Multilingual Children's Speech website

We are systematically updating the Multilingual Children's Speech website (https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/home). Here is the new content:

• Speech acquisition studies now has 620 studies (414 new studies have been added) https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/speech-acquisition/speech-acq-studies
  
• Speech assessment tools now has 379 assessments (262 assessments have been added) https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/speech-assessments/speech-assessment-tools
  
• Speech interventions has 168 interventions (168 have been added - new page) https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/speech-interventions
  
• First Nations resources has 57 children's books (57 have been added - new page) https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/first-nations-resources
• Multilingual children's speech development has 67 videos (67 have been added + more to come) https://www.csu.edu.au/research/multilingual-speech/speech-acquisition/multilingual-childrens-speech-development
  

People can no longer say that there are "no studies/assessments/interventions/resources" in languages other than English. There are a LOT (especially if you look beyond the English language).

Information has been added by collaborating with colleagues, mostly authors of The Oxford Handbook of Speech Development in Languages of the World. Thank you everyone for your generosity to make this website such a useful resource. 

At CSU Dr Helen L. Blake has been amazing working with me on this project. 

The fantastic CSU webteam have been so supportive and creative: Boram Kwon, Alex Moore, Lindsey Ting, Kath, Kelly Bull, Amber Murray – overseen by Paula Woodhouse. (I am so pleased we have made it to the top of their workplan. I originally booked in the update of this website just before the COVID pandemic - so appreciate their current focus on our site).

ECV2024 Scientific Review Committee

The work of the ECV2024 Scientific Review Committee is done. We have reviewed the abstracts, (accepted/rejected/recommended changes), reviewed the submitted video presentations (accepted/recommended changes), created the ECV2024 Conference Proceedings book. Our work is done. Over to the Organising Committee for the next steps. Thanks to Dr Suzanne Hopf and Dr Leanne Gibbs for chairing the  ECV2024 Scientific Review Committee.

Suzanne Hopf, Sharynne McLeod, Leanne Gibbs

 

Nord University: Language of the Heart project with the Sámi community

This evening Kate Crowe and I met with Nord University researchers (Kathrin Olsen and Karianne Berg) to discuss their Language of the Heart research project with children within the Sámi community of Norway. What wonderful opportunities for collaboration. We have begun a plan.

Here is a description of the project from their website (https://www.uv.uio.no/spedaims/english/SpedAims-Language-of-the-Heart/):

In the research project SpedAims Language of the Heart, we want to find out more about how we can support Sami-speaking children's linguistic, academic and social learning and development opportunities in Norway. The study includes children from both Northern Sami, Lule Sami and Southern Sami language environments and language regions. It consists of both qualitative and quantitative studies, and we will follow a large number of children from all over the country through the last few years in kindergarten and further up to school.

Early childhood education and care: Productivity Commission Report

The Early childhood education and care: Productivity Commission Report has been tabled https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childhood/report

From the website:

"This report outlines what a universal ECEC system would look like, and the significant reforms necessary to achieve it. These reforms tackle issues that affect ECEC availability, inclusion, affordability, quality and equity. The report's recommendations aim to remove barriers to ECEC access and support better outcomes for children and families." 

The review included consultation with children:

• Children’s Perspectives of Early Childhood Education and Care (PDF 3.8 MB)
• Making the Invisible Visible: Consulting with Children (PDF 5.0 MB)

I am so glad that Jane Delaney was able to represent speech pathologists' perspectives at the April 2024 Joint Roundtable with Academy of Social Sciences (volume 3, p. 20) since I was overseas at the time. Her input enhanced the submission made by Speech Pathology Australia. https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childhood/report/childhood-volume3-appendices.pdf

Multilingual Children's Speech analytics

The Multilingual Children's Speech website is being updated by the CSU webteam at the moment. Dr Helen L. Blake and I are working on significant content updates with Boram Kwan, Lindsey Ting and Alex Moore overseen by Paula Woodhouse. They are amazing!

