Merisa James Speech Therapy Musgrave

Merisa James Speech Therapy Musgrave, Durban

About

Specialising in paediatric speech therapy, Merisa James is dedicated to unlocking the unique potential within each child. With a personalised and playful approach, she creates a nurturing environment that fosters a love for communication. Embark on a transformative experience with Merisa, guiding your child towards expressive success.

Services

Speech:

Merisa helps children whose speech is difficult to produce and understand. She uses play-based therapy to strengthen speech muscles, improve articulation, fluency, and intelligibility. Trained in the PROMPT approach, Merisa helps speech structures move correctly to form words.

Communication:

Merisa values and supports effective communication in all its forms. Language is integrated into multiple forms of communication to help build children’s confidence and success in communicating. Personalised AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) is offered and encouraged to ensure children’s access to communication.

Language:

Play-based, child-led, multi-modal strategies are used to build children’s understanding and expression to help them become successful communicators.

Feeding:

Addressing challenges related to oral-motor disorders, sensory aversions, picky eating, and other medical causes. Merisa aims to address the root cause of feeding difficulties and help children swallow safely, explore food, and enjoy mealtimes.

Supporting individuals with:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Down Syndrome
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Cerebral Palsy
• Global Developmental Delays
• Sensory Processing Disorder
• And other developmental differences

Additional Information

Merisa James Owner, Speech Language Pathologist

Merisa graduated with a Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology from UKZN in 2018. She completed her community service at Edendale Hospital in Pietermaritzburg and now works in the private sector, specialising in paediatrics and special needs intervention. Merisa builds relationships with your child and family, providing support to meet goals that matter to you. She passionately supports children, putting them at the centre of therapy.

Outside of the practice, she enjoys being in the kitchen, reading, arts and crafts, staying active, and spending time with friends and family. She is an advocate for mental well-being and neurodiversity-affirming practices.

Advanced training and certificates:

• ICDL DIRFloortime® Basic Certificate
• Inclusive Solutions: Introduction to AAC
• PROMPT (Prompts for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets): Introduction to Technique
• SANDTA Introductory Course on the Clinical Analysis, Treatment, and Management of Children with Cerebral Palsy