Does my child need a speech pathologist or occupational therapist?
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We help your child find life changing confidence
At our practice we support children and teenagers in a family friendly setting, using bespoke treatment plans and therapies with a multidisciplinary input.
A Guide for Home Therapy Activities
During Lockdown
This guide has been developed by the team of Castle Hill Speech & Occupational Therapy to assist parents during lockdown. In this guide are a practical set of activities to help you see through the lockdown and develop your child’s motor, communication, and social skills
Getting started is as simple as...
15 Minute Call
1A 10 – 15 minute phone consultation aimed at providing the best advice as to which service/assessment is required.
Formal Assessment
2A formal assessment is then booked in. Once the assessment is completed, a written report will be provided within 2 weeks.
Therapy Sessions
3Therapy options are then discussed and, if required, liaison with school/preschool and other professionals is initiated.
“Children with autism are colorful – they are often very beautiful and, like the rainbow, they stand out.”
– Adele Devine
Let’s talk about your child
…via email: mary@castlehillspeech.com.au
…via phone: (02) 9634 6839
…or via form:
We're a family
Our aim is to create a sense of family that feels just like home.
Areas of focus
Speech Pathology
Communication is a critical skill for all children and teenagers. It’s a key requirement for playing, learning and establishing friendships. It’s a skill that your child will use throughout their life.
Early identification and intervention for communication difficulties will make a significant impact on your child’s development. Our goal is to assist your child to communicate as effectively as possible across all environments.
Occupational Therapy
Children’s lives are comprised of playing, learning and making friends. To confidently be able to engage in these activities a child requires appropriate fine motor, gross motor, visual perceptual skills, sensory and processing skills.
This is what we focus on with occupational therapy. Our goal is to enable your child to participate in all activities as confidently as possible.
Music Therapy
Music therapy is an evidence based clinical use of musical intervention to improve quality of life. Research has shown that music therapy improves speech, communication and social skills.
Research also connects music therapy to improved bodily movement, co-ordination and function; as well as imporved memory, attention and brain power.
Behaviour Therapy
Behavior therapy seeks to identify and change potentially negative /unhealthy behaviors. It functions on the idea that all behaviors are learned and that unhealthy behaviors can be changed.
Autism Assessments
Current research suggests that the earlier a child is accurately diagnosed with ASD and begins affective therapy and interventions, the better the developmental outcomes for the child. Diagnosis of ASD requires a comprehensive assessment progress. It includes gathering information from a range of sources, typically an interview with a parent, observing the child in their home and/or at school.
At our practice we offer a comprehensive assessment for ASD which involves:
– the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule – Second Edition (ADOS-2), which has been rated as the most reliable diagnostic tool recognised by international ASD experts
– the Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R) which is a structured parent interview that assists in the reliable diagnosis of ASD
– parent rating & observation scales
– detailed speech pathology assessment
– detailed occupational therapy assessment
These are chosen according to your child’s age and developmental levels.
Mary Dionisatos
B.App.Sc. Speech Pathology M.InEd
Mary is a certified practicing speech pathologist, with a primary interest in children with Developmental Delays/Syndromes and Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Her passion for these children has led her to a Master of Inclusive Education (in Autism), PECS training, TEACCH trained, accreditation to administer the ADOS and ADIR, ABA training and currently working towards completing her ESDM training.
Mary’s has spent over 14 years as treating and managing therapy plans for children with autism, running social skills groups and running school based programs.
The team
Ivena Handoko
Occupational Therapist
It is rewarding to work with children and their family to empower them to reach their full potential and achieve their objectives.
Read more about Ivena
Dean Dionisatos
Practice Manager
Dean enjoys getting to know the families and children and is often found making the children laugh.
Read more about Dean
Jessica Jayakumar
Speech Therapist
Jessica enjoys working with clients of all ages but has a special interest in working with children focusing on speech difficulties and stuttering
Read more about Jessica
Subahari Ravindran
Senior Occupational Therapist
Subi has experience working with helping children and young adults regulate their emotions, working on self- care skills, fine/ gross motor skills, behavioural strategies and social skills.
Read more about Subahari
Enoch Law
Music Therapist
Enoch is a Registered Music Therapist graduated in Western Sydney University, who has experience in working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, cerebral palsy, sensory impairment, mental health rehabilitation and early dementia, both in clinical and online practices.
Read more about Enoch
Inika Dongre
Speech Therapist
Inika believes that there is a direct correlation between communication and quality of life, and therefore aims to inspire, empower and support her clients and their families to ensure that their communication is functional and consistently improving.
Read more about Inika
Brittany He
Speech Therapist
Brittany enjoys working closely within a multidisciplinary team and implementing transdisciplinary practice where possible.
Read more about Brittany
Kyah Singh
Occupational Therapist
I am passionate about working with the parent/s and child to ensure the best possible outcomes and goals are achieved.
Read more about Kyah
Claudia Morcilla
Admin/Marketing
Claudia brings to the team her experience and knowledge of admin, events and marketing. She also shares with us her personal experience navigating through the NDIS.
Read more about Claudia
Amrita Castgir
Speech Therapist
The core of Amrita’s approach to therapy is evidence-based practice.
Read more about Amrita
Sophie Nash
Occupational Therapist
I am an occupational therapist with a special interest in supporting children with autism spectrum disorder.
Read more about Sophie
Gursheen Chadha
Allied Health Assistant / Receptionist
I recently graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology with a Bachelor of Speech and Hearing Sciences from Macquarie University.
Read more about Gursheen
Nupur Makwana
Speech Therapist
Nupur has a passion for enhancing communication skills, particularly in young children, and finds fulfilment in her work with clients of all ages.
Read more about Nupur
Eudora Low
BA(Hons), BMus(Music Therapy), ATCL, LRSM, FTCL
Eudora is a Registered Music Therapist, with a wide range of experience working with children with special needs.
Read more about Eudora
Angelina Hanna
Senior Behaviour Practitioner
Angelina always gets fascinated by each child she works with and how there is always a function for behaviour.
Read more about Angelina
“It's really cool that everybody is a little different but the same too.”
– Julia, Sesame Street
Contact Our TeamBuilding E, Level 1, 32 Lexington Drive Bella Vista NSW 2153
When we're open
Monday: 8am – 6:00pm
Tuesday: 8am – 6:00pm
Wednesday: 8am – 6:00pm
Thursday: 8am – 6:00pm
Friday: 8am -6:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 3:30pm
Sunday: Closed