Here is the reach of our work at the moment. Over the past year there have been 119,627 views of the website. The map has a blue circle on each country that has used the website over the past year - showing a wide reach across the world! We are glad it is used/useful.

 

Meeting with WHO Disability

Tonight A/Prof Kate Crowe and I had a fantastic meeting with Dr Kaloyan Kamenov and Dr Mélanie Gréaux from the WHO Disability team in Geneva. They have invited us to collaborate with them on projects relating to factors that contribute to health inequity for people (children) with disability. 

Dr Mélanie Gréaux (WHO), Dr Kaloyan Kamenov (WHO),
A/Prof Kate Crowe, Prof Sharynne McLeod

 

There are 40 actions within the Global Report on Health Equity for Persons with Disability https://www.who.int/teams/noncommunicable-diseases/sensory-functions-disability-and-rehabilitation/global-report-on-health-equity-for-persons-with-disabilities Of the 10 strategic entry points, we identified that # 3 is particularly related to our work at CSU, and we also have expertise in 7, 9, and 10: 

1. Political commitment, leadership, and governance; 

2. Health financing; 

3. Engagement of communities and other stakeholders;

4. Models of care; 

5. Health and care workforce; 

6. Physical infrastructure; 

7. Digital technologies for health; 

8. Systems for improving the quality of care; 

9. Monitoring and evaluation; 

10. Health policy and systems research 

The 74th World Health Assembly recommended "progress on disability inclusion in the health sector towards 2030" https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA74/A74_R8-en.pdf

Here are some of the rationales for this work: 

"...Recognizing also the need to include the experiences and perspectives of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations in all issues, including by taking steps to ensure and actively facilitate their meaningful participation in programmes, policy and decision making processes; 

Noting that globally one in seven persons experience some form of disability and that this number continues to increase owing to many underlying factors such as population ageing and the rise in the prevalence of chronic health conditions;

Noting also the persisting attitudinal, institutional and environmental barriers, including discriminatory attitudes towards disability and inaccessible communities..." https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA74/A74_R8-en.pdf

Here is the rationale underpinning the request

"INVITES international organizations and other relevant stakeholders, including intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, private sector companies, academia and, in particular, organizations of persons with disabilities: 

(1) to collaborate with Member States in respecting, protecting and fulfilling the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health of persons with disabilities; 

(2) to forge partnerships and alliances that mobilize and share knowledge and best practices on disability inclusion; 

(3) to amplify the voices of persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, and raise awareness of the rights, capabilities and contributions of persons with disabilities; 

(4) to include persons with disabilities in health research so that they benefit from its outcomes and products" https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA74/A74_R8-en.pdf

Here is a paper that has informed this work:

Gréaux, M., Moro, M. F., Kamenov, K., Russell, A. M., Barrett, D., & Cieza, A. (2023). Health equity for persons with disabilities: A global scoping review on barriers and interventions in healthcare services. International Journal for Equity in Health, 22(1), 236. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-023-02035-w
 

We are excited about partnering with WHO in this important work.

Children's photoshoot at CSU

Sunday afternoon was spent with 16 enthusiastic children, their families, and CSU colleagues having a fun photoshoot at Charles Sturt University. Kirsten Cunningham (https://www.kirstencunningham.com/portraits) was the extraordinary photographer who encouraged the children of all ages to share their smiles and enthusiasm. The photos will be used for the CSU website, research, and educational materials. Thanks to everyone who came along and had an awesomely fun day.

Sharynne with Kirsten Cunningham (photographer)

Contrastive images from The Philippines

I enjoyed my second visit to the Philippines. Unfortunately I did not have much time to explore due to the typhoon and my schedule. Here are some contrastive photos.

Last day at the WHO Regional Committee Meeting 75 (RCM75) for the Western Pacific in the Philippines

Today was the last day of the 5-day WHO Regional Committee Meeting 75 (RCM75) for the Western Pacific in the Philippines. I have enjoyed networking with and learning from colleagues across the region.

