Speech-Language Pathologist

Nora is a qualified Speech-Language Therapist from South Africa (SA). She completed her undergraduate training in Speech, Language and Hearing Therapy at the University of Stellenbosch (SA) in 2013. She then went on to complete her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Intervention part time at the University of Pretoria (SA) in 2018. She received several awards for outstanding academic performance throughout her training.

After completing her community service year in 2014, Nora went on to work for the Department of Health (DOH), first in a rural district and then in a more urban area. She independently managed the speech therapy departments throughout her time at the DOH, serving clients in acute hospital settings as well as in the primary health care sector. She has gained extensive experience working with a variety of communication and feeding disorders in neonates, paediatric, adult and geriatric clients; including articulation/phonological disorders, delayed language development, stuttering, voice, dysarthria, aphasia and apraxia. In addition, she has experience with a variety of
developmental and neurological diagnosis such as cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, ADHD, foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), cleft lip and palate, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, as well as other complex neurological conditions and genetic disorders.

Nora has a special interest and passion for early childhood intervention as well as Autism spectrum disorders. In South Africa, she worked closely with Autism Western Cape facilitating parent support groups for caregivers of children with Autism. Through these groups she has gained valuable insight and understanding into the field of Autism. Nora is passionate about inclusion of all children in the education sector, in social situations with peers, in community and inevitably in society. She believes in providing family centred services. She strives to empower family members by including them into the therapy process as much as possible, allowing them to be
active members in their child’s communication journey. Furthermore, Nora has experience working on interdisciplinary teams with a variety of other professionals; including teachers, occupational therapists, dieticians, physiotherapists, nurses, doctors and rehabilitation workers. She values the importance of a team based intervention approach in order to ensure lasting success.

Certifications, training and seminars completed:

• Introduction to Prompt: Technique – The Prompt Institute
• Basic South African Sign Language Training – Tiny Handz
• Let’s Talk Autism Spectrum – Michael Academy
  Introduction to Neurodevelopmental Supportive Care of the Preterm Infant – Little Steps
• Play Therapy, Theory and Practice Level 1 – Centre for Play Therapy and Training
• Management of children and adults who stutter – Heather Wilkinson
• Communication challenges in Autism Spectrum Disorders – Autism Western Cape
• Lindamoodbell: Seeing Stars Literacy Program
• Darkness to Light: Child Safe Guarding Training
• Impact Learning: Dyslexia, Dyscalculia & Dysgraphia
• Impact Learning: Paediatric Feeding Difficulties – Diagnosis Factors
• Impact Learning: Paediatric Feeding Difficulties – Intervention Strategies
• Impact Learning: Spelling Unpacked
• Impact Learning: Maintaining an Ethical Practice – A Practical Approach
• Impact Learning: Speech Sound Disorders and Literacy