Supporting babies, toddlers and preschool children to communicate, eat, play and thrive — with speech, articulation and orofacial myofunctional therapy available for children up to age 9.
RTC Speech Pathology provides family-centred paediatric speech therapy for children across the Central Coast, NSW.
Led by Speech Pathologist Leana Matodes, RTC supports children aged 0–9 with speech, language, feeding, early intervention, autism and developmental needs through evidence-informed, play-based therapy.
Whether your child is not talking yet, difficult to understand, struggling with feeding, mouth breathing, or needing support with development, we’re here to help you understand what is happening and what to do next.
Every child develops at their own pace, but when something feels harder than expected, it can be difficult to know whether to wait, seek advice, or take action. Parents often contact RTC because they are wondering:
At RTC, we take the time to understand your child as a whole — communication, feeding, play, sensory needs, oral function, development and family goals — so therapy is tailored to your child, not just a diagnosis.
Specialised support for children aged 0–9, tailored to your child and built around your family.
Supporting babies, toddlers and preschool children during the most important years of development.
Helping children understand language, use words, combine sentences and communicate more confidently.
Supporting children with feeding difficulties, fussy eating, food refusal, gagging or stressful mealtimes.
Helping children who present with mouth breathing, tongue and lip ties, drooling, tongue thrust, lisps and oral muscle weakness.
Neuroaffirming support focused on communication, connection, play, regulation and participation.
Specialised support for children who know what they want to say but find it hard to plan and coordinate the movements for clear speech.
Practical coaching to help parents support communication, feeding, emotional regulation and development at home.
Understanding the reasons behind meltdowns, tantrums and routine refusal, with practical strategies that support emotional regulation and communication.
Supporting children with delays across multiple areas — communication, play, feeding, social interaction and early learning.
You do not need to know the name of the therapy your child needs before reaching out. Many parents come to us because their child:
An assessment helps us understand your child’s strengths, challenges and underlying needs, then recommend the most appropriate support.
Leana has extensive training across a range of clinical approaches, including DIR®/Floortime, PROMPT, NDT, Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy, Food Chaining, Theraplay-informed strategies and more.
Every child is different. We draw on a range of evidence-based approaches depending on your child’s needs, goals and developmental profile.
A play-based, relationship-focused approach supporting engagement, communication and social interaction.
Uses touch cues to support speech sound production and motor planning.
Support for sensory regulation difficulties affecting feeding, communication and participation.
Structured play that supports connection, confidence, trust and emotional regulation.
A sound-based approach supporting attention, regulation and sensory processing.
An auditory feedback tool supporting listening, attention, speech clarity and language.
Movement and posture-based principles where tone or motor control affect progress.
Support your child’s development at home with Time 2 Play — a practical activity guide written by Speech Pathologist Leana Matodes. Filled with fun, play-based ideas for children aged 0–5.
You do not need a referral to book an appointment with RTC. Families may be able to access support through:
If you are unsure what applies to your child, we can guide you through the next steps.
We support families across the Central Coast and surrounding communities, including:
Tumbi Umbi · Erina · Gosford · Terrigal · Tuggerah
Woy Woy · Wyong · Berkeley Vale · Killarney Vale · and surrounding communities
Telehealth appointments may also be available for families across NSW where appropriate.
There are many reasons a toddler may be late to talk — understanding language, using words, speech sounds, play skills, hearing, oral motor development or social communication. A speech pathology assessment can help identify what is happening and what support may help.
Children develop at different rates, but if your child is not using words by around 18 months, has very limited words by age two, or is not combining words, it is worth seeking advice from a speech pathologist.
Childhood Apraxia of Speech (Verbal Dyspraxia) is a motor speech disorder. Children with apraxia often know what they want to say but have difficulty planning and coordinating the movements needed for speech.
Yes. Speech therapy can support autistic and neurodivergent children with communication, connection, play, regulation, social interaction and participation. At RTC, support is neuroaffirming and tailored to each child.
Fussy eating can be related to sensory sensitivities, oral motor skills, feeding history, anxiety, developmental delays, tongue tie, low oral tone or mealtime stress. Feeding therapy can help identify the underlying reason and provide practical strategies.
Drooling after the toddler years may relate to oral muscle tone, mouth breathing, tongue posture, sensory awareness or swallowing patterns. An assessment can help determine whether Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy or feeding support may be appropriate.
Mouth breathing and snoring can be signs of difficulty with nasal breathing, tongue posture, airway function or oral muscle patterns. Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy may help support healthier oral function and breathing patterns.
If you are concerned about your child’s speech, feeding, communication or development, you do not have to figure it out alone. Book an assessment and take the first step.