The next WHO Regional Committee Meeting 76 (RCM76) for the Western Pacific was announced to be held in Fiji (20-24 October 2025). They have recommended that the plenary session address loneliness and mental health and that parallel sessions may include rehabilitation. I hope to attend again in 2025.

I had rich discussions withAlice Chen (WHO, Philippines), Colette Boughton (WHO, USA) and Dr Ferdiliza Garcia (Philippines)

The rains have begun to clear as the typhoon has moved away from Manila this morning - so we were able to see the flags. We are fortunate to have not had too much flooding - so each day we were able to attend the meetings.

The Oxford Handbook of Speech Development in Languages of the World

Oxford University Press have just sent the description that they will use to promote my new book "The Oxford Handbook of Speech Development in Languages of the World" to be published in 2025

This volume presents a paradigm shift in the world’s knowledge about children’s speech development, with 80 chapters covering 75 languages and language varieties or dialects from across the globe. Each of the chapters follows the same structure, facilitating comparison across languages and dialects. Researchers and students can identify relationships between common and unique elements of children’s speech to develop new theories and enhance understanding. Crucially, the curated data in the chapters can be used by communication specialists to collaborate with families and communities, in order to support children’s home language maintenance and speech development, including in languages not spoken by the specialists.

The Oxford Handbook of Speech Development in Languages of the World presents a transformative approach by which the discipline can overcome traditional English- and Western-centric biases by respecting and acknowledging longstanding traditions of research, theories, and knowledge from a wide range of countries and cultures – including knowledge not previously translated into English. Languages spoken by First Nations people and traditionally marginalized groups are given equivalent status to majority languages, and the language maps, resources, and pronunciation guides have been created using a rights-based, social justice approach, acknowledging the impact of colonization.

Features data from 75 languages and dialects, including Indigenous languages and those spoken by traditionally marginalized groups

Enables effective comparison between languages, with each chapter following the same structure

Includes audio files of child and adult speakers, as well as bespoke maps, pronunciation guides, and links to further information and resources

Wellcome Trust visitor to CSU

Lucy Rodgers is a PhD student at City St George's, University of London studying with Professors Ros Herman and Nikki Botting. She has received funding from the Wellcome Trust to visit us at Charles Sturt University next year. We had a wonderful conversation this evening to plan her trip to Bathurst in April 2025.

Interventions presented at the World Health Organization Regional Commmittee Meeting for the Western Pacific

During the World Health Organization Regional Commmittee Meeting for the Western Pacific I presented two interventions on behalf of the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP) relating to:

• Agenda item 11 - Oral Health
  
• Agenda item 13 - Digital Health 
  
  

I thank Fiona Given, Meredith Allan, Shaun McCarthy and Bronwyn Hemsley for their insightful paper that I quoted in the intervention discussing digital health.

Given, F., Allan, M., McCarthy, S., & Hemsley, B. (2023). Digital health autonomy for people with communication or swallowing disability and the Sustainable Development Goal 10 of reducing inequalities and Goal 3 of good health and well-being. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 25(1), 72-76. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549507.2022.2092212

Prof Sharynne McLeod reading the intervention regarding people with communication disability at the WHO meeting in Manila, Philippines (from the perspective of the Chairperson)

 

I was honoured to read the intervention on Digital Health on the morning of Thursday 24th October. Here is the #RCM75 YouTube channel for Day 4 with my  IALP intervention (53:00 – 57:00): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvgPIaZKlo0

Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific

This week (21 to 25 October 2024) I am honoured to represent the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP) at the Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (RCM75) in Manila, the Philippines. 

Dr Ferdiliza Garcia (IALP, Philippines), Honourable Vainetutai Rose Toki-Brown (Chairperson, Cook Islands) Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala (WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, Tonga), Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod (IALP, CSU, Australia)

I was invited to present an intervention addressing communication disability. Here is the #RCM75 YouTube channel for Day 4 with my  IALP intervention (53:00 – 57:00): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvgPIaZKlo0

Distinguished Professor Sharynne McLeod presenting an intervention at WHO RCM75 in Manila

My colleague, Dr Ferdiliza Garcia from the University of the Philippines is also representing IALP and we have been promoting the right to communicate and the work of IALP in WHO's goal of "reaching the unreached" sharing IALP's book "The Unserved – Addressing the needs of those with communication disorders".

