Cerebral palsy — therapy support for children · Speech Therapy
Speech therapy for children with cerebral palsy
Clinically reviewed by Hannah Chamberlain
Many children with cerebral palsy have communication challenges — and speech pathology helps, including AAC where speech is affected. We work online around your child's goals and coordinate with your wider team.
What we treat
- Understanding and using language
- Speech clarity where motor control affects talking
- Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC)
- Early social communication and connection
- Coaching parents and communication partners
- Feeding support where safe, coordinated with the medical team
Typical outcomes
- More effective communication — speech, AAC, or both
- A child better able to express needs and connect
- Communication partners (family, school) skilled in supporting it
- Progress on the communication goals your family chooses
- A speech plan coordinated with OT, physio, and your medical team
How sessions run
Online 50-minute sessions organised around your child's communication goals, with parents and key communication partners coached. We're honest about anything (including some feeding work) that needs hands-on or in-person assessment.
Communication is common in cerebral palsy
A large share of children with cerebral palsy have some communication challenge — and speech pathology can make a real difference, whatever a child's spoken ability. The goal is effective communication in whatever form works: building spoken language where possible, and providing AAC (from simple boards to speech-generating devices) where motor control makes speech hard. Importantly, AAC supports communication now and doesn't hold back speech development.
The focus areas:
- Understanding — comprehension of everyday language
- Expression — spoken language, and AAC where speech is affected
- Speech clarity — where motor control allows
- Communication partners — coaching family and school to support it
Goal-directed and coordinated
Like all cerebral palsy support, speech works best when it's goal-directed — built around the specific communication goals a child and family choose. And because CP is multidisciplinary, we coordinate with your child's OT, physiotherapist, and medical team so the whole plan pulls together.
A note on feeding
Some children with cerebral palsy have feeding and swallowing difficulties. Swallowing safety is a medical matter led by the medical team — where appropriate and safe, speech pathology contributes to feeding support, but anything suggesting a swallowing-safety concern is routed to the right in-person assessment first.
NDIS funding
Cerebral palsy is a recognised disability under the NDIS. Speech therapy is typically funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living, and younger children access support through the early childhood approach. For families without NDIS funding, sessions are private-pay at the NDIS rate.
Clinically reviewed by Hannah Chamberlain
Last reviewed 31 May 2026
This page reflects current clinical guidance. See the Hey Sprout editorial policy for review cadence and corrections.
Ready for a session?
We hold your slot before asking for NDIS details. Reply within 1 business day.
Related conditions
ADHD in children and adolescents
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in Australian children, affecting roughly 1 in 20.
Autism (Level 1 and Level 2) in children
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference. Level 1 and Level 2 children typically benefit from speech, OT, and psychology support — and most are NDIS-eligible.
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS)
CAS is a motor speech disorder where the brain struggles to plan the movements for speech. It needs frequent, specific speech therapy — and responds to it.
Developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia) in children
DCD (often called dyspraxia) affects a child's motor coordination — handwriting, dressing, sport. Occupational therapy builds the skills that matter.