Speech sounds
Articulation and phonology: helping your child say their sounds clearly so they’re understood at home, at kindy and at school.
Paediatric speech pathology · Baulkham Hills
Speech therapy that helps your child talk, read and be understood
One-on-one speech pathology in the Hills District with Loren Holmes, for speech sounds, language, literacy and stuttering, in a space where kids actually want to be.
- University of Sydney qualified
- Member, Speech Pathology Australia
- Medicare & private health rebates
- After-school & evening appointments
Rebates via 
Not sure whether to wait and see, or do something now?
If your child is hard to understand, slow to put words together, or falling behind with reading, the hardest part is knowing whether it’ll sort itself out. Waiting can cost time that’s far easier to make up early.
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“They’ll grow out of it”
Plenty of parents are told to wait. Sometimes that’s right; often it isn’t. An early assessment tells you which, so you’re not left guessing.
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Hard to get seen
Bulk-billing waitlists across the Hills District stretch for months. Speech Buzz offers private appointments, including after school and into the evening.
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Reading and spelling count too
Speech pathology isn’t only about talking. When school-age reading or spelling is a struggle, it’s often a language issue underneath, and it can be worked on.
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The funding maze
Medicare and private health rebates are confusing. You’ll get a straight answer on what you’re entitled to and how to claim it, before you commit to anything.
What we help with
Support across the way your child communicates
Every child is assessed first, then we build a plan around what they actually need, with you involved in it, not watching from the sidelines.
Language
Receptive, expressive and social (pragmatic) language: understanding others, putting words together, and using language to connect and play.
Stuttering & fluency
Assessment and therapy for stuttering, including early intervention for preschoolers, where it tends to make the biggest difference.
Reading & spelling
Literacy support for school-age kids: the language skills that sit underneath reading, spelling and getting words onto the page.
Feeding & swallowing
Assessment and treatment of feeding and swallowing difficulties, working with you towards safer, calmer mealtimes.
AAC
Alternative and augmentative communication: practical tools and devices for children who need another way to be heard.
What to expect
Simple, from the first phone call
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Get in touch
Call or email Loren. We’ll talk through what you’re noticing and book a time that suits. No referral needed to get started.
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Assessment
A thorough one-on-one assessment to understand exactly where your child is at and what’s getting in the way.
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A plan built around your child
You’ll get a clear picture of the goals and how we’ll reach them, plus which funding (Medicare or private health) can help.
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Therapy that works with you
Regular sessions in a fun, low-pressure space, with simple things to carry on at home so the progress actually sticks.
No referral needed to start
Meet your speech pathologist
The person behind Speech Buzz
Loren Holmes is the speech pathologist behind Speech Buzz. She’s University of Sydney qualified (Bachelor of Applied Science in Speech Pathology), a member of Speech Pathology Australia’s Professional Self Regulation program, with additional certification in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) and a Certificate II in Auslan. She’s also a mum of three, which is part of why her sessions are built to feel like play rather than work. Speech Buzz has been helping Hills District families since 2018.
- B.App.Sc (Speech Pathology), University of Sydney
- Member, Speech Pathology Australia — Professional Self Regulation
- Certified in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
- Certificate II in Auslan
- Serving Baulkham Hills & the Hills District since 2018
Good to know
The questions parents usually ask
Still not sure? Call Loren on 0474 480 963 and have a chat, no referral needed.
Do I need a referral to see a speech pathologist?
No. You can book directly with Speech Buzz. If you’d like to claim a Medicare rebate, you’ll need a referral and a Chronic Disease Management plan from your GP, but you don’t need either to get started.
Can I get money back through Medicare or private health?
Often, yes. With a GP Chronic Disease Management plan, Medicare rebates a set number of sessions each year. Many private health extras cover speech pathology too. Loren will help you work out what applies before you commit.
What ages do you work with?
Speech Buzz is a paediatric practice, we work with children, from early talkers right through to school-age kids who need reading and spelling support.
My child is shy with new people. Will that be a problem?
Not at all. Sessions are play-based and unhurried, and the first job is simply for your child to feel comfortable. You’re part of the session, not waiting outside the door.
Do you offer appointments after school?
Yes. Speech Buzz runs after-school and evening appointments, with sessions available as late as 7pm, so therapy doesn’t have to mean missing class or work.
Where are you based?
Suite 3b, 25–33 Old Northern Road, Baulkham Hills, central to the Hills District with easy parking.
Let’s have a chat
Worried about your child’s talking, reading or speech? Let’s have a chat.
Book an appointment with Loren at Speech Buzz in Baulkham Hills. No referral needed to get started, and she’ll help you sort out any Medicare or private health rebates.