Prof Sharynne McLeod and Dr Ferdzila Garcia representing the International Association of Communication Sciences and Disorders (IALP) at the Seventy-fifth session of the World Health Organization Regional Committee for the Western Pacific (RCM75) in Manila, the Philippines

"Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025−2029): Working together to improve health and well-being and save lives" is the vision presented by the first-ever WHO Regional Director from the Pacific - Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala.

"Our societies need to be better organized to support health systems that are inclusive and respectful of diversity – regardless of disability, race, ethnicity or gender – in order to combat inequity."

During Monday's discussion Dr Saia exhorted everyone: “We must do this work with our hearts – not just our minds”

The 2024 theme is "Weaving Health for All"

• WHO documents: https://www.who.int/westernpacific/about/governance/regional-committee/session-75/documents
• Live statements will be published at https://rcm.wpro.who.int/NSAstatements

The Regional Director's dinner was a celebration of cultures and accomplishments over the past year.

Catching up with Pauline McNeil, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Solomon Islands at the Regional Director's Dinner (my PhD student Holly McAlister will visit Pauline and the Solomon Islands later this years as part of her PhD)

The Regional Committee sang "Stand by me"

WHO Western Pacific has implemented a zero alcohol policy
- so the conference dinner has coconuts

Hong Kong workshop - Children's speech assessment and intervention: What works? What's new? What's the evidence?

Dr Kate Margetson and I presented a workshop (19-20 October 2024) in Hong Kong titled: Children's speech assessment and intervention: What works? What's new? What's the evidence? https://speechearing.org/en/products/speech-sound-disorder

We were invited by Prof Thomas Law, Prof Valerie Pereira, and Prof Kathy Lee from Chinese University of Hong Kong Speech and Hearing Social Enterprise.

This 2-day workshop will combine the latest evidence with clinical examples and opportunities to apply knowledge to your clinical practice based on the following topics

• Understanding children with speech sound disorders
• Children’s speech development: Latest evidence from 50 languages
• Children’s speech assessment, analysis, and differential diagnosis
• Speech assessment of children’s home language(s) (SACHL)*
• Twenty interventions: Selecting the right intervention approach for each child
• Listening to children to make a difference in their day-to-day lives.

Dr Kate Margetson presenting the SACHL

Chinese University of Hong Kong graduates attending our seminar

HongKong Speech Therapy Association executive committee at the end of our seminar

*The SACHL research is supported by the CSU Rural Health Research Institute.

Hong Kong hospitality

Thank you to Prof Thomas Law and the faculty at the Chinese University of Hong Kong for your fantastic hospitality showcasing Cantonese cuisine at its best. We were even treated to the harbour light show during dinner!

Dr Kate Margetson, Prof Sharynne McLeod, Prof Thomas Law in Kowloon

Peking duck with the faculty at CUHK

Chinese University of Hong Kong Staff Club

Yum cha lunch at the staff club!

Chinese University of Hong Kong lecture

This morning Dr Kate Margetson and I were honoured to be invited by Prof Valerie Pereira to give a 3-hour lecture to Masters students at Chinese University of Hong Kong. Their are studying the subject SLPA5207 Speech Sound Disorders and their textbooks are Children's Speech (McLeod & Baker, 2017) and Interventions for Speech Sound Disorders in Children (Williams, McLeod & McCauley, 2020).

What a pleasure to meet the future speech and language therapists of Hong Kong. Best wishes students! Thanks for letting us put your photo on my blog - and for having a multilingal superpower - speaking English, Cantonese, Mandarin/Putonghua (and some of you spoke even more languages!).

Academic staff at Chinese University of Hong Kong

Sharynne with Prof Thomas Law

Sharynne with Prof Valerie Pereira