Caitlin Murrell

Speech Pathologist

Caitlin is a passionate speech pathologist with 10 years experience working with infants, children and adults with complex communication and swallowing challenges from the NICU through to aged care facilities. Caitlin’s areas of specialty include dysphonia (voice difficulties), complex infant and paediatric dysphagia (swallowing or feeding difficulties) and early speech and language challenges. 

Expertise

Caitlin works with infants and children with communication and/or feeding challenges which may be isolated, such as: 

  • Speech sound disorders (difficulty saying certain speech sounds, mixing speech sounds up, lisping) 

  • Stuttering 

  • Language delay, “late talking” 

  • Language disorder (difficulty with following instructions and/or producing spoken language at the same level as peers) 

  • Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) and/or feeding skills delays such as difficulty transitioning to solids, difficulty biting or chewing food, coughing or choking with eating or drinking, management of aspiration 

  • Restricted diet related to sensory or motor difficulties (“picky eating”) 

 Communication and/or feeding challenges may also be in the context of a diverse range of developmental or health conditions including: 

  • Global development delay

  • Neurological conditions including cerebral palsy, seizures, acquired brain injury etc. 

  • Autism

  • Metabolic conditions, cardiac conditions 

  • Genetic conditions such as Down Syndrome, DiGeorge Syndrome, muscular dystrophy etc. 

  • Craniofacial conditions such as cleft lip and/or palate, Pierre Robin Sequence, Cruzon Syndrome 

  • Airway conditions such as laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia, subglottic stenosis, tracheostomy, vocal cord palsy or other pathology, voice disorders and vocal cord dysfunction

 

Services

  • Assessment and management of communication disorders including:

  • Speech sound and phonological disorders

  • Language delay and disorder

  • Early childhood stuttering 

  • Dysarthria

  • Dysphonia

  • Cognitive communication

  • Social communication

  • Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)

  • Assessment and management of feeding and swallowing disorders (oropharyngeal dysphagia) including: 

  • Breastfeeding and bottle feeding/early feeding challenges 

  • Early solids assessment and advice 

  • Mealtime assessments and provision of feeding plans for home, preschool and school where applicable 

  • Swallowing rehabilitation where appropriate

  • Feeding tube weaning where appropriate 

  • Onward referral for VFSS or FEES instrumental swallowing assessment were indicated 

Approach

Caitlin provides a neuro-affirming play-based approach to therapy, rooted in current research and evidence. She enjoys working closely with family members and building therapeutic relationships, as well as working collaboratively with other services to best support your child. 

Personal Note

Outside of work, Caitlin enjoys sewing, reading, running (slowly!), camping and traveling to new places. 

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