usage in Food

Spices provide an amazing flavour to food and can be used for a variety of dishes such as salads, stir fries and curries. Most commonly they are used in conjunction with herbs such as coriander, basil and parsley. It is a great option for people looking to add flavour to their food without having to add excessive amount of salt. Chillies are usually  used after finely chopping them.

The longer a chilli is cooked, the spicier the dish becomes. In order to get just a slight tinge of the spicy flavour, adding the chilli towards the end of cooking is a better option. Often one does not realise how much spice to add, in the event that the spice produces an excessive burning session, using plain milk or yoghurt can help counteract the spicy sensation.

For more information

This article was written by our Dietitian and Nutritionist Juhi Bhambhaney. If you have questions about diet and nutrition, contact us to make an appointment to see one of our dietitians and nutritionists. We‘ll provide you with personalised and effective dietary management. Contact us today!

The post Chilli – Everything You Need to Know appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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The 19th of September is celebrated as ‘Dietitians day’. A dietitian refers to a professional who has the university qualifications and skills that enables them to provide dietary advice to manage health conditions such as obesity, cancer, diabetes, food allergies, intolerances and gastrointestinal conditions. They are the ‘go to’  health professionals for any nutrition related support or advice be it improving the nutritional status of an individual, losing weight, gaining weight or  dietary management of diseases such as cancer. Dietitians work in a variety of settings such as clinical, private practice and industry.

 Did you know?

  • 99% of GPs and practice nurses refer their patients to a dietitian for a dietary advice.
  • A student dietitian completes a minimum of 100 days of professional placement.
  • The average time for an initial consultation with a private practice dietitian (dietitians working for a private clinic or those who have their own practice) is 52 minutes which is ample amount of time to discuss individual needs and develop a personalised plan.

Frequently asked questions:

  • What is the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist in Australia?
  • All dietitians are also nutritionists but nutritionists are not dietitians.
  • Nutritionists have a tertiary nutrition qualification. However there is no specific body that assesses the qualifications of nutritionists. On the other hand, the DAA (dietetics association of Australia) assesses the qualifications of dietitians.
  • Dietitians can provide individual dietary counselling, medical nutrition therapy, group dietary therapy and food service management. Nutritionists do not have the expertise to provide these services.

What does the APD credential mean?

APD credential is a guarantee that the individual is certified to provide nutrition advice. It is the only credential recognised by the Australian Government, Medicare, the Department of Veterans Affairs and most private health funds as the quality standard for nutrition and dietetics services in Australia. It is a recognised trademark protected by law.

What does an APD do during the consult?

  • Assess nutritional needs
  • Provide nutrition education (explain diet and disease relationship)
  • Diagnosis and Assessment
  • Develop personalised nutrition care plans for each individual

How does the pricing system work with medicare?

Rebates are provided by Medicare if you have a care plan that is created by your general practitioner. Most private health funds also cover private practising APDs. Medicare rebates are also available for group services.

People around you and the internet give so much information on nutrition. Why see a dietitian for nutrition information?

Often information provided by people and internet can be incorrect. There are new diets every few months which get promoted  as the ‘ideal diet’ and new theories to weight loss talked about among people and in the media .Blindly trying to follow fad diets or avoiding particular food groups can negatively impact your health. Dietitians can help separate fact from fiction and provide you with all the relevant information and advice that can help you lead a better quality of life.

Are dietitians only concerned with weight loss?

While dietitians do deal with weight loss, they are able to help with a number of other health conditions. Dietitians can also provide general healthy eating advice suited to your lifestyle such as how to prepare quick meals if you have time constraints, budget eating, healthier brands etc.

Contact us for results focused nutritional advice

If you have questions regarding health and nutrition, make an appointment. We‘ll provide you with a simple and effective routine targeted to your concerns. Contact us today!

The post Dietitians Day 2017! appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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A person’s discourse and the way their conversation flows can sometimes be overlooked when assessing for communication difficulties. This may be because the child’s verbal language understanding, grammar and vocabulary may be quite strong, which can mask difficulties with discourse.

Signs of difficulties with discourse include:

  • Jumbled up or illogical flow of conversation.
  • Missing references to key characters within a story.
  • Mixing up of tenses throughout a conversation, although the use of tense may be correct. e.g. rather than explaining “Billy was playing football then started eating apples and once he finishes he will go home” the individual may instead say “billy started eating apples then he was playing football and he will go home.”
  • Missing a start and end marker to the conversation or story.
  • Difficulties with discourse may sound like the individual is unable to get to the point of their story. Or it may seem as though there is no point to their conversation.

These individuals are often able to tell you the basics of what happened without any trouble, in vivid detail and answer any questions you may have about the story or conversation you have just had, without asking questions. However, they are often unable to get their message across effectively. This may have a significant impact on numerous areas within everyday life which require clear and logical communication.

Conversational flow is important for these areas:

  • Effective communication with family and friends when recounting their day or events they may have witnessed or hear about.
  • Clarifying information provided to them by others
  • Answering broader questions in a direct manner with a central point
  • Summarising information written or orally at school or within the work place during presentations and other mandatory tasks.

Therapy for those who have difficulties with discourse

Discourse treatment is all about exposure and can be treated effectively by a trained speech pathologist. All speech pathology treatments, especially discourse treatment, should be tailored to meet the functional communication needs of the person. Therapy provides an abundance of opportunities to practice their newly learnt skills. This allows treatment to have real impact on everyday communication to reduce communication breakdowns and foster effective communication.

Contact us for results focused speech therapy

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

The post Conversational Flow and Discourse appeared first on ENT Wellbeing Sydney.